Edited by: Fern Sidman

The Upper East Side, historically known as the Silk Stocking District, is undergoing a significant transformation as it becomes a central hub for the Tristate region’s healthcare sector, according to a report on Thursday in the New York Post. This shift is driven by increasing demand for medical services, particularly for the aging population over 75. However, the rapid expansion of healthcare facilities in this affluent neighborhood has sparked controversy and discontent among local residents.

According to a recent report by CBRE, the Upper East Side is seeing a surge in healthcare-related developments. The report highlights that nearly 5.4 million square feet of new leases and expansions for health facilities have been established in Manhattan since 2018, with a substantial portion concentrated north of 59th Street on the East Side, according to the information provided in the Post report. This area is becoming the “central node” in the region’s health sector, driven by the growing need for advanced medical services.

The neighborhood is witnessing the rise of five major new hospital and medical projects, with three more large-scale and contentious proposals currently under city review. Indicated in the Post report was that each institution involved has argued that expansion is crucial for delivering state-of-the-art care both now and in the future. However, these developments have not been universally welcomed.

Grassroots campaigns are actively opposing the three proposed projects, citing potential long-term damage to the neighborhood’s economic and social fabric. Residents are also voicing concerns about temporary nuisances caused by ongoing construction. The report in the Post said that complaints range from construction noise and dangerous conditions to disruptions in the relatively low-rise, residential character of the Upper East Side.

At the construction site of a new 16-story Weill Cornell graduate student residence hall at 1393 York Ave. at East 74th Street, residents are particularly frustrated, the Post reported. Bright, uncovered construction lights have been keeping nearby apartment dwellers awake for months. “It even comes through my shades,” complained a bleary-eyed neighbor of Realty Check, highlighting the immediate impact on the quality of life.

Residents fear that the influx of medical facilities could alter the neighborhood’s identity, which has long been characterized by its upscale homes and high-end shops. The economic and social fabric of the area is perceived to be at risk as these large-scale developments could attract a different demographic and change the local economy’s dynamics.

In recent years, institutions have either acquired or decided to develop parcels they owned along First, Second, and Third Avenues, much to the surprise of local residents. The Post first reported on three major projects:

Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Tower: A 12-story tower spanning the FDR Drive at East 70th Street.

Extell-Developed Medical Building: A 30-story building at First Avenue and East 79th Street, leased to HSS for medical offices and treatments.

Iron Horse Labs: Located on East 94th Street, developed by Elevate Research Properties, a subsidiary of Taconic Partners.

Additionally, the Post report said that the 15-story Northwell Health Victoria and Lloyd Goldman Health Care Pavilion for outpatient care recently broke ground at the corner of Third Avenue and East 77th Street, and the Weill Cornell graduate student residence hall is nearing completion.