An adult day care facility in Union City wants to expand from 89 to 150 people, but residents of Manhattan Avenue near 16th and 17th streets have successfully fought to stop the project so far because they don’t want the center’s transportation vehicles blocking the streets.
At a Zoning Board of Adjustments meeting held on July 30, the board heard arguments from residents living near the facility who opposed the request, and from representatives of the facility who attempted to convince the board to approve the expansion.
“If we increased the number, we’d have to hire more people, meaning more jobs.” – Chris Archevald
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An alternative to nursing homes
“Let’s face it, we’re all getting older,” said Chris Archevald, administrator at Adult Care senior day care center located at 1607 Manhattan Ave., last week. “Every year, the number of senior citizens in the country and in the state continues to grow and these people need a place to go. I think these places are great alternatives to nursing homes, because nursing homes are more expensive to the state and the government.”
“There are people who perhaps aren’t sick enough to require a nursing home, but not well enough to be completely alone 24 hours a day.” – Chris Archevald
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A fleet of workers provides door-to-door transportation, hot meals, health monitoring, and socialization activities. Medicaid is charged $78 per day for services.
“There are people who perhaps aren’t sick enough to require a nursing home, but not well enough to be completely alone 24 hours a day,” said Archevald. “I think this provides them with a place to be where they can be cared for, for the amount of time that they are here.”
In Union City, there are approximately five senior care facilities, of which all have a capacity to care for over 100 clients.
Residents voiced concerns
However, Maurizio Samarelli, a resident at 1701 Manhattan Ave., presented eight pages with approximately 16 pictures of transportation vehicles blocking the sidewalk and street area in front of the facility.
And Carlos Castro, a resident of 1702 Manhattan Ave., gave testimony on behalf of his father. His father alleged that while a vehicle was idling and blocking the street, he asked the driver to move, and the driver gave him a negative gesture.
“This will make a bad situation a nightmare,” said businessman Alfred Martino in a speech at the hearing, according to transcripts. Martino is the owner of Listen & Live Audio at 1700 Manhattan Ave. The company has been at the location for over two and a half years.
Martino said that although he didn’t mind if there were a higher profit margin for the facility with its increase in capacity, he thought the facility didn’t care for the rights of nearby residents.
“The applicant’s blatant disregard for others was never more obvious than on Memorial Day, when the noise from a generator they were using to wash their vans made it impossible for residents to sit outside their homes and enjoy the holiday,” said Martino. “They block access to fire hydrants and access to crosswalks. And they take up parking spaces needed for all residents and other businesses.”
Responding to these complaints, the facility’s attorney, Stephen Geffner, said during the meeting that the Zoning Board could impose specific conditions and restrictions to satisfy the public’s worries.
“We also have a parking lot on Eighth Street,” said Archevald last week, who added that the vehicles stop by the facility only to pick up and drop off passengers.
When asked if Adult Care would submit a request for expansion in the future, Archevald acknowledged that it is likely. He said he hopes the residents and the board will reconsider.
“I just know we’re experiencing a lot of resistance from the board and the powers that be,” he said, “and it’s unfortunate, because senior citizens vote as well, and I think they’re shooting out a very vocal part of the population. Also, if we increased the number, we’d have to hire more people, meaning more jobs.”
Melissa Rappaport may be reached at mrappaport@hudsonreporter.com