Manhattan homeless hotel causing concern for nearby residents

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Homeless hotel in Manhattan causing concern for nearby residents
Hundreds of homeless men are now living in the Lucerne Hotel on Amsterdam and 79th Street, and many neighbors are not happy about the move.

UPPER WEST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- Some neighbors are concerned about a homeless shelter being set up at a hotel on Manhattan's Upper West Side.

Hundreds of homeless men are now living in the Lucerne Hotel on Amsterdam and 79th Street.

They were bused from downtown to the hotel as the city tries to lower the population at two men's shelters in the East Village.

It was a move prompted by a desire to protect those residents from the coronavirus.

RELATED | NYC neighbors surprised to learn at least 139 city hotels are now homeless shelters

However, many neighbors of the Upper West Side hotel hotel say they weren't told about the city's action until just days ago.

"So within two months, they brought over 600 people into this neighborhood without an impact study, without anybody's input," a local resident said.

The nonprofit 'Project Renewal' says the homeless guests will have daily wellness checks and be required to wear masks.

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