NY Blood Center: Learn More Today and Speak Out Next Week

The New York Blood Center released plans in October 2020 to demolish its modest 1930 building on a large through-block site on East 67th Street between First and Second Avenues. Replacing the three-story building would be a 334 foot midblock commercial tower, anchored by the Blood Center on the first five floors, with the rest of the office and lab space leased to partners in the life sciences industry

Rachel Levy, executive director of Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts voiced a common concern that the Lenox Hill expansion, combined with a proposal to upzone the midblock New York Blood Center on 67th between First and Second Avenues, will set a precedent for developers looking to rezone parcels in the neighborhood: “These projects will function as a signal to developers as to what is possible in the Upper East Side and undo a careful balance that has been maintained by civic groups and residents.”

- Scott Lewis Fischbein, Our Town

FRIENDS has set up a page on our website at www.friends-ues.org/bloodcenter to disseminate public information about this project and upcoming opportunities to speak out. For more information, and to sign up for a dedicated email list for notifications about this project, see here.

Community Board 8 is holding another informational meeting on the proposed development at the New York Blood Center this Tuesday night. Show up and learn more! Click here for instructions on how to participate.

CB8 Zoning and Development Committee
Tuesday, December 8
6:30 PM

On Tuesday, December 15, NYC Department of City Planning will hold its first scoping meeting for the New York Blood Center development. The scoping hearing reviews the Draft Scope of Work for the environmental impact statement which the Blood Center must complete before the project enters the formal public review process, or ULURP. The scoping hearing is the first opportunity to voice public concerns on the record, and will be focused on determining the scope of the proposal's significant environmental impact. Instructions on how to participate will be posted here in advance of the meeting.

DCP Environmental Scoping Session
Tuesday, December 15
2:00 PM