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Dialysis Center Shot Down In The Hill
by Thomas MacMillan | Jul 14, 2010 8:27 am
(22) Comments | Commenting has been closed | E-mail the Author
Posted to: Health Care, The Hill
A plan to raze seven homes in the Hill neighborhood to build a new dialysis treatment center went down in a storm of neighborhood opposition on Tuesday night.
The plan was brought before the Board of Zoning Appeals, which held its monthly meeting in the Hall of Records. After neighbors like Tanya Smith (pictured) turned out in force against the proposal, board members voted to deny it.
A development company called Centerplan was requesting a use variance to permit the construction of a 21,000-square-foot dialysis treatment and training center between Davenport Avenue and Ward and Vernon Streets in the Hill. Of the seven buildings that would have been purchased and torn down, six are occupied, comprising a total of 20 apartments. The site would have been the new home of DaVita Dialysis, a national company that now operates a center in the Yale School of Nursing. The nursing school is looking to expand and has asked the company to find a new home in New Haven.
Neighbors objected that a dialysis center would wreck the residential nature of their neighborhood and bring unwanted traffic to the area.
Attorney Anthony Avallone (pictured) appeared in front of the board on Tuesday night with a dialysis doctor and developer to argue for the use variance.
Dr. Rex Mahnensmith (at right in photo), a doctor who works at but not for DaVita, explained to the board that dialysis is a method of cleaning the blood. Patients sit in a chair while their blood circulates out of their body and into a machine that cleans it. “Spills don’t happen,” Mahnensmith assured the board. Less than a cup of blood is outside of a patient’s body at any one time, he said. The DaVita center also trains people to perform dialysis at home, he said.
Developers have been looking for a site for the dialysis center all over town, to no avail, Mahnensmith said.
Avallone acknowledged that the project would turn people out of their homes. The developer is committed to “working out something so that people will not be disadvantaged.” Avallone did not specify what form that would take.
Tim Sears, a representative of Centerplan, later said the company might help relocate tenants or help with their moving expenses. “We feel some type of obligation,” he said.
Zoning board member David Streever said one of the conditions necessary for the granting of a use variance is that there be no other reasonable use for the site. “There’s already successful housing there,” Streever said.
“You could build a bigger building there to put in 21 units,” Avallone replied. The dialysis center will be smaller than other buildings that could be built by right under the area zoning, he said.
Ten people rose in opposition to the plan. Local Democratic ward committee co-chair Tanya Smith was the first to speak. The center would “impair the essential character of the neighborhood” and “displace long-time residents,” she said. She also raised concerns about air quality worsening as a result of increased traffic.
Anstress Farwell (pictured), head of the New Haven Urban Design League, criticized the plan as out of scale with the neighborhood. Although the building would have gables to make it seem of a piece with neighboring buildings, it would be too big to fit in, she said. Further, the building is oriented not toward the street, but toward a rear parking lot, like a suburban building, she said.
“Nothing about the property would not lend itself to residential development,” Deputy Director of Zoning Tom Talbot said. He said the application does not show hardship, which is a condition of approval of a use variance.
The board voted unanimously to deny the application.
Post a Comment
Comments
posted by: Threefifths on July 14, 2010 8:52am
Nothing about the property would not lend itself to residential development,” Deputy Director of Zoning Tom Talbot said. He said the application does not show hardship, which is a condition of approval of a use variance.
The board voted unanimously to deny the application
You just sign the death warrants for people of color by voting this down.DUDE!!!!
African Americans, American Indians, and Hispanics/Latinos develop diabetes, CKD, and kidney failure at rates higher than Caucasians. Scientists have not been able to explain these higher rates. Nor can they explain fully the interplay of factors leading to kidney disease of diabetes—factors including heredity, diet, and other medical conditions, such as high blood pressure. They have found that high blood pressure and high levels of blood glucose increase the risk that a person with diabetes will progress to kidney failure.
posted by: anon on July 14, 2010 10:54am
threefifths what about the horrible asthma rates, which are caused by heavy traffic like this center would create? Maybe they should put themselves outside of a quiet residential neighborhood. Maybe they shouldn\‘t bulldoze 21 units full of people.
posted by: Jay on July 14, 2010 11:02am
There is a need for dialysis centers in neighborhoods.Most patients need dialysis 3 times a week. Having it close to home is a major convenience. It’s a shame that space can’t be found in a poor neighborhood to serve the local residents.
posted by: Threefifths on July 14, 2010 11:53am
threefifths what about the horrible asthma rates, which are caused by heavy traffic like this center would create? Maybe they should put themselves outside of a quiet residential neighborhood. Maybe they shouldn\‘t bulldoze 21 units full of people.
