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Upper Mess Side NYC women’s shelter brings cat fights, junkies and public nudity to neighborhood near playground
A $500 million Upper West Side women’s shelter that was supposed to come with an on-site health clinic has instead brought drug use, public nudity and daily mayhem to a block with a popular playground, furious neighbors said.
The 200-bed Project Renewal shelter at 537 West 59th St. opened in May to house women grappling with addiction and serious mental illness.
But locals say the facility opened without the promised clinic — leaving residents without needed care and families scared to use Gertrude Ederle Playground next door.
“It’s a huge problem. It’s right next to a playground,” neighbor Heather, who declined to give her last name, told The Post. “There are people shooting up and vomiting in the playground.”
A teacher who asked not to be named said her school now takes the students to a playground further away to avoid the chaos.
“The reason why we haven’t been coming here as often is because of the women,” the teacher said. “When you have little ones running around, it becomes unsafe.”
The teacher said syringes have been found in the park, and that residents have been spotted naked and sometimes seen setting up makeshift camps on the sidewalk.
“Obviously they don’t get the help they deserve,” she said. “These people are not just struggling financially. They’re struggling mentally.”
Heather said she has seen residents wandering the area in bizarre outfits — including one woman dressed as a devil and another in a towel and ski goggles.
“They’re getting half a billion dollars to do this, and clearly they’re not providing the services they’re supposed to,” she said.
Project Renewal’s financial records show the nonprofit received nearly $104 million in government grants during fiscal year 2025.
A spokesperson for the Department of Social Services, which manages the shelter contract, said the location is already providing the women with much-needed services.
“This recently opened site is currently equipped with clinicians, case managers, and other social services staff to address the complex needs of each client and help them on their unique path to recovery and permanent housing,” the spokesperson said.
But Stacy Lefton, who has lived in the area for 17 years, said the once-quiet area has become unrecognizable.
“This is a family neighborhood,” she said. “I see the women fighting with each other.”
Lefton said ambulances are called to the shelter sometimes as much as four times a day. Over one recent weekend, she said, a woman spent hours outside without pants or underwear.
Lefton also, during a walk with her dog, watched another woman sit in the street, pull out a needle, inject herself and pass out.
Lefton said shelter workers told her to call 911 when she raised concerns.
“It was so scary. I ran home and called 911 and reported she needed help,” she said.
“This is so counterproductive,” she said. “These people need to be in inpatient facilities. What they’re doing here is not appropriate at all.”
The group Friends of Ederle Playground asked the city Department of Investigation in 2023 to probe the $500 million, 40-year government contract awarded during the final months of the de Blasio administration.
“In a city where it’s illegal to sell wine next door to a playground, Project Renewal wants you to believe it’s safe to bring in drug-addicted people from all over the city and to building their smoking courtyard next to the playground,” said one of the activists, Rachel Azarian, who has three kids.
The shelter is run by the non-profit Project Renewal, which won a contract that lasts 40 years to build out and operate the facility.
And what/who is “Project Renewal”? Glad you asked. Per Google AI,
Project Renewal is run by President and CEO Eric Rosenbaum and governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Marlene Zurack. It is primarily funded through massive government contracts with New York City agencies (like the Department of Homeless Services), alongside federal and state grants, private foundations, and public donations.
Staff: Employs over 950 professional and support workers.
Funding Sources
City & State Contracts: Receives extensive municipal funding and multi-year human service contracts via agencies like the NYC Department of Social Services (DSS) and Department of Homeless Services (DHS).
Government Grants: Secures funding through federal and state entities, such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). [1]
Philanthropy: Backed by private sector banks, corporate partners, and charitable organizations like the New York Community Trust.
