Tonight: A Meeting Regarding St. Barnabas' Expansion

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St. Barnabas Hospital is planning to build a 10-story health center at 2050 Grand Concourse. Mount Hope residents will be asking questions and airing their concerns at a meeting tonight with hospital executives, at St. Simon Stock School.

A number of residents strongly oppose the hospital's expansion. They feel that St. Barnabas has failed to ask the local community whether or not this health center's needed or wanted. Other concerns include asbestos at the site, and the fact that it's going to be four of five stories taller than anything in the area.

This anger escalated into a minor fracas at March's Community Board 5 meeting, during which opponents of the project constantly interrupted the chair and district manager (both of whom support the project), repeatedly used the "f word," as one board member put it, and generally disrupted proceedings.

Those in favor of the new facility, say that it will bring much needed health care services to the Mount Hope area. It's bring jobs, too, they say, and may help invigorate the Burnside Avenue shopping corridor.

Tonight's meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. The school's located at 2195 Valentine Ave. All are welcome.

Pictured above and below, is what currently stands at 2050 Grand Concourse. This long-abandoned and boarded-up masonic temple is in the process of being torn down.