City Pitches State On Using Javits Center As Hospital: Report

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — New York City officials have requested permission from the state to convert Midtown's Jacob K. Javits Center into a medical facility after a Brooklyn lawmaker introduced the idea earlier this week, according to reports.

State officials have not made a decision on the city's request, Politico first reported. The Javits Center is owned by the state's Empire State Development Corporation.

City Council Speaker Corey Johnson endorsed the idea of turning the Javits Center into a "medical surge facility" in an interview Tuesday, Politico reported. The idea was first proposed by Brooklyn City Councilmember Stephen Levin, chair of the council's general welfare committee, on Monday. Levin also suggesting using Madison Square Garden for similar purposes.

"So we're gonna run out of hospital beds. Not in the couple of days, but in all likelihood in the next few weeks. We need to start prepping," Levin said in a tweeted statement.

While the state hasn't announced any action on the Javits Center proposal, it may align with Gov. Andrew Cuomo's plans to increase hospital capacity throughout the state.

On Monday, Cuomo issued an executive order giving the state powers to increase hospital capacity with the goal of creating 9,000 additional beds across the state by giving the national guard, building unions and private developers the ability to identify sites to be retrofitted as hospitals.

"I don’t believe we’re going to be able to flatten the curve enough to meet the capacity of the healthcare system. So, this business, plan ahead. Plan forward. Anticipate what’s coming down the road and get ready for it," Cuomo said during a Monday briefing.

Read the full Politico report here.