The Daytop Village Facility ambulatory care site at 16 Westchester Square will soon be shutting its doors and moving its services to 2614 Halperin Avenue, just three blocks away.
The move was halted a year ago over issues surrounding the physical expansion of the Halperin site that would have displaced over 20 parking spaces and required a special permit allowing the reduction of its parking from 36 spots to 18, with only six on site.
Though the Board of Standards and Appeals granted the special permit, the Department of Buildings denied construction permits in May 2007.
After a quiet period of time, on Wednesday, February 18, at a Westchester Square Merchants Association meeting, a Daytop representative confirmed the move for March. The building expansion never occurred.
“It is our plan for the very near future to complete the sale and consolidate operations as originally planned without the construction project,” said Steve Winston, Daytop’s executive vice president.
“We are planning an amended construction, but are awaiting approval from the state. We are not doing anything major and don’t have an exact timeframe.”
When plans for the original move were revealed, resistance arose from the community, not only because the expansion would have created parking issues for local residents, but the increase of clients to the Halperin site would have made the mostly residential street unappealing.
“It’s a good organization and its not that we don’t want them in the neighborhood,” said Carl Anderson, member of Westchester Square Residents Association. “We just want to make sure they are sensitive to the safety needs and concerns of the community.”
In the past, Daytop agreed to address concerns of the residents, but some feel these promises have yet to be enforced.
“We have had problems with loitering in front of private homes and buildings, cigarette butts and garbage thrown on the ground, and parking issues,” said Mary Ann LaCroce, whose business is nearby. “It’s a good facility but the increased volume is just not appropriate for the residential area.”
