Two Upper West Side buildings will soon serve as shelters for asylum seekers.
Mayor Adams has announced the opening of two new shelters for asylum seekers on the Upper West Side. Collectively, they will serve “more than 800 individuals in 516 rooms,” and according to the mayor, residents will consist of “adult families and single women.”
Advertisement
The sites will be located at 117 West 70th Street (between Columbus and Broadway) and 205 / 207 West 85th Street (between Broadway and Amsterdam). Gale Brewer’s office informed ILTUWS that both shelters could open as early as Monday evening, but “more likely tomorrow.”
These shelters are classified as Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers (HERRCs), run by NYC Health + Hospitals. “These are not DHS shelters,” according to a representative of Brewer’s office.
The building at 117 West 70th Street is also known as Stratford Arms, and has served as a dormitory for the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) for several years. ILTUWS has been observing students moving out as recently as this morning, June 12, as their school year is now over. The building will now be repurposed as an asylum shelter.
The buildings at 205 and 207 West 85th Street are collectively known as the Amsterdam Residence Hall, which also accommodate AMDA students.
Advertisement
In late May, we reported that the Lincoln Correctional Facility at 31-33 West 110th Street, which has been shuttered since 2019, would be repurposed for migrant housing as well.
Recently, Mayor Eric Adams petitioned a judge to suspend New York City’s right-to-shelter policy for asylum seekers. The Mayor told CBS, “We will get clarity from the court and we’re going to make sure that we continue to do everything we have to do to take care of New Yorkers who are here and those who are arriving.” The Mayor also felt, “New York has done its share. Our shelter system is buckling. We are trying to prevent it from collapsing.”
Mayor Eric Adams later mentioned that Gracie Mansion could become the next shelter for asylum-seeking migrants, and last week, Adams announced that NYC will start housing migrants at churches and other religious organizations.
We’ll provide updates as we learn more.
Boycott this immediately. They keep using the uws as their dumping ground. Does everyone remember the disaster that happened with the hotel in 79th street. Why is is always the uws and not the ues or soho or TriBeCa or far out in queens where there is plenty of space. This is abusive and dangerous for our families.
What are you suggesting we boycott?
They are illegal aliens not asylum seekers. Why do they all have to be housed on the Upper West Side. Share the love.
No Tina, they are asylum seeker, ones you don’t like.
“New York has done its share.” – LOL
Texas has taken in MILLIONS of “asylum seekers”.
Remember kids…you voted for this.
Texas gets a lot more federal money than New York to do exactly that.
Perhaps the money should follow the migrant so states/cities get a proportional amount.
Upper West Siders voted overwhelmingly for Democrats now you reap what they sow HA HA HA
The laws that control immigration are written by the U.S. House of Representatives and not by Cities or States. The last I looked, the House has a Republican majority and has done NOTHING on this. HA HA HA at yourself
But we are a ‘SANCTUARY CITY’ so anyone and everyone can come right into our city from anywhere & be housed and fed and THAT is under the full DEMOCRAT ONE PARTY administration people DID vote for (EXCEPT ME).
Don’t laws have to be passed by Congress (R) and the Senate (D), and then signed by the President (D)?
Stratford Arms must be owned by slumlords! They always take in whatever pays the most! It was a welfare hotel years ago. RUINS THE AREA! The taxes we pay to live here should mean something!! I hear there’s a barge waiting to be filled! Illegal aliens are NOT MIGRANTS SEEKING ADYLUM.
The area isn’t “ruined.” That block is consistently quiet and clean.
It WAS consistently quiet and clean. There weren’t nearly 1000 migrants and homeless people within a two block radius.
Almost 1000 strangers without jobs, loitering around can change the situation very soon.
What eill happen the students at 70 th and Columbus when they return to school? Where will they live?
I’m a current student at AMDA and recently moved out of the w 70th building. The school bought newer housing for us in Greenwich Village for us to live in.
Based on the actions of our Mayor, the students will likely have to apply for asylum and may well have to first go to Mexico to re-enter illegally by crossing the Rio Grande.
Why are we kicking out students to house migrants?
I’m happy that the Upper West Side is welcoming these people in need. We are living up to our reputation as inclusive and tolerant. Other neighborhoods in the city would not be as accepting.
