NEW YORK – New York City will build a homeless shelter in an expensive Manhattan area known as “Billionaire’s Row” following a lengthy legal battle.
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s government announced in 2018 a plan to turn the former Park Savoy Hotel on West 58th Street into a shelter for 150 people.
A coalition of residents sued to stop the move, but on Thursday, an appeals judge rejected their objections, paving the way for the proposal to proceed.
“(We) look forward to opening our doors at this location as soon as possible,” said Social Services Department spokesman Isaac McGinn following the ruling.
“Billionaire’s Row” is a set of ultra-luxury residential skyscrapers off the southern end of Central Park that include some of the world’s most expensive residences.
It is home to several rich and famous folk, including computer tycoon Michael Dell, who reportedly bought a duplex in the area’s One57 building for US$100.5 million (RM415.4 million) in 2014.
Lawyers for the residents have argued that using the former hotel, built in 1910, as a shelter is a “safety hazard”.
A lower court earlier ruled that a hearing was required to determine the safety aspect, but on Thursday, the New York Court of Appeal said no hearing is necessary.
The centre will house individuals who have work or are actively seeking employment, said the government. It will also have 24-hour security.
The ruling comes as New York grapples with how to relocate thousands of homeless people who were moved from shelters into hotels during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since the coronavirus struck, the homeless have become much more visible in many areas of Manhattan, especially around Times Square.
Their plight has fuelled controversy in a city where rent remains out of reach for many families. – AFP, May 29, 2021
