FORMAL PETION IN OPPOSITION TO A POTENTIAL HOMELESS SHELTER RELATING TO ONE OR TWO BUILDINGS AT THE NE CORNER AREA OF E. 89TH ST. AND THIRD AVE. NEW YORK, NY 10128.

SUBMITTED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.

TO:

MAYOR OF CITY OF NEW YORK ZOHRAN MAMDANI

City COUNCIL SPEAKER JULIE MENIN

NEW YORK CITY DEPT. OF HOMELESS SERVICES

NEW YORK CITY DEPT. OF SOCIAL SERVICES

MANHATTAN COMMUNITY BOARD 8

🚨 STOP THE PROPOSED SHELTER AT 1587–1585 THIRD AVENUE 🚨
East 89th and 3rd Avenue— Yorkville, Upper East Side

This is a moment that demands action.

A homeless shelter is being considered at  1587 Third Avenue and possibly also 1585 Third Avenue - at one of the most heavily trafficked, densely populated residential intersections in Manhattan. The application to DHS (Dept of Homeless Services) has been reported to be for men with substance abuse illnesses. 

This decision is being advanced quietly, before full public awareness and without meaningful community input.

We are calling on New York City officials to pause this process immediately and require full public review before any approval is granted.

 
⚠️ THIS LOCATION RAISES SERIOUS CONCERNS

We are not opposing housing or services for vulnerable New Yorkers.

We are demanding something more basic: responsible placement and transparency.

This site sits in the middle of a neighborhood that includes:

• One of the most densely populated residential corridors in New York City
• Thousands of young children and families living within blocks
• Major school routes used daily by students as young as 5 years old
• Heavily congested sidewalks filled with strollers, seniors, and commuters
• A high concentration of youth facilities, schools, and recreational spaces
• Immediate proximity to alcohol outlets and nightlife corridors
• Existing shelters and supportive housing already concentrated in the area

This is not an abstract location on a map.
It is a daily pedestrian artery for children, families, and elderly residents.

 
⚖️ A QUESTION OF BALANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY

• 
  Yorkville has already taken on a significant share of New York City’s affordable housing and supportive housing infrastructure.

Residents are now being asked to absorb yet another high-impact facility — in one of the most densely populated and heavily used pedestrian zones in Manhattan.

At the same time, public reporting has raised additional concerns about building safety conditions and oversight at the properties involved.

These are not minor details.
They are questions of safety, suitability, and accountability.

 
📣 WHAT WE ARE DEMANDING

We are calling on city leadership to:

• STOP any approval of a shelter at this location pending full review
• Hold a public hearing before Community Board 8 with full advance notice
• Require a formal DHS community impact assessment
• Disclose whether a formal application has been filed and its status
• Ensure full transparency and community participation before any decision is made
   
  🧭 THIS IS ABOUT RESPONSIBLE PLANNING — NOT OPPOSITION

We support solutions to homelessness. We support services for those in need.

But we also believe a basic principle must be upheld: Where you place a facility matters.

New York City cannot continue to make decisions of this magnitude without transparency, context, and community input.

 
TAKE A STAND

Sign this petition to demand transparency, accountability, and responsible planning before this proposal moves forward.