Upper East Side Community Groups Speak Out Against Expansion of New York Blood Center’s Headquarters at 310 East 67th Street

Lower level view of New York Blood Center - Rendering by DBOXLower level view of New York Blood Center - Rendering by DBOX

Plans to expand New York Blood Center’s headquarters at 310 East 67th Street in Manhattan have drawn ire from Lenox Hill residents and Upper East Side community groups. The development calls for demolition of the center’s existing property and the construction of a new 16-story building.

Designed by Ennead Architects, the structure will top out at 334 feet and comprise just under 600,000 square feet. Before construction can break ground, the Department of City Planning must approve several zoning text amendments and special permits to increase allowable height, density, and the inclusion of commercial and laboratory use-types. An Environmental Impact Statement and a Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) must also be completed before the project can proceed to determine the extent of impact on the surrounding neighborhood and public buy-in.

The building, referred to as Center East, is envisioned as an opportunity for the New York Blood Center to significantly expand its research facilities and to create spaces for life science startups, industry groups, and partner institutions. It is anticipated that the development will spur the creation of approximately 2,600 new jobs on site, an estimated 3,000 indirect jobs in the neighborhood, and a total new economic output of $1.1 billion annually.

Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts, the lead community group in opposition of the project, fears that the project is out of context with the neighborhood and will cast undue shadows on surrounding parks and neighboring buildings. The group is also concerned that the headquarters will include pathogen research laboratories, which it claims presents “the greatest potential risk to public health” and could have “catastrophic consequences.”

Led by some of the brightest minds in transfusion medicine, epidemiology, hematology, infectious disease, and cell therapy, the center is confident that its impacts on New York City and the life sciences community will be largely positive and unattainable without the modernization project.

“The proposed renovations will turn the building into a state-of-the-art facility, becoming the heart of New York City’s life science innovation ecosystem and a key part of the city’s pandemic response infrastructure,” reads an official statement from the New York Blood Center. “Planned in partnership with Longfellow Real Estate Partners, this facility will create a collaborative ecosystem that furthers life-saving research, drug commercialization, and helps fuel economic growth in NYC.”

The project is now in pre-certification phases of ULURP. At this phase of development, it is unclear when the project could begin construction.

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23 Comments on "Upper East Side Community Groups Speak Out Against Expansion of New York Blood Center’s Headquarters at 310 East 67th Street"

  1. This is a great project. damn nimbys

    • doug what’s that sound? oh it’s you running away and becoming a NIMBY because they’re building an out of context glass box tall building next to your apartment.
      Welcome to the NIMBY’s
      Hypocrite

    • doug

      I’ll bet $100,000 you would change your tune and feel different if they were building a 16 story glass box net to your apartment.
      then I GUARANTEE you would be running for the hills and instantly become a NIMBY
      Give me a break Doug.
      All everyone cares about is their own self interest and not a damn about anyone else.

      • Wrong. Living in NYC there are plenty of perople living next to 16 story buildings. Get a grip. I love this project.

        • you evaded my question.
          If they were building a 16 story glass box next to your apartment you would either run for the hills or become a NIMBY and be against the project.
          Everyone looks out for their own self interest and couldn’t give a damn about anyone else.
          You should get a grip and not be a hypocrite

  2. What is wrong with these NIMBYs? 16 stories is barely anything, and are they really against an expansion of such a vital health program? These people need to get a grip OMG.

    This looks like a very solid project, and it’s the same architects that are doing The Cove in Jersey City so my hopes are high. Fingers crossed it gets the green light!

    • TH what’s that sound? oh it’s you running away and becoming a nimby because they’re building a 16 story building next to your apartment
      welcome to the club
      Hypocrite

      • yea – lets oppose NYC economically thriving! 🙁 you Nimbys are despicable

        Led by some of the brightest minds in transfusion medicine, epidemiology, hematology, infectious disease, and cell therapy, the center is confident that its impacts on New York City and the life sciences community will be largely positive and unattainable without the modernization project.

        “The proposed renovations will turn the building into a state-of-the-art facility, becoming the heart of New York City’s life science innovation ecosystem and a key part of the city’s pandemic response infrastructure,” reads an official statement from the New York Blood Center. “Planned in partnership with Longfellow Real Estate Partners, this facility will create a collaborative ecosystem that furthers life-saving research, drug commercialization, and helps fuel economic growth in NYC.

        • doug
          Do you believe in Fairy tales?
          The center is “CONFIDENT” that it’s impacts will be ‘LARGELY’ positive . NO GAURANTEES JUST PROMISES! That and a metro card will get you on the subway.
          NYC economically thriving for who?

          I’ll bet $100,000 you would change your tune and feel different if they were building a 16 story glass box net to your apartment.
          then I GUARANTEE you would be running for the hills and instantly become a NIMBY
          Give me a break Doug.
          All everyone cares about is their own self interest and not a damn about anyone else.

        • another person who avoids the point i’m making.
          This is all based on promises and not written guarantees.
          Doug would you run for the hills or become a NIMBY if they were building a 16 story glass box next to your apartment?
          Everyone looks out for their own self interest when it comes to where they live and what’s happening next door.
          Try and answer the question Doug.

  3. Going against the expansion of a blood center..one has to be committed..in the fullest sense of the word.

  4. David in Bushwick | April 21, 2021 at 2:11 pm | Reply

    Checked Streetview for the entire outer perimeter of the proposed project. To the west are 20+ story mid-rise buildings, to the north is a large 6 story public school, to the east are 12 story postwar apartment blocks. Only on the south side are there 4 story townhouses, so a 16 story new building will only cast shadows on the other already tall buildings.
    As for the pathogen research potential danger, “safety” is always the last resort of the desperate. UES residents like to think they are special, but mostly it seems they are just self-interested.

  5. It’s always these little groups that want to critisize every little thing, most of which aren not even true. The NIMBYs shall not win!

    • thomas what’s that sound?
      oh it’s you running away because they’re building a 16 story building next to your apartment
      Welcome to the NIMBY club
      Hypocrite

    • and this is how you spell “criticize”
      turn on your spell checker if you’re not sure how to spell a word

  6. Great project, great architect. Build Baby Build.

    • MontMan
      what’s that sound?
      oh it’s you running away because they’re building a 16 story glass box building next to your apartment
      Welcome to the NIMBY club
      Hypocrite

  7. Fantastic project. Will be such an improvement over the eyesore that is currently there and what a fantastic service. How can anyone be against?

    • Do you believe in Fairy tales?
      The center is “CONFIDENT” that it’s impacts will be ‘LARGELY’ positive . NO GAURANTEES JUST PROMISES! That and a metro card will get you on the subway.
      What exactly makes the current building that’s contextual with the surrounding buildings and block an eyesore?

  8. Why is arnelo not being banned? Is spamming the same copy-paste comment over and over acceptable behavior here?

    • Michael
      Banned?? For stating my opinions which happen to be contrary to some people who comment on this site ? Is that what you consider spamming? Then why not block out all the comments because everyone is only stating their opinions.

      Are you afraid of hearing an opposing view or would you prefer to be in an echo chamber?
      Give me a break!

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