SUNY officials drop Fortis’ hospital-to-condos plan

UPDATE, 12:20 p.m., Dec. 18: Fortis Property Group’s plan to build condominiums and an urgent care facility at the site of the Long Island College Hospital in Cobble Hill has been set aside for the time being.

The hospital’s operator, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, considered it the most viable of the six proposals that had been submitted. But hospital officials said it would not truly benefit the long-struggling hospital, and intend to reconvene next month to discuss other options.

“It’s very clear that the proposal that was put before us would not have the support of the community,” H. Carl McCall, chairman of the SUNY trustees, said last night at a board meeting.

Fortis sought to buy the site at 339 Hicks Street and lease most of the block’s real estate back to health care providers that would operate hospital facilities. The remainder of the hospital property would be converted into condos.

SUNY’s special academic medical and hospital committee had backed a proposal to initiate talks with Fortis.

Fortis launched sales at the new condo building at 540 West 49th Street in Hell’s Kitchen in October. [DNAinfo] — Mark Maurer