Noone gives a rat’s behind about “your” reputation as inclusive and tolerant. Some of us want fiscal responsibility, lower taxes and sustainable services, so that we don’t become a banana republic ourselves. But that’s too much to comprehend, I gather.
New York needs disaster relief ..from Democrat political machine, the NYCCOuncil, and far Left imbecile wing of both city and state legislature, that can’t even provide SNAP to properly qualifying voting citizens, amoung other needful social programs WE PAY FOR AND ELECTED THESE FLACKS to ensure their provision. Not bend knee to a illegitimate Washington DC administration. You sad lot low IQ credulous UWS voters that voted for this saturnalia believing political hacks’ rad chic diversity crap bought with Soro’s $$ are being taken advantaged of like sheep. THERE IS ”NO” city state or national economy to support this generational suicide pact of populace replacement influx. There are no jobs and upper molibity is onlyl realized by politicians selling their influence and votes. “Minority” public officials are just as corrupt and grifting as ‘white’ pols but due to affirmative action advancements they are interposed into managerial authority but have no skills to properly govern a complex systems socially or politically but are reactionary and incompetent. This is a symptom of blue anon state urban degradation of services and quality of life. Hey listen all have a wonderul & safe summer. Stay alert and unless organize protesting, stay CLEAR OF THESE NEW illegal migrant HOT ZONES.
That is one ugly racist rant you unleashed there.
Moreover, your assertion, “There are no jobs” is false.
Are you ok? There’s help available for people in crisis like yourself.
Wow. Our small family business used to operate the laundry room at AMDA on 70th. You wouldn’t believe the disgusting pigsty conditions these privileged students regularly created, far worse than anything I’d seen in City Housing. We couldn’t deal with it and left. My guess is the landlord is happy to take the extra the extra money from the City to house illegal aliens because they might just be better tenants than these rich kids.
They can hang out with the 100+ homeless people in the new shelter on 83rd St., across the street from the elementary school.
No one wants this in our neighborhood.
This area has taken enough of these people. They can go to Buffalo and Rochester, zero need to keep them in the city. A net negative.
It’s the scale that is so problematic. Hundreds of people added to a single block, and no word or expectation that city resources will be made available to accommodate.
Less than a day’s notice, it appears. Gale Brewer failing her constituents.
Perhaps a little more communication with the community as to how this influx of immigrants will be handled by the city would be helpful (Police presence, counseling, feeding, health care, etc). On the other hand, I am glad to help these people who are in dire need of help and are being uprooted from their homes under deplorable circumstances. This is an opportunity for all of us to show some kindness and humanity for those less fortunate.
I love how the right wingers immediately jump to blame democrats when it’s the republican lead states who are putting asylum seekers on planes to NY.
They need to be flown here because NY is a sanctuary city and the states you mention are now at capacity.
How does this slip by without any input from the community and/or community board.
This is a dire situation. Honestly, I can’t help but feel for these people but I am not hearing on any services offered nor how we are going to deal with over 1000 new people in need of a plethora of services in the neighborhood . Temporary housing? Schooling, good, counseling? Boy oh boy.
I do have some feelings that I raised my children here and pay a huge amount of taxes but my own children can’t afford to live in the city anymore. I also have many elderly friends who are now rent challenged.
This is a crisis and we need the state and government to enforce other places for these immigrants to go to. Just terrible and just as inhumane to stick them in that hotel.
800 people, mostly men, single, without actual, documents, with unknown pasts.
I’m thinking aloud, that this 800 is only the beginning.
What about the homeless living on the streets and subway cars! The people who do not need medical care should be included in this housing.The ones who do should get it with some of this free money.
I agree WTF! is going on here, as a BLACK MAN this is out of control. I dare u to go to our Columbia University,all u see is latin workers or people with accents no African AMERICANS,now I speak and understand English as the application says,no criminal history,High school diploma,Cdl License food protection license(can cook in institutions y ou couldnt find me a spot?..however I feel for them..dont believe me go up there!I”m old now but I tried for at least 8yrs they broke me. when are the black pols,gonna start to fight for ME! AMERICAN CITIZEN leads me to the think all pols are in the GAME.Yea it still bothers me a great deal..oh 4.5 billion this yr alone. story!