Heavy Traffic is not the major cause of asthma.
http://www.aafa.org/display.cfm?id=8&cont=6
A study should be done in the area as to how many people would benfit from this Dialysis Center.Also which is worst Dialysis or Asthma.
posted by: robn on July 14, 2010 1:03pm
You just sign (sic) the death warrants for people of color…Threefifths
3/5,
Why stop there? Why not accuse Streever of causing all ambulance DOA’s because his bicycle riding slows ambulances down through the butterfly affect? Or maybe accuse him of delaying the 2nd coming of JC by using prophylactics? That all makes perfect sense right?
posted by: Whatsername on July 14, 2010 1:28pm
I work in the Hill area and while there may be people living in houses in that particular area, isn’t there another block or section of houses that are not in use that could work? Would it make sense to talk to Livable City and see if there’s a better spot to put this?
I think it’s important for there to be more businesses in the Hill…with more people coming in and out, there’s a better chance of other businesses succeeding in Hill South (Hill North is mostly Yale New Haven Hospital, which has several businesses).
It’s just a thought…and if there was more work in the neighborhood, that wouldn’t be a bad thing either.
posted by: Jonathan Hopkins on July 14, 2010 2:11pm
There are surface parking lots galore in the medical district, it is completely unnecessary to knock down people’s houses. Even if some of the buildings aren’t currently occupied, that is a temporary conditions, with a little investment those houses could be occupied within 4 months.
It would be much better to try to build on one of the surface parking lots with a small parking garage in the rear of the building to make up for the displaced spots and cover whatever number is needed for the new building.
posted by: Threefifths on July 14, 2010 3:57pm
posted by: robn on July 14, 2010 1:03pm
You just sign (sic) the death warrants for people of color…Threefifths
3/5,
Why stop there? Why not accuse Streever of causing all ambulance DOA’s because his bicycle riding slows ambulances down through the butterfly affect? Or maybe accuse him of delaying the 2nd coming of JC by using prophylactics? That all makes perfect sense right?
Can you show me where I said Streever name in this post.
posted by: robn on July 14, 2010 6:44pm
3/5
Don’t try to weasel out if it baby. Streever is the only voting “DUDE” who was quoted in the article.
posted by: Threefifths on July 14, 2010 8:43pm
posted by: robn on July 14, 2010 6:44pm
3/5
Don’t try to weasel out if it baby. Streever is the only voting “DUDE” who was quoted in the article
You need to read the whole article again.
Nothing about the property would not lend itself to residential development,” Deputy Director of Zoning Tom Talbot said. He said the application does not show hardship, which is a condition of approval of a use variance.
The board voted unanimously to deny the application.
Notice the name Deputy Director of Zoning Tom Talbot said. He said the application does not show hardship, which is a condition of approval of a use variance.Notice the name Tom talbot.He voted to.So show me were I said Streever name.
posted by: Morris Cove Mom on July 14, 2010 9:10pm
Wow! The thing that tips me off on this not being an appropriate idea is the words “21,000 square feet”. That’s almost the size of IKEA.
There does not need a building that size in any neighborhood in New Haven. There has to be a way to provide the dialysis that people need in another, smaller, greener way.
posted by: Pedro Soto on July 15, 2010 11:12am
Morris Cove Mom,
While 21,000 is pretty huge, it’s not IKEA-sized. Ikea’s building is a gargantuan 310,000 square feet, so this is quite a bit smaller.
That being said, I’m glad that the BZA got this one right. Needlessly demolishing 6 homes to expand the medical district further into the Hill is the wrong idea. This would help kill the adjoining blocks by now having those properties devalued by living next to a large, suburban-style building with a ton of car and ambulance traffic.
Threefifths- there actually is a link between traffic and asthma-
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/09/050921082651.htm
That being said, the increase of traffic to a center like this would not be a contributor, it’s the 2 highways that New Haven is bounded by that by far is the biggest cause, rendering just about every part of New Haven equally affected by this issue.
As Jonathan says, there are acres and acres of surface parking that could be used for this plan, but the developer wanted to go the path of least resistance, buy a bunch of homes cheap, demolish them and put up a large steel structure with even more surface parking.
And if Centerplan sounds familiar, they are the folks involved in this boondoggle:
http://newhavenindependent.org/archives/2008/08/college_sq_hote.php
posted by: Bill on July 15, 2010 1:15pm
Increased traffic would make the neighborhood safer and not doubt bring in more tax revenue. But NIMBY.
posted by: Threefifths on July 15, 2010 5:57pm
Pedro Soto on July 15, 2010 11:12am
Threefifths- there actually is a link between traffic and asthma
Here is a up date.
What causes asthma?
The basic cause of the lung abnormality in asthma is not yet known.
There are lots of conducive factors why someone can develop asthma, as for example some aspects of modern lifestyles, such as housing and diet, might be responsible. Smoking during pregnancy is known to increase the chance of your child developing asthma. There is currently no evidence that traffic pollution causes asthma, although poor air quality can make your asthma worse.
