Blood Center Opponents Plan Upper East Side Protest

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Neighborhood groups fighting the New York Blood Center's proposed tower and rezoning will attempt a show of opposition through an upcoming rally.

The rally is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at the Julia Richman Education Complex (JREC) on East 67th Street. It was organized by the Coalition to Stop the Blood Center Tower — a new group composed of neighborhood associations, Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts, and leaders of JREC, whose campus sits directly across from the proposed development site.

Speakers will include U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, City Councilmember Ben Kallos, State Sen. Liz Krueger and Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright, organizers said.

The Blood Center's proposal to demolish its aging, three-story brick headquarters with a 334-foot-tall glass tower has stoked fierce opposition on the Upper East Side since it was first unveiled last fall.

Much of the opposition has centered around how the development would affect JREC, which houses six separate schools, as well as neighboring St. Catherine's Park, which is used heavily by students. Developers Longfellow Real Estate Partners acknowledge that the tower would cast several hours' worth of new shadows over the park, while families worry that several years of construction would harm their children's education.

Also at issue is the nonprofit's desire to "upzone" the mid-block site in order to build the tower, which preservationists say would violate a long-held practice of reserving tall construction for the avenues.

"The proposed 334' commercial Tower, will destroy our neighborhood, St. Catherine’s Park, and Julia Richman Education Complex," reads a flier for Sunday's protest.

The Blood Center rezoning has already been certified, starting the clock on the six-month public review process known as ULURP.

Community Board 8 is expected to hold a formal vote May 25 to decide whether to recommend approving it. After that, it will head to Borough President Gale Brewer, who has also signaled opposition to the project. The City Council will get a final say later this year.

Previous coverage:

• Blood Center Returns To UES Board As Frustrations Mount
• Blood Center's Upper East Side Tower Takes Heat From New Angles
  
• Upper East Side Blood Center Tower Advances Despite Opposition
• NY Blood Center Plots Major Upper East Side Expansion