Plan B was rejected by a 7-0 vote. Plan A entails development of450 housing units for sale and rental; 400,000 sf of retail space;and a 400-room hotel/conference center. Both opponents andproponents of Plan A claim that the park land, which many hadnicknamed "Central Park," would benefit the city because it sorelylacks open space as well as land for ball fields for its youth andadult sports programs.

Some members of the public and mayor Joseph Delfino urged thatPlan A be referred to city agencies so that changes could benegotiated. Others, including several council members, say thehospital was engaging in "bullying tactics" by demanding a vote onreferral and stating that a defeat would mean the death of CentralPark.

Geoffrey Thompson, a spokesman for New York PresbyterianHospital, notes that, "rejection of Plan A is a completedisappointment. We worked two years on developing the master planand now they won't even allow any public discussion on it." He alsostated that the hospital was "in shock" over the unanimousrejection of Plan B.