Since St. Vincent's Hospital closed its doors last April, many businesses in the vicinity of the former hospital have seen a dramatic decrease in profits.
Images
According to Tony Juliano, chairperson and president of Greenwich Village-Chelsea Chamber of Commerce, a number of local shops and restaurants have even been forced to close due to depressed sales. Juliano said because so many of these businesses relied on St. Vincent's staff and patients as customers, when the hospital closed, it dealt a severe blow to the local economy.
"Many have struggled and closed," he said. "It is devastating."
Juliano added that to make matters worse, little effort has been made to help local businesses adjust to the closure of the 160-year old institution, which employed approximately 3,000 people.
"As of now, there is not a whole lot being done. There are no grants being given. But we now have the attention of people who are looking at [the situation] more carefully. We're trying to shine a light on it."
But according to the Office of the State Comptroller, the city has been offering loans to provide financial aid to help failing businesses.
"Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli recommended that small business owners apply to the Business Council of New York State, Inc. for loans to help them manage the difficulties caused by the hospital's closing," Ola Fadahunsi, a spokesman of the Office of the State Comptroller, said. "New York Business Development Corporation loans can be used for working capital, debt refinancing, business acquisition, real estate or equipment purchases,"
Fadahunsi said more than 95 percent of the loan applications are approved.
This, however, may not be enough for businesses such as Lafayette French Pastry Bakers Inc., located on 26 Greenwich Ave. Owner Ted Kefalinos said the hospital was vital to the surrounding community. His customers were employees and patients of the hospital.
"Business is down by 50 percent. We lost five good businesses and one is going out in the corner. Everyone else is sort of just making it," Kefalinos said.
He added: "If the hospital covered a wide area from Wall Street to 23rd Street, the [city and state] representatives, including community boards, should be fired or taken out because where were they? Where were they at one half of a billion dollars of debt? This is what they are responsible for."
