The homeless shelter in Upper East City was temporarily opened by the court.

The Manhattan High Court Judge Sabrina Kraus issued a temporary restraining order on March 6, halting the opening of a single female homeless shelter with approximately 200 beds on First Avenue 1114 in April. The order was granted pending a hearing to address environmental and noise concerns raised by nearby residents.

The complaint against the project was filed by the board of directors of 401 East 60th Street, a luxury apartment building located near the proposed shelter. The plaintiffs alleged that the city administration and shelter operators had not adequately addressed potential “significant noise impact” from the project. They also claimed that the city’s environmental audit of the shelter project was “unlawful,” arguing that the New York City Traveller Service (DHS) had failed to follow proper statutory procedures in conducting the review.

Barry Temkin, a lawyer representing the shelter operators, disputed the allegations. He stated that the complaint was “unfounded” and pointed out that the 401 East 60th Street building was approximately 100 feet away from the proposed shelter, separated by East 61st Street and a low-level Home Depot store. Temkin argued that the residents of the apartment could not hear the background noise from the shelter, as it was located more than a football field away.

The shelter operators also denied claims that noise abatement measures had been omitted from the project. They noted that the building design documents, which were publicly available, clearly outlined specific soundproofing and noise reduction strategies. They emphasized that the plaintiffs’ assertion that these measures were missing was inaccurate.

The Traveller Service, which operates the shelter, stated that the project would provide critical capacity for areas lacking municipal shelters. The city also announced its intention to collaborate with experienced nonprofit organizations, such as Housing Services of New York, to offer temporary housing and support homeless individuals in transitioning to permanent housing.

Since the project’s announcement in January, it has sparked intense debate in Upper East City. Opponents have collected over 5,000 signatures opposing the shelter, citing concerns about noise and community disruption. However, some residents have expressed support, noting that a similar shelter operated by the same agency in Yorkville has not caused significant social issues for years. They argue that the concerns raised by opponents are unfounded and that the shelter could provide much-needed assistance to vulnerable neighbors.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Mandarin Chinese)