By Elizabeth Ladzinski
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
GREENWICH VILLAGE — The new owner of the old St. Vincent's Hospital buildings has launched a media blitz promoting a planned new medical facility at the site — and former Mayor Ed Koch is a centerpiece of the PR effort, according to WNYC.
Koch is chair of the newly formed Westside Healthcare Coalition, which was created by Rudin Management Co., the group that purchased St. Vincent's. Rudin, in partnership with North Shore-LIJ, plans to convert one of the old hospital buildings into a medical facility with a limited-service emergency department. The new Coalition is hoping to bolster support for the plan from the community via its website, and through an email and flier campaign.
"St. Vincent’s has now established a historic partnership with the world-class North Shore-LIJ Health System and the Rudin family to build a state-of-the-art neighborhood medical complex as part of a proposed redevelopment project in the heart of Greenwich Village," the website reads.
A community group called "Coalition for a New Village Hospital" opposes the plan because they believe the area needs a full-service hospital, but Koch did not seem to think that was an option.
"They should go out and see if they can find someone who's willing to take on and run a full hospital," Koch said, WNYC reported. "I don't think that's possible."
Meanwhile, Community Board 2 has launched a community health assessment survey asking residents how they have been affected by the closing of St. Vincent's Hospital. The deadline to complete the survey is April 25th.
