WPA Murals at Risk After Manhattan Homeless Shelter Closure

The Bellevue Men's Shelter in Manhattan is at risk of shutting down, putting several historic WPA murals in danger. The Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital, built in 1933 by Charles B. Meyers in the Italian Renaissance style, became a shelter in the mid-1980s. Earlier this year, Mayor Zohran Mamdani's team announced a long-term redevelopment initiative, which is prompting the shelter's closure. The Public Design Commission of New York has archival images showing at least six WPA murals created by artists like Emilio Amero and Nunzio LaSpina, but they’re now hidden. A report from Building Conservation Associates stated that no murals can be seen, and previous evaluations noted serious damage. NYC Health + Hospitals are working with conservationists to find ways to salvage them, but the absence of historic landmark status makes this difficult. A successful restoration of a David Margolis fresco in the 1990s offers some encouragement.