Residents in Manhattan’s East Village have filed a lawsuit seeking to block the city’s plan to open a homeless intake shelter for adult men in their neighborhood. The legal action targets Mayor Zohran Mamdani and city agencies, arguing the project was rushed and improperly approved.
The lawsuit was filed Monday in the New York Supreme Court and requests an emergency restraining order. If granted, the order would delay the planned May 1 opening of the shelter at 8 East 3rd Street, The New York Post reported.
The site is one of two locations selected by City Hall to replace operations currently housed at the Bellevue men’s shelter. Officials say the Bellevue facility is set to close by the end of the month due to deteriorating conditions.
The lawsuit does not challenge the decision to shut down Bellevue. Instead, it focuses on the process used to select and approve the new East Village location.
“This case is not about the City’s decision to close the Bellevue Intake Shelter,” the filing states. “It challenges only the City’s hastily made and legally invalid decision to locate a new citywide homeless adult male intake center at 8 East 3rd Street without following any of the legal requirements that must precede such a significant and consequential decision,” the filing states.
City officials announced the plan in March as part of a broader reorganization of the homeless intake system. The East Village site is intended to house single adult men, while families without minor children are set to be relocated to a separate facility at 333 Bowery.
Officials said approximately 250 individuals currently at the Bellevue shelter would be moved as part of the transition. The administration has described the relocation as necessary to maintain services while addressing conditions at the existing site.
Local opposition to the plan emerged quickly after the announcement. Residents voiced concerns during a community meeting on April 7, where some criticized the concentration of shelters in the neighborhood.
“None of you all can stop drinking and drugging … and all lingering around here creating crimes and all kinds of stuff,” said Rev. Keith Gadson during the meeting. “Put it in your neighborhood!” he said.
The lawsuit was filed by the Village Organization for the Integrity of Community Engagement, known as VOICE, along with several local residents. Plaintiffs argue the city relied on an emergency declaration that was not justified by conditions at the Bellevue shelter.
According to the filing, city officials acknowledged there was no immediate danger at the site. The lawsuit says that undermines the basis for using emergency powers to fast-track the relocation.
Plaintiffs also argue the city failed to conduct a “Fair Share” analysis. That process is intended to ensure that public facilities are distributed equitably across neighborhoods.
“The East Village is saturated with homeless shelters,” the lawsuit contends. It argues that a proper review would have identified concerns about placing another intake center in the area.
The filing also raises questions about building capacity and compliance with city codes. It claims the site may not be suitable for housing the number of individuals planned.
Residents involved in the lawsuit say the issue is not opposition to helping those in need. Instead, they argue the process and location raise safety concerns.
“I truly feel for these men, but should the lone intake facility for homeless men for the entire city be located on a tight residential block?” said Caleb Berger, an East Village resident. “I fear this rushed decision is jeopardizing both the safety of my neighbors and of these men themselves,” he said.
Mamdani defended the plan during a public appearance Tuesday. He said the decision to close Bellevue was based on expert guidance.
“We received expert guidance that vacating that site was an urgent and immediate need, as opposed to a suggestion to consider in the years to come,” Mamdani said.