The New York Times - December 20, 1983
David W. Dunlap

Mayor Koch said selling the building was one of "a number of steps to be taken by the city to combat AIDS and other health problems that have particularly affected the gay and lesbian community."

"It will consolidate the community and give us a point of focus which we've not had," said David P. Rothenberg, vice president of the center, a private coalition.

Mr. Rothenberg said the center would not be "geared to AIDS patients per se." He said it would also include groups like Senior Action in a Gay Environment, for older people; Gay and Lesbian Youth, for runaways, and Gay Alcoholics Anonymous.

Groups Are Using Building

While these groups already use the building - the former Food and Maritime High School at 208 West 13th Street in Greenwich Village - Mr. Rothenberg said buying the three-story structure would guarantee freedom from any possible future interference.

"It will give us an independence outside of political control," he said, "with the community determining its needs, not the political wind of the moment."

To buy the 25,000-square-foot building, the center must raise a $150,000 down payment by the end of the year. The $1.5-million sale must be approved by the Board of Estimate, which will be hearing the issue Dec. 30.

According to Anthony Dapolito, chairman of the local community planning board, the proposal has the panel's approval. "In fact, we were asking the Mayor to do this," he said. Auction Was Planned First

The Koch administration first wanted to put the 75-year-old building on the auction block.

Joseph Papp, the theatrical producer who has supported the center's creation, recalled: "We weren't sure that we would get the building. The Mayor has come around and that certainly is in his favor. At first, he seemed resistant."

The auction was blocked in June by the Board of Estimate's Acquisition and Disposition Committee, which postponed a sale until tenants and local groups could come up with another plan.

Among those opposing an auction was the Council President.

"This is a perfect building," said Barry Ensminger, counsel to Miss Bellamy. "The West Village is a center of the gay community, the groups were already there and the room for expansion was there."

68% Are Homosexuals Of the 2,803 cases of AIDS, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, diagnosed nationwide through the end of November, 1,261 were in New York City. The City Health Department said 68 percent of the victims were homosexual males. More than half of those who were diagnosed before 1983 as having AIDS are now dead.

Dr. David J. Sencer, the City Health Commissioner, said a consolidated health center would mean that people with health problems "could get Ping- Ponged from referral to referral without getting Ping-Ponged from building to building."

Mr. Rothenberg said the search for the down payment had just begun. "You can't go asking money for something you don't know is yours," he explained.

Donors will be asked to make $500 or $1,000 no-interest loans to the center.

A money-raising event that Mr. Papp is planning would be some kind of benefit performance at the Shubert Theater around Valentine's Day. As for the down payment, he added: "I'll try to see what I can do between now and Jan. 1."

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