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PHOENIX, Page ThreeRising Over Ground Rules LeavesCPC-LICH Combo Ud In Air %u25a0BY CORRINE COLEMANA single item in a resolution proposing design limitations for new Long Island College Hospital buildings caused a quick climatic change at the LICH Community Planning Committee meeting last Monday, charging the air over the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, the site atop which the hospital was recently considered moving to.The item in the proposal offered by the Civic Action Group (a part of the CPC) at the gathering to discuss the hospital%u2019s surprising accession to past community demands for its use of air rights for building new facilities, stipulated that the new structures be no higher than the typical four-story Cobble Hill brownstone or 50 feet.Though CPC architect Stan Maurer%u2019s plans for the expressway setup (which were presented in lieu of hospital architects Taylor and Ferenz whose designs were not acceptable or available) precluded building above 12 stories, or higher than hospital buildings already completed, the group seemed to be divided between the 50-foot and the 12-story limitation. There was a move to oust the 50-foot limitation. The question was put to a vote and the inclusion of the 50-foot limitation won, 27%u201426. The remainder of the resolution was acceptable to all.'The outcome of the vote which seemed to accept a possible withdrawal of LICH from consideration of the air rights plan, came as a blow to members of the committee whose efforts to move the hospital towards community relatedness seemed, until then, to be bearing fruit. A recent meeting with DotE lliot, chairman of the City Planning Commission, seemed to reverse previous objections and give the green light to the expressway scheme. Thus it appeared that the hospital and thecommunity would finally come together.Allen Kone, chairman of the CPC and a proponent of the air rights scheme, felt that the vote resulted from a miscalculation by people who perhaps felt they should take a strong stand as a negotiating point. %u201c Unfortunately, the resolution was used as the vehicle,%u201d he said, and added that though the intent may have been to force the hospital to look into alternate sites, the hospital might just go back to its original plan of building in the midst of Cobble Hill. CPC officer Dick Hayes also felt the resolution %u201c merely serves the purpose of showing the hospital a deep division in the community.%u201dCPC member Thornton Willett, who spoke for the 50-foot limitation and objected to high-rise structures because of their %u201c imposition of a prison wall around the community,%u201d said, regretting the split, that some of the people against the 50-foot limitation were %u201c on the firing line%u201d because of their long hours of negotiations with the hospital, and perhaps went along with LICH too quickly. However, he emphasized his appreciation for their efforts for the community and the borough. In addition, Willett noted the technical brilliance of Stan Maurer%u2019s plan, which %u2014 except for the height question %u2014 he was in agreement with.Architect Maurer, believes the vote undermines LICH President John Wingate%u2019s %u201c honest attempt to make the hospital responsible to the community%u201d and the work of the CPC which pointed the way. He also feels that the hospital which provides medical care for those in the community who cannot afford private doctors and which offers work for neighborhood residents, needs to stay within the community. %u201c The attempt by certain people to move the hospital some place else is irresponsible,%u201d headds, believing that removal was behind some of the voting.LICH Board of Regents member, Joseph Broadwin, who has workedwith the CPC on questions relating to the hospital and the community, believes that the use of the expressway air rights is %u201c still the most flexible element%u201d for both groups. However, with the variety of city, state and federal agencies that must be involved in such planning, he considers it %u201c imperative that there be substantial community support.%u201d Broadwin, stating also that the 50-foot height is not feasible for air rights, believes that Monday%u2019s vote came from but a small proportion of the community. He hopes that the sentiments of the larger community of people in the hospitalservice area will be heard and that people %u201c with a more realistic viewof health needs and historic values will emerge in the CPC.%u201dUpon reflecting on the impact of the vote, Paul Sayegh of the Civic Action Group, a proponent of the 50-ft. limitation, suggested that the action came about in some part because of continuing suspicion of hospital motives. Suggesting also that early reports of the hospital%u2019s accommodation and some members of the CPC%u2019s rosy view led some people to think a sell-out was in the offing; thus their reaction to a solution %u201c too quick %u2014 too strange.%u201d Sayegh does notbelieve the intent of the resolution was to hurt community negotiations with the hospital, butthat it was reflective of a determination to begin from a point ofstrength. The timing might have been off, he feels, adding thatperhaps the group should have voted on guidelines first, with the hospital not present at the meeting. Describing the Maurer plan as %u201c fantastic,%u201d and praising the CPC work of Allen Kone and Bob Sowers, Sayegh reiterates his desire to keep the air rights question open, and his belief that the height question is still negotiable. %u201c We all have the same aims,%u201d he says, %u201c but we go about it differently.%u201dSEE EDITORIALPA G E SIXHigh rise equipment from Brooklyn%u2019s Tnwer Ladder 105,Manhattan Companies, and a super pumper responded to lastweek%u2019s three-alarm blaze at 232 Fourth Ave., between Union andPresident Sts. Firemen were unable to enter the building for the90 minutes it took to control the raging flames and thick smoke.When they broke through, they discovered the body of MariaSoto, 55, lying on the stairway between the second and thirdfloors. Investigation by Fire Department officials is underway.(Photos by Dave Welcher)Th ree Alarm Blaze Takes Lifei%u2022v