Metropolitan Hospital Center, a full-service community hospital in East Harlem, is operated by New York City Health + Hospitals Corporation. The hospital grounds are composed of three structures: the main building consisting of 16 floors, a 7-story outpatient diagnostics building, and a 14-story mental health building. Several utility tunnels are also part of the hospital’s infrastructure. Metropolitan Hospital, located in Coastal Flood Zone AE, suffered severe flood damage as a result of Hurricane Sandy. The New York City Economic Development Corporation, along with Health + Hospitals, is working with FEMA to proactively mitigate damage from future coastal storm flooding and sea level rise.

Melissa Johnson Associates manages community outreach on this resiliency-based project and is responsible for coordinating public impacts that result from construction on and near the hospital grounds. MJA’s dedicated community liaison communicates vehicular and pedestrian traffic impacts to the traveling public and involved city and state agencies, and also coordinates with construction and development teams working adjacent to the hospital. MJA’s community liaison attends community meetings to provide relevant information to stakeholders, and to bring updates back to NYCEDC, NYC Health + Hospitals, and the project team. Melissa Johnson Associates works effectively with all stakeholders to ensure that this construction project is completed with minimal disruptions and without contention within the local community.