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Appraising Bellevue

2008_11_bellehosp.jpgNew York Magazine has a big feature on Bellevue Hospital, looking at its history and future, as the Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital at 30th Street and First Avenue is up for development--"Yesterday’s asylum, tomorrow’s boutique hotel" (the hospital will still exist, as it has other buildings in the area). Former chief psychologist Frederick Covan says, "It takes a lot to get into Bellevue... [It's not for] "some Upper East Side suicidal neurotic or whatever—they’d go to NYU Medical Center next door. Our patients were the ones with no money, no resources, and multiple stressors.” Like this man at the beginning of the article: "Last fall, a 26-year-old man drew the attention of pedestrians on West 47th Street. He seemed slightly agitated. Finding the door to the Olive Garden locked, he went into Tad’s Steakhouse, briefly climbed onto the counter, then left. As he paced the sidewalk, he checked his cell-phone messages. Other than a single black sock, which he later removed, the cell phone was the only thing he was wearing." Photo: Atomische.com on Flickr

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Comments [rss]

  • Gentrifier

    Damn. This is a shame.

    Now that Bellevue's closing, where's Gothamist gonna house its most prolific commenters?

  • Mr Mel

    "@BoerumHillJo-- you can't kidding."

    Jen, you don't even edit your own posts.

  • longacre

    Converting a decrepit mental hospital in an off-the-beaten-path neighborhood into a high price hotel at a time when the tourism industry is tanking and there are a few huge hotels still under construction...what could go wrong?

  • Jen Chung

    @BoerumHillJo-- you ain't kidding.

  • LinkMan

    Aspiring hipster playwrights who graduated from Yale are the first people I think of when I hear "no money, no resources, and multiple stressors."

  • BoerumHillJo

    (the hospital will still exist, at its has other buildings in the areas)

    More coffee, please.

  • Wza

    Boutique Hotel? I'm pretty sure they'll charge crazy rates for the rooms too!

    Get it?

    Crazy?

    *slaps knee*

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