You can read the rest.
http://www.microlife.com/healthguide/asthma/faq/
How about the vans in the community that have to pick the people up for Dialysis.If the Dialysis is near by,That would cut down on air pollution due to the fact that they would not have far to go.
posted by: robn on July 16, 2010 9:07am
3/5,
You accused a member of the Board of signing death warrants by voting as he (DUDE) did. Tom Talbot is not on the board, he is the Deputy Director of Zoning in the City Planning Department.
In any event, must you enagage in such inflammatory, accusatory hyperbole?
posted by: Threefifths on July 16, 2010 9:59am
robn on July 16, 2010 9:07am
3/5,
You accused a member of the Board of signing death warrants by voting as he (DUDE) did. Tom Talbot is not on the board, he is the Deputy Director of Zoning in the City Planning Department.
In any event, must you enagage in such inflammatory, accusatory hyperbole?
They all go hand and hand Look at his statement
Nothing about the property would not lend itself to residential development,” Deputy Director of Zoning Tom Talbot said. He said the application does not show hardship, which is a condition of approval of a use variance.
In any event, must you enagage in such inflammatory, accusatory hyperbole?
Opinion’s are never inflammatory,Statements arelike yours.I stand by what I said.The board voted unanimously to deny the application
You just sign the death warrants for people of color by voting this down.DUDE!!!!
posted by: Ned on July 16, 2010 11:39am
Who owns these properties? Wendel Harp:
Vernon Street - nos. 8, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 19, 23, 27
Ward Street - nos. 21,23, 33, 37
Yale New Haven Hospital:
Ward Street - nos. 167, 171, 177, 181, 185, 189
109 Ward St.
sale price 2002 = $65,000
sale price 2009 = $224,000
93 Ward St.
sale price 2002 = $40,000
sale price 2006 = $200,000
167 Ward St.
Assessed Value: $140,560
Current Year Taxes Billed (2009) = $3,983.84
sale price 2000 = $15,000
sale price 2006 = $186,911
sale price 2008 = $14,575,000
LOL!
posted by: robn on July 16, 2010 12:23pm
3/5,
If you believe that opinions are not inflammatory, then here’s some non-inflammatory opinion coming at you. In my opinion, you post accusatory, inflammatory, poorly written hyperbole on the NHI to discredit it as a reasonable community forum.
posted by: Threefifths on July 16, 2010 3:29pm
posted by: robn on July 16, 2010 12:23pm
3/5,
If you believe that opinions are not inflammatory, then here’s some non-inflammatory opinion coming at you. In my opinion, you post accusatory, inflammatory, poorly written hyperbole on the NHI to discredit it as a reasonable community forum.
Did I hit a root canal or maybe a hemroid? There is a old saying.If you don’t like what is on Television and Radio then change the channel or turn them off. If you don’t like my inflammatory, poorly written hyperbole on the NHI then don’t read it my inflammatory opinion!!!!
posted by: robn on July 16, 2010 4:32pm
3/5,
So now your opinions ARE inflammatory? Geez, which is it?
I find it very interesting how you portray yourself as a harbinger of justice for the oppressed but all of a sudden, when you hurl ridiculous accusations at people in volunteer positions and somebody takes you to the mat for your comments, you get twitchy and evasive. The NHI isn’t your personal TV channel for broadcasting counterfactual rants. Its an interactive community. If you want respect from others you gotta have a little respect for others.
posted by: Threefifths on July 16, 2010 6:54pm
posted by: robn on July 16, 2010 4:32pm
3/5,
So now your opinions ARE inflammatory? Geez, which is it?
I am answering you.Here is what you said in your own words.
In any event, must you enagage in such inflammatory, accusatory hyperbole?
find it very interesting how you portray yourself as a harbinger of justice for the oppressed but all of a sudden, when you hurl ridiculous accusations at people in volunteer positions and somebody takes you to the mat for your comments, you get twitchy and evasive.
If I was geting twitchy and evasive.I would not be answering you everytime you post.
The NHI isn’t your personal TV channel for broadcasting counterfactual rants. Its an interactive community. If you want respect from others you gotta have a little respect for others.
I never said that the NHI was my personal TV channel for broadcasting counterfactual rants.
But it seems that the people that run the NHI doesn’t ave a problem wit whatI write.You need to read te rules of the NHI when it comes to what a person can write.
Its an interactive community. If you want respect from others you gotta have a little respect for others.
Wo said that I am not geting respect from others.It seems that you are the only one that doesn’t have respect for my opinion. Tell you what.I will tell you in my Caribbean Dialect. Me go help you out. MY friend in New York is a doctor here.I wiil get you a appointment to see Him there.
http://gawker.com/318206/inside-the-bellevue-mental-hygiene-clinic
