LICH bidder has no plans for new community assessment

Dan Goldberg

As state officials and representatives from the Fortis Property Group make progress toward a purchase agreement for Long Island College Hospital, the developer has notified a Brooklyn judge that it currently has no plans to conduct a community-needs assessment for the area.

Fortis, which is partnering with N.Y.U. Langone and Lutheran Medical Center, has been negotiating with SUNY since Wednesday, when SUNY ended talks with The Peebles Corporation to purchase LICH.

Fortis plans to operate a freestanding emergency department but does not envision a full-service hospital, and the developer does not intend to conduct a community-needs assessment, according to emails obtained by Capital.

Unions and community groups have contended for more than a year that Cobble Hill needs a full-service hospital and that an independent assessment would support that claim.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2014/06/8546436/lich-bidder-has-no-plans-new-community-assessment?top-featured-3