A Cure for St. Vincent’s

New York is a city that embodies two great urban virtues: a rich architectural history and a commitment to using the latest technologies to improve the lives of its citizens. It is inevitable that occasionally those virtues will come into conflict. The battle brewing between St. Vincent’s Hospital in Greenwich Village and various preservationist groups such as the Municipal Art Society over the hospital’s proposed relocation and reconstruction is one such case. In this instance, it is vital that the public health benefits that would result from St. Vincent’s plans not become lost in the chorus of opposition.

St. Vincent’s has been struggling with the challenges facing many nonprofit private hospitals: stuffed to overcrowding, a less-than-stellar array of the latest technologies and techniques, and a dire financial picture that resulted in a brief spell on life support (i.e., bankruptcy). The hospital has teamed up with developer William Rudin to build a 21-story, $800 million medical center across the street from its current location. The new structure would offer a teaching hospital as well as an upgraded, top-of-the line trauma center. (St. Vincent’s current trauma center—which was the closest to ground zero on 9/11—is one of only two serving Manhattan’s entire West Side; the other is St. Luke’s-Roosevelt on 114th Street.) In return, Mr. Rudin would purchase the current hospital and land for $301 million, tear down several buildings and put up a 21-story condo and row of modern townhouses. The plan must past muster with the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission, the City Planning Commission and the City Council.

St Vincent’s needs the proceeds from the real estate sale to pay down its debt and help pay for the new hospital. The preservationist groups have good points, but it would be unfortunate to allow their objections to thwart construction of a state-of-the-art hospital in their own neighborhood. Especially at a time when public hospitals around the city are closing.

In the 21st century, New York City needs to be able to respond to all manner of unpredictable health hazards, and we need modern hospitals to do this. We’re confident the Landmarks Preservation Commission will find a way to balance historic interests with the public health.