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Council rezones former St. Clare’s hospital parcels to R-3, clears environmental review to enable redevelopment
Summary
Following a planning commission recommendation, the council adopted a negative SEQR declaration and rezoned parcels in the former St. Clare’s hospital campus to R-3 multi-family residential to enable rehabilitation and adaptive reuse proposals; developers indicated interest in large-scale residential conversion with amenities.
The council voted to rezone the former St. Clare’s hospital campus and related parcels to R-3 (multi-family residential) and adopted a negative State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) declaration, clearing a key regulatory step for redevelopment.
Planning staff and council members described the R-3 zoning as the least intensive feasible district to enable multi-family reuse and to preserve the historic hospital building. Staff noted the property’s institutional zoning and demolition costs would make single-family redevelopment infeasible; R-3 accommodates the type and scale of projects developers presented in neighborhood meetings. Planning Commission members had voted unanimously to recommend the rezoning after a public hearing; meeting presenters said developer proposals could include on-site parking, day care, resident amenities and a pool as part of a larger rehabilitation budget estimated by proponents at roughly $50 million.
Council discussion covered traffic, preservation, and neighborhood concerns. Staff cited traffic counts showing reduced vehicle activity since the hospital closed and argued a residential reuse would create fewer emergency and service calls than an operating hospital. Supporters said doing nothing — allowing the property to remain vacant — would likely hurt nearby property values and invite neglect and illegal dumping.
Ending: With the negative SEQR declaration and rezoning in place, the city can proceed to review site plans and building-specific proposals that developers submit; staff said they anticipated returning to council with site-plan approvals and any required incentives or tax-credit agreements tied to historic rehabilitation.
