A sprawling homeless encampment on Manhattan's West Side has expanded to cover 12 city blocks, prompting pleas from residents and business leaders for official intervention. The encampment, stretching from 34th to 46th Streets along 11th Avenue, has become a significant eyesore and a source of growing concern for those living and working in the area, as well as tourists visiting nearby attractions like the Intrepid Museum.
Locals report that theft, drug use, and prostitution are occurring openly within the encampment. A city parks enforcement officer described instances of stolen equipment and the presence of sex workers. "Definitely getting worse," the officer stated. "People stopped parking here. People are scared to park here."
Witnesses describe individuals lounging on stolen furniture, displaying expensive electronics, and engaging in illicit activities. Some tent areas are reportedly frequented by sex workers seeking customers or drugs. A supervisor at the nearby Jacob Javits Center noted that cleanup efforts seem to merely displace the encampment. "The cops and the sanitation guys and the outreach guys, they clean up one spot and after that day, the next day they’re over here. Then they’re over there. They’re kind of just spreading around."
Concerns are particularly high in the areas around 36th and 37th Streets, which have been described as frequented by heroin addicts. A Javits maintenance worker commented on the persistent smell and the encampment's rapid growth, stating, "We kicked them out, now they’re over here. One thing is for sure though, there are more today than there were last month, that’s for sure."
Recent 311 call data indicates a rise in complaints related to vagrants in the area. This year, 48 calls were made concerning vagrants, with 20 specifically mentioning the West Side encampment, compared to 40 calls last year, only four of which were about the encampment.
Civic and business leaders have voiced their dissatisfaction with the situation. Steve Fulp, CEO of the non-profit Partnership for the City of New York, argued that prolonged street presence is neglect, not compassion. He drew parallels to Los Angeles and San Francisco, suggesting that unchecked encampments harm both the homeless population and the quality of life for others. "The right approach for the city pairs real services with the timely actual removal of encampments that pose safety risks," Fulp said. "We aren’t seeing that here and these encampments can grow quickly if a balanced policy isn’t pursued which is the concern here."
Cristyne Nicholas, chair of the New York State Tourism Advisory Council, expressed concern for the city's image, particularly with the Intrepid Museum being a major tourist draw. "The Intrepid Museum is one of New York’s greatest tourist attractions, drawing millions of visitors each year," she said. "Tourists are forced to walk around squalor and stench. I hope the mayor focuses on this, as he’s promoted tourism during the World Cup. He understands tourism."
Christopher, former head of the city’s tourism agency, added, "Maybe there’s a disconnect here. We want visitors to feel safe and welcome."
Despite regular NYPD patrols driving by the scene, no immediate action was observed, and city officials had not responded to requests for comment at the time of reporting. The Post first reported on the expanding encampment on Friday.