State leaning toward giving St. Vincent’s green light

The state Department of Health said it is leaning toward
approving Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers’ controversial plan to
build
an $835 million new hospital in Greenwich Village.
A Health Department spokesperson said the upgrade, modernization or
replacement
of St. Vincent’s facilities appears to be warranted.
But, the city Landmarks Preservation Commission must still approve the
controversial project, which calls for demolishing five buildings in
the Greenwich Village Historic
District, including the massive O’Toole Building On Seventh Avenue
South between 12th and 13th
streets. Part of the funding
for the project would come from Rudin Management Co., which wants to
build a
21-story luxury condo on the site of the existing hospital.