The proposed development of a health center in Northeast Philly continues to be the focus of debate involving health care accessibility, misinformation, fears of the potential loss of a historic building and concerns about a possible increase in traffic accidents along the already busy avenue. Roosevelt. .
On Saturday, about 50 community members gathered in the Northwood area to support and oppose the construction of a health center on the grounds of Friends Hospital — believed to be the country's oldest private mental hospital, on 100 acres.
According to the city, the project has been part of an ongoing conversation since 2011, but many community members said this is the first time they've heard it or had a say.
What does the proposal include?
Plans call for a 55,000-square-foot health center capable of serving 30,000 Philadelphians a year — with smaller facility near Frankford's transportation hub serves approximately 5,000 patients annually.
Patients will pay between $5 and $20 for adult and pediatric appointments. There will also be no charge for access to family planning, childhood immunizations, dental services, blood tests, mammograms, x-rays, pharmacy, behavioral counseling, specialist referrals and physical therapy.
How does the community feel?
For longtime resident Maria Serna, a place like this could be a game changer.
“My mum is 90 and she and my sister are in wheelchairs. I have had to wait up to a year for a doctor's appointment for them at the 10 Health Center [2230 Cottman Ave.] — the only city health center in the area,” Serna said.
Many of her neighbors have similar experiences, she said.
“This area has a large immigrant population, many do not have access to doctors, so they are at risk of dying, being hospitalized for aggravated conditions and facing the fear of deportation if they go to an emergency room,” he said.
Then why is the project facing opposition?
Among the issues raised by those who spoke Saturday against the project was concern that the nearly 170-year-old Lawnside building, which once served as the superintendent's residence, would be demolished. The hospital campus was originally established as the Friends' Asylum for the relief of the speechless in 1813.
“It's already disappointing to see the landscape with it [new] building in it, but to see it demolished is like adding insult to injury,” said Oscar Beisert, a local resident and preservationist. “It's common in many places to build around it or move, they do it all the time. Even if they're just using the building for storage, it's better to have the building for the atmosphere.”
For Serna, the concern about the building feels like “people are losing their privileges and not realizing the huge need for health care in the area.”
In addition to concerns about preserving the structure, there is concern about converting the site into an injection site and the impact it would have on the community.
Health Commissioner Cheryl Bettigole shot down the injection site rumour. Later, Council member Quetcy Lozada, — who represents District 7, including parts of Juniata and Fairhill that would also be affected by the creation of both health care centers — confirmed that injection sites are not part of the discussion.
Zoraida Figueroa, who lives across the street from the proposed site and has lived in the area for 38 years, suggested that talk of historical concerns about the project may be a cover for what really bothers people.
“I hear concerns about people coming from other places. … What they're saying is, 'I'm afraid of people who aren't like me,' so let's talk about that instead of hiding behind a historical situation,” Figueroa said. “If they were concerned about the historic building, then they should have preserved it.”
Why can't the Lawnside building be integrated into the build?
According to Bettigole, the city tried to find ways to do this, but could not find a solution.
“It does not depend on the modern code. doesn't have sprinklers; it does not have wide enough corridors, the rooms are not wide enough for our health center design and it is prohibitively expensive to move around, [costing] over a million dollars,” Bettigole explained.
When asked what played into the decision to choose this location to house the new health center, Bettigole cited space, parking, accessibility to public transportation and “having a willing owner.”
Is the structure stone?
No. Before it can give the green light to the project, the City Council must hear from community members and the site where construction will take place must be rezoned to allow for a health facility.
According to Lozada, next week the City Council rules committee, which deals with zoning issues, among other things, to consider rezoning bill.
“We have to try to find a balance that addresses the need as well as the concerns of the community,” Lozada said.
