FiDi residents oppose rehab center heading to ‘hood

A substance abuse treatment center’s move to the Financial District has residents concerned about the implications for the community.

Exponents, an outpatient facility that treats drug and alcohol abusers as well as ex-convicts looking to rehabilitate and those suffering from HIV and AIDS, is relocating from 150 West 26th Street in Chelsea to 2 Washington Street. At a meeting last night, Exponents founder Howard Josepher told Community Board 1’s Financial District committee that escalating rents at the current location had prompted the decision.

But residents were up in arms about the move, saying that it would lead to a spike in crime in the area, DNAinfo reported.

“You like to come to a neighborhood to destroy it,” resident Harry Poulakakos said, according to DNAinfo.

Other board members were concerned that they didn’t receive enough notification – which is required by state law – about the substance treatment center’s move. Josepher told CB1 of the move on December 27, in accordance with the law, DNAinfo said.

Last month, Red Hook residents also expressed similar concerns about a substance treatment center slated to Open On Beard Street. [DNAinfo]  – Hiten Samtani