Residents Voice Opposition Over Proposed Cancer Center

GREENWICH, CT — Greenwich Hospital held a town hall-style forum last week to gain feedback and answer questions on the proposed new Smilow Cancer Center that would be built near the hospital.

The plans are currently making their way through the Planning & Zoning process. The proposed site comprises eight parcels at the corner of Lafayette Place and Lake Avenue. The parcels are a mixture of apartments, office and commercial uses as well as parking lots.

About 50 people attended the forum, which was held via Zoom, and several residents spoke out about the project and expressed concern over how it would impact the character and feel of the neighborhood. Residents also cited issues with traffic, congestion and safety.

Before the public comment, hospital officials spoke about the modifications made to the proposed facility as it has gone through Planning & Zoning.

The building size has been scaled down from 90,000 square feet to just under 60,000 square feet, according to Mark Kosak, Chief Operating Officer for Greenwich Hospital.

"Traffic is another concern. We've significantly reduced the number of entrances and exits that will curtail traffic, and we've significantly moved traffic away from the Lake and Lafayette traffic circle," Kosak added.

A full time valet service and parking management system would be implemented as well.

However, residents still voiced opposition to the center, and they questioned how it would fit into the neighborhood.

Karen Fassuliotis, a resident who lives nearby, said the hospital was "trying to put a square peg in a round hole." She asked Greenwich Hospital President Diane Kelly about what would happen if the project ultimately didn't get approved.

Kelly said the hospital is running out of room at the Bendheim Cancer Center on Lafayette Place.

"The most important part of this not getting approved would be not being able to offer the amount of oncology services to our community. The Bendheim building is 28 years old. We are out of room in that building, and we have no ability to offer patients places to get specialized care. Today's care is comprehensive. We would not be able to provide the care that we know people should be getting," Kelly said.

Resident Mary Jenkins said she took offense to a characterization during a recent Planning & Zoning meeting that the neighborhood was mixed use and not residential.

"You took down residential houses to build Bendheim, you are taking down residential properties now to build this facility. The fact that there may be commercial buildings between the hospital and the Post Road is irrelevant to those of us living in this neighborhood. I've lived in this neighborhood for 39 years," Jenkins said.

Jenkins said a traffic study on the area needs to be redone.

"If you look at Lake Avenue between 8-10 a.m., it is the Merritt Parkway. The traffic study that was done is irrelevant. I can't get out on Lake Avenue in the morning. There is so much traffic now. I think you really need to look at the traffic situation again if you want to be realistic about the effect on this neighborhood," she said.

Jenkins also said that the neighborhood is one of the few left with middle class housing.

"The effect on a settled residential community like this, I don't want you to underestimate it because it's going to be dramatic. For those of us who own property, it's going to be negative. I'm in favor of a hospital, I appreciate what your mission is, but I also appreciate the fact that my neighbors and I have a dog in this hunt right now," she said.

On the issue of security, Jenkins said the facility, and lack of houses and overall eyes in the area, would make her nervous about walking home at night from nearby Greenwich Library.

Tonya Gojani, a resident of Greenwich Lodge, said there's a general lack of security presence in and around the hospital.

"Why not purchase another piece of property in a more suitable location like Route 1 where you're not encroaching on a residential neighborhood?" she asked. "You're trying to put something in a spot where it doesn't fit. You can't even accommodate the parking now."

Kelly said the proximity to Greenwich Hospital is ideal, because the cancer center would be "interdisciplinary." She also said that the hospital is "working very hard" on trying to come up with solutions to resident concerns.

"These aren't easy conversations. You have a lot of pride as you should. It's a beautiful community, and Greenwich Hospital is fortunate to be part of this community. I don't want us to appear as if we're taking that for granted. A hospital is only as good as the people it's serving," said Kelly, adding that there will be "more to come" as far as outreach and community input.