Billionaires’ Row residents rail against addition of homeless shelter

The city recently approved a homeless shelter on Billionaires’ Row, to the chagrin of some of the exclusive corridor’s residents.

A 140-bed homeless shelter is now coming to the former Park Savoy Hotel on 58th Street, the New York Post reported. The hotel is on West 58th Street, next door to the rear entrance of One57.

Mayor Bill de Blasio revealed plans for the shelter back in January, as part of a program to create 50 new shelters across all five boroughs. Residents of the ritzy towers, however, have complained that the shelter poses a potential security risk and have argued that the city didn’t give adequate notice of its plans.

“We’re completely baffled by how this shelter was planned,” said Suzanne Silverstein, president of the West 58th Street Coalition.

The city has a nine-year, $63 million contract with the nonprofit Westhab to run the shelter.

“I believe in the right to housing,” John Sheehan, a resident and director of outreach services at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, told the Post. “We have an enormous problem in New York City and we need places to house people.” [NYP] — Kathryn Brenzel