Contested Harlem Medical Clinic Opening This Year, Mt. Sinai Says

HARLEM, NY — The Harlem medical clinic that sparked intense pushback when it was first announced years ago will open later this year, according to the Mount Sinai Health System, which revised its initial plans after encountering neighborhood opposition.

The $80 million Mount Sinai-Harlem Health Center has been in the works since 2018, being built in a former parking garage on West 124th Street near Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevard.

Set to open this fall, the outpatient clinic, will provide primary care, medical and surgical specialty care like cardiology and orthopedics, treatment for HIV/AIDS, and dentistry — as well as on-site radiology, laboratory and pharmacy services, according to Mount Sinai.

When plans for the facility were first announced, however, neighbors rose up against it, saying Harlem was "overburdened" with high numbers of methadone clinics that gave rise to public drug use and filthy streets.

In response, Mount Sinai promised to remove all substance abuse services from the clinic — on top of a previous commitment to include no opioid treatments, including methadone, THE CITY reported in 2019.

In Friday's announcement about the fall opening, Mount Sinai acknowledged an "ongoing open dialogue" with community leaders, including the Greater Harlem Coalition, which formed in direct response to the clinic and has used data to show that Harlem hosts a disproportionate number of substance-use facilities compared to other parts of the city.

"Mount Sinai has a long and proud history of serving the Upper Manhattan community, and our new Mount Sinai-Harlem Health Center is the latest in our ongoing commitment to deliver the world-class care, resources, and services to the community where they live and work," said Kelly Cassano, CEO of Mount Sinai Doctors Faculty Practice, in a statement.

"This expansion is part of our broader mission to bring services, care, and investments into the local communities," Cassano added.

Related coverage: Contested Harlem Medical Clinic Moving Forward, Mt. Sinai Says