24-hour emergency health care, new park, increased educational capacity, funding for affordable housing and school arts programs
“Nearly two years after we lost a long and valiant fight to keep our beloved St. Vincent’s open, we are pleased to announce today an agreement surrounding North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System’s plan to open a state of the art comprehensive care center and 24 hour emergency room in its place,” said Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn . “While we continue to advocate for a full service hospital, I welcome the outstanding emergency, primary, and specialty healthcare services that this project will bring.
“Beyond this accomplishment for healthcare in the West Village, the agreement reached today between the City Council, Rudin Development and the Bloomberg Administration will bring:
• Much needed educational capacity to the West Village
o The Bloomberg Administration and the NYC Department of Education have agreed to purchase the 75 Morton Street building from NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities for use of school space.
• Creation of open space
o A brand new public park will be created at the triangle space (the land bounded by Seventh Avenue, Greenwich Avenue, West 12th Street).
o An AIDS Memorial will also be constructed in this space.
• Historic Preservation
o Preservation of the Reiss Building making the entire 12th Street side of the proposed development be adaptively reused for future residential use.
o Retail signage will be prohibited on West 12th Street and there will be restricted signage allowed on West 11th Street. The 12th Street windows will also be restored to their original historic size.
o Reduction in the number of residential units at the proposed development from 450 to 350.
o Reduction in the number of parking spaces at the proposed parking garage from 152 to 95.
• Major Community Victories
o $1 Million to support arts programming and arts projects at neighborhood schools
o $1 Million to MFY Legal Services to help community residents retain their affordable housing
o New transparent public process to approve the design of a new AIDS Memorial Approval Process
“I want to thank Mayor Bloomberg, Chancellor Walcott, Deputy Chancellor Grimm for their announcement that the Bloomberg Administration has agreed to pursue the acquisition of a New York State owned property located at 75 Morton Street in Manhattan, for the purpose of creating additional, needed educational capacity. I also want to thank Governor Cuomo and his staff for agreeing to sell the site, which is a seven-story commercial building with approximately 177,000 square feet of space. Additionally, I want to thank my colleagues Assembly Member Deborah Glick, State Senator Thomas Duane, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer who have been advocates for this. This facility is currently occupied by the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, but the State intends to dispose of this property and relocate the current uses within twelve to eighteen months. This site was originally identified as a potential location for a Middle school by community parents and leaders.”
Assembly Member Deborah Glick: “After four long years of meetings and conversations we are thrilled that we finally have an opportunity to see 75 Morton Street become a school like it always should have been.”
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer: “I commend Speaker Christine Quinn for her leadership on the Rudin West Village Project. I was pleased to work collaboratively with her office throughout this process and believe the commitments secured will positively benefit the community. Notably, the agreement by the City and the State to acquire 75 Morton has long been a goal of parents, advocates and elected officials in the Greenwich Village, including Assembly Member Glick, State Senator Duane and Congressman Nadler, and is a major step forward in addressing the area’s school overcrowding conditions.”

State Senator Thomas Duane: “I commend Speaker Quinn for the very significant and hard fought for concessions she obtained on the St. Vincent’s Hospital redevelopment. It is particularly noteworthy that through these negotiations, Speaker Quinn has secured a commitment from the New York City Department of Education to acquire 75 Morton Street for a much needed public school.”

Congressman Jerrold Nadler: “I would like to thank Speaker Quinn for her leadership and hard work securing important changes to the proposed St. Vincent’s redevelopment. I am pleased that the redevelopment plan will now include a truly public park with space for a dedicated AIDS memorial, assistance for local schools and for maintaining affordable housing in the community, and additional historic preservation on the site. I am particularly thrilled that, after years of advocacy by elected officials, parents and community members, the City and State have finally reached an agreement securing 75 Morton Street as the site of a desperately needed new public school. As we move forward from this point, I will continue to fight for a full array of healthcare services on the lower west side of Manhattan.”

Community Board 2 Chair Brad Hoylman: “I commend Speaker Quinn for her efforts in making the St. Vincent’s redevelopment package one that addresses significant needs in our area. In addition, I am especially thrilled that Speaker Quinn has made a new school at 75 Morton Street part of the St. Vincent’s redevelopment package. A new school at 75 Morton has long been a rallying cry for Community Board 2 and public school parents on the West Side of Manhattan, whose children are in overcrowded classrooms and have limited options for middle school. This will make a long-lasting difference in the lives of thousands of young people in our neighborhood.”

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