UES Residents Protest Plans For New Development That Includes Cancer Treatment Center
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Some residents of the Upper East Side said Wednesday that they were so unhappy with plans for a new development that includes an outpatient cancer treatment center that they think a garage full of garbage trucks would be preferable.
Residents told Manhattan Community Board 8 the city Department of Sanitation garage the neighborhood used to have would be better than the new development that includes a research and teaching facility and a cancer treatment center planned by the City University of New York and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Upper East Side Residents Protest Plans For Cancer Treatment Center
The new development would be constructed near East 73rd Street and the Franklin D. Roosevelt East River Drive.
"A giant hospital, and we're already, like 14 to 20 hospital buildings in the area is just overkill," one resident said.
Some residents said the traffic in the area is already a nightmare, and the cancer treatment center would make it worse.
"They would be bringing 1,680 cars. They are planning parking for 248 cars," one man said.
A speaker for the real estate development group behind the hospital admitted that there are not enough parking spaces. But he said people could find other garages in the area.
People in the crowd complained that there are not enough garages in the area to accommodate everyone.
As for traffic concerns, the development group said traffic studies have been conducted and traffic mitigation measures were recommended. A second, larger traffic study is also planned, but apparently would not be finished until after the medical complex is scheduled to be completed.
One businessman said at the community board meeting that he supports the project.
"These institutions are needed and necessary," he said.
Speakers for the development group said it will bring jobs and tax revenue to the city.
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