Upper West Side women's shelter sparks drug use and chaos near playground

Project Renewal’s new shelter at 537 West 59th St., funded with $500 million, was intended to include a 1,500-square-foot health clinic for residents and the community. Since its May opening, locals allege that drug injection, vomiting and public nudity have become common sights near the Gertrude Ederle Playground, forcing a nearby school to use a farther field-trip site. Neighbors describe bizarre attire, occasional fights and frequent ambulance calls, while a Department of Social Services spokesperson says clinicians and case managers are already on site.

Councilwoman Gale Brewer says her office has logged dozens of grievances and is pressing officials for a timeline on the clinic’s opening. The shelter’s nonprofit received nearly $104 million in government grants in fiscal year 2025, and community groups have called for an investigation into the contract awarded during the de Blasio administration.