LICH bidder Peebles adds Maimonides, North Shore-LIJ to proposal

Could more surprises be in store?

March 21, 2014 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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Developer Don Peebles has reconfigured his bid for Long Island College Hospital (LICH) to include North Shore-LIJ Health System, Maimonides Medical Center and ProHealth Care Associates, Peebles’ spokesperson Bill Cunningham confirmed on Friday.

The joint proposal, first reported by Crain’s NY, would offer a slate of health services at the Cobble Hill site, but would not operate LICH as a full service hospital.

Jodi Cross, Director of Public Relations for Maimonides Medical Center, also confirmed that Maimonides would be participating in the bidding. “Maimonides Medical Center is pleased to be participating in one of the proposals submitted to the state of New York for continuing a healthcare presence in the area that has been served by Long Island College Hospital,” Cross said via email.

“We joined with a distinguished group of developers and healthcare providers because we believe this proposal will ensure that Brooklyn residents will be able to remain in Brooklyn for their healthcare needs, and the entire team is committed to partnering with the community on an ongoing basis,” she added.

North Shore-LIJ spokesperson Terry Lynam also confirmed on Friday that North Shore would be a partner on the project.

Peebles’ proposal is one of several bids submitted on Wednesday as a response to a Request for Proposals (RFP) reissued by the State University of New York (SUNY). Peebles is said to be competing against six or more teams, with as many as four offering full service hospital packages and others offering ambulatory care, clinics and “standalone ERs.”

Under the new RFP’s rules, bidders proposing a full service hospital would receive more points than bidders offering only ambulatory care services or standalone ERs.

Since the last round of bidding, rendered moot by a settlement between SUNY and a coalition working to keep LICH in operation as a full service hospital, bidders have had the opportunity to reconfigure their offerings.

In a previous round, Peebles partnered with developers BPR and Dabar, with MacFarlane Partners for financing, and the Institute for Family Health for clinical services. Peebles’ previous bid had dedicated “up to 50,000 square feet” to health-related services. Details of the new proposal, including square footage, are not yet public.

All proposals are likely to include a mix of residential and commercial development. The existing LICH properties add up to more than a million square feet of floor space, according to figures provided by SUNY in the RFP.

Another bid, offered by Brooklyn Health Partners, is proposing a hospital, ambulatory and long-term care and skilled nursing satellite facilities, along with apartments, retail and commercial development, according to Charlene Nimmons, President of the Wyckoff Gardens Resident Association, who attended a recent presentation.

Other bidders, including Fortis Property Group and the Related Companies, previously presented plans that seek to redevelop as residential and commercial LICH’s 20 properties, with some ambulatory care, clinics and “standalone” ERs operated by healthcare partners including NYU and The Brooklyn Hospital Center.

A group that has previously proposed a full service hospital is the Chinese Community Accountable Care Organization, partnering with the Eastern Chinese American Physician IPA, developer John Catsimatidis and former Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington. Their participation in this round of the RFP has not been confirmed.

Six community organizations who were petitioners in the LICH litigation are sponsoring a public presentation of the proposals submitted by RFP respondents who have accepted their invitation. All are invited to the forum on Tuesday, March 25th, from 6 to 8 p.m. at St. Francis College, Founders Hall Auditorium, 180 Remsen Street, Brooklyn Heights.

According to the terms of the settlement between SUNY and the LICH coalition, SUNY will post all the responses to the RFP on their website within five business days of submission.