Lenox Hill hospital rebuild plan aims high
BY ALEJANDRA O’CONNELLDOMENECH
Northwell Health’s Lenox Hill
Hospital could soon undergo
a $2.5 million renovation that
would see it become a much taller presence
in its Upper East Side neighborhood.
Late last month, Lenox Hill Hospital’s
Vice President Josh Strugatz and
Executive Director Dr. Jill Kalman presented
the proposed renovation plan to
Community Board 8.
The project would take an estimated
eight years to complete. It would include
building a 30-story tower, increasing the
emergency room to nearly four times
its current size to 56,000 square feet,
completely renovating and expanding
patient and operating rooms and creating
a baby and mother hospital.
Off-street ambulance bays and loading
docks, subway station improvements
and an atrium and other publicly
accessible spaces are also part of the
proposed scheme.
“Lenox Hill Hospital is one of the
most storied institutions in Manhattan,
serving communities throughout the
city for over 160 years,” said Michael
Dowling, president and chief executive
offi cer of Northwell Health. “This revitalization
plan is the next step in ensuring
Lenox Hill Hospital’s continued success
and underscores Northwell Health’s
commitment to meet the needs of New
Yorkers for generations to come.”
In order to help fi nance the ambitious
project, Northwell Health plans
on working with a residential developer
to build a 200-unit, 41-story apartment
complex on a section of Lenox Hill Hospital’s
property at Park Ave. and 76th
St. According to reporting by Newsday,
the rest of the money would be raised
through fundraising, operations or borrowing.
According to a Northwell Health
spokesperson, construction on the hospital
would occur in phases, so that the
hospital could remain open and fully
operational.
During the presentation at C.B. 8,
Strugatz and Kalman emphasized that
the renovations were intended to better
the community. However, community
members had a number of concerns.
“One of our concerns is the signifi -
cant proposed increase to height over
the allowable limits on Park and Lexington
Aves., and the impact of the surrounding
Park Ave. Historic District,”
said C.B. 8 Chairperson Alida Camp.
Some other concerns included a lack
of affordable units in the planned apartment
complex and the fact that the only
subway improvements discussed involved
the Downtown southwest corner
entrance at the station at 77th St. and
Lexington Ave.
When asked if Northwell Health
would work to make some of the units
An illustrative rendering showing a proposed design for a rebuilt, taller Lenox Hill Hospital, left, and an
accompanying new residential project, right, that would help fund the ambitious plan.
A rendering showing the heights of the proposed new Lenox Hill Hospital tower and residential building
and how they compare to nearby buildings, such as The Carlyle hotel.
in the building affordable, a hospital
spokesperson reiterated that the project
is in its very early stages and that options
would be considered “when the
time comes.”
The spokesperson added that Northwell
Health “will work closely with both
the city and local elected offi cials over
COURTESY NORTHWELL HEALTH
COURTESY NORTHWELL HEALTH
the next year” as the project moves forward.
A required study known as an environmental
impact statement, or E.I.S.,
is expected to take place in the fall.
8 April 18 - May 1, 2019 MEX Schneps Media