LICH-happenings-080515

Roy Sloane, the controversial first vice president and acting president of the Cobble Hill Association, today announced that he is stepping down from the neighborhood organization. Two dozen Cobble Hill residents called for Sloane’s ousting last week and organized a special meeting for September 10 to discuss his departure.

The Cobble Hill Association is in the midst of fighting a plan by Fortis Property Group to built two high-rise residential towers in the neighborhood on the site of the former Long Island College Hospital. Sloane had been representing the CHA in talks with Fortis,  but several members did not believe that he was fighting the development as strongly as he should be.

Sloane wrote a resignation letter to the Cobble Hill Association members and board, which CHA sent out via email to its members:

It has been my pleasure to serve on the Cobble Hill Association’s Board almost continuously since 1980. In that time, Cobble Hill has become one of New York’s premier historic districts through the Association’s preservation efforts. We re-built Cobble Hill Park and Lower Van Voorhees Park, created new playgrounds along Henry Street, expanded the historic district, helped create Brooklyn Bridge Park, battled for Super Fund for the Gowanus Canal and spent many years working to support our hospital. I have been proud to work with my neighbors to accomplish these important goals and have been honored to be the community association’s leader for many of those years.

Working with my neighbors on behalf of our community has been a true inspiration for me. The Halloween Parade, Music in the Park, History Tours, Cobble Hill Park, the Tree Fund and the Cobble Hill Health Center represent the spirit of our community. I am deeply grateful to and want to thank the many people who have been part of these wonderful events and activities.

Today, the LICH site re-development is the greatest challenge Cobble Hill has faced since the hospital expanded in the early 80’s. The engagement process, developed by our local elected officials and led by Council member Brad Lander, offers the community a unique opportunity to pre-shape both the ULURP and as-of-right options. The Cobble Hill Association Executive Board voted unanimously to support that process and that’s why I have been, and remain, in full agreement with pursuing this course of action.

Today, a new group of people would like to take responsibility for this development and have a more direct role in shaping our future. In order to facilitate an orderly change in leadership, I have decided to tender my resignation from the Board.

It is my sincere hope that the new leadership team will be successful in the fight for the best possible outcome for Cobble Hill and the greater community, too. The danger of an out-of-scale skyscraper district in our low rise, historic community is very real – but, for me, the greatest tragedy would be for the Fortis development to leave a torn and divided community in it’s wake.

Thank you, Roy

As of this writing, the September 10 CHA meeting is still scheduled to take place to elect a new president and fill other vacant board positions. It is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Cobble Hill Health Center at 380 Henry Street. The public is welcome, but only members can vote.

Struggle Over Controversial LICH Development Rocks CHA [Brownstoner]
Fortis Proposes 20 Percent Affordable Housing for Controversial LICH Towers [Brownstoner]
Rendering Revealed for NYU’s Medical Center at LICH [Brownstoner]
LICH coverage [Brownstoner]
Photo by Curbed


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. I have sat with, and opposite, Roy for more than 20 years. He was the most committed activist I have ever met. He was one of those guys who was always way out in front of the issue, in there, well informed and articulate, ready to give you the argument or the support. Even when we disagreed there was the respect. And i believe his approach to the LICH issue was the only rational one —the bigger battle was lost last year and therefore the next best approach is get close to the enemy and stay at the table, stay at the table, and get the best possible outcome for your community. CHA are fools to abandon him. Then again, he can retire to a more normal life, but I do not think he will that. All the best, Roy.

  2. The sad thing is that we can’t run the elected officials out of office for allowing this to happen–including the Mayor who chained himself during a protest in order to get arrested for the sake of the hospital. He vowed to save the place, and reaped enormous benefits in the race for mayor for the commitment he made to this neighborhood hospital.

    The CHA should be going after the real players that allowed this situation to arise, not local community volunteers members like Mr Sloane.