New York City is trying to ram two massive homeless shelters into quiet Staten Island neighborhoods by exploiting loopholes and ignoring the law.
At 4934 Arthur Kill Rd., in Charleston, officials are labeling a planned 160-bed men’s shelter a “transient hotel” in zoning filings. That magic wording lets them build “as-of-right” with zero public review or Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). Yet the Department of Homeless Services admits that it will operate as a full-service shelter for single adult men, opening in mid-2027.
No environmental review. No community hearings. Just a wink-and-nod bait-and-switch…