The latest round of Long Island College Hospital arguments, hashed out in a Brooklyn court today, ended with the postponement of a ruling until Friday.
Fortis Property Group and NYU Langone Medical Center, the bidders currently the throws of negotiations with LICH owner the State University of New York, now have a few days to wheel and deal on a community-needs assessment.
The pair have both resisted acquiescing to a community group’s request to hold to a previous deal reached with the Peebles. NYU Langone argued that it is continually performing its own community assessment. Fortis, meanwhile, did increase its health care component in the face of the pressure, offering to include an outpatient HIV/AIDS clinic and up to 20 observation beds. Fortis has also said it will set aside 10,000 square feet in its redevelopment for medical.
The bidders are close to securing an agreement with SUNY, Fortis’ attorney told Crain’s.
In the meantime, SUNY has agreed to keep LICH’s emergency department in operation, though the eventual operator of the site will be responsible for all costs past May 22.
Justice Johnny Lee Baynes, who initially said he would render a decision on the current bidders Friday, then corrected him to say “strike that from the record.”
“It could be Friday,” he told the court. “It could be after. It is coming.” [Crain’s] — Julie Strickland
