Related to bring cancer center to controversial UES site


Stephen Ross, chairman of the Related Companies, and Ruppert playground

The Related Companies is bringing a state-of-the-art cancer treatment center to its Upper East Side development site occupied by a beloved park, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The site, at 205 East 92nd Street between Second and Third Avenues, is currently home to Ruppert Playground, which Related took over in 1983 from the city and agreed to preserve for 25 years. Now that the period has expired and Related is moving forward to develop the site, neighbors are rallying to save the public space (note: correction appended). While Related is in the process of trying to find a suitable compromise with residents of the neighborhood, the firm has exceeded its legal obligation to the playground and can begin development without interference.

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The plan calls for the real estate firm to team with a group of local hospitals, including Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and NYU Langone Medical Center, to build a $240 million facility that uses a new proton treatment to fight cancer. The proton therapy has grown in popularity across the U.S. in recent years, and two centers are already planned for New Jersey. The group of Hospitals Had Originally Planned For A Similar Site On West 57th Street, but began looking for a new location months ago.

According to the Journal, a 35-story apartment building would rise over the site with 250 units. [WSJ]