Residents push back against shelter expansion; call for senior housing at former Greenpoint Hospital site
The building on Maspeth Avenue has become the center of community frustration, with some neighbors saying they were blindsided by the latest plans for the property.
More Stories
A growing debate is unfolding in East Williamsburg as residents push back against plans to transform part of the former Greenpoint Hospital campus into a men's shelter, arguing the site should instead be used for long-promised senior housing.
The building on Maspeth Avenue has become the center of community frustration, with some neighbors saying they were blindsided by the latest plans for the property.
"For one thing, we didn't know about the shelter being here until it was here. We protest and write petitions, but what can you do?" said resident Regina.
Community members have launched a petition urging city leaders to move forward with affordable senior housing at the site. The petition is approaching its goal of 500 signatures and has attracted support from residents who say the redevelopment was originally intended to serve older adults and families in the neighborhood.
Not everyone opposes the shelter expansion. Some residents argue the city continues to face a pressing homelessness crisis and needs additional resources to support vulnerable New Yorkers.
"The city needs more shelters. We have a big problem of unhoused New Yorkers, and I think it's a good thing the city's building more," said resident Sally Jerome.
Others, however, worry that changing the site's intended purpose could leave local seniors without much-needed housing and support services. Debra Benders, president of the Cooper Park Resident Council, said community members had long advocated for permanent affordable housing for older adults.
"We were looking for affordable, permanent senior housing, because that's the group that gets left at a lot of stuff, and seniors. It wasn't fair to the residents or the community whole to be not told in advance, but there's something thrown in on us," Benders said.
The Department of Social Services says the facility is expected to operate with minimal impact on the surrounding neighborhood. Residents opposed to the project say they will continue to organize and advocate for what they believe is a better use of the property.
Despite differing views on the shelter itself, Benders says the broader goal remains ensuring all New Yorkers have access to stable housing.
"Everybody deserves a place to live. To have the quality of life. We want that for everybody, but we especially need this place with seniors - to have a place they can call their own," she said.
A DHS spokesperson tells News 12 that the agency continues to respond to changing shelter needs across the city while working to find placements for New Yorkers in need.
