Upscale Rehab Clinic To Open In Red Hook

RED HOOK, BROOKLYN — An upscale self-pay rehab clinic is about to open on Van Brunt Street.

The Urban Recovery Center at 411 Van Brunt St. will begin offering “the highest caliber of addiction treatment” in an “exclusive healing and rehabilitation center," at the end of November, according to the facility website and chief clinical officer Bruce F. Singer.

"There are no other free-standing residential treatment centers, high-end treatment centers, in New York City," said Singer. "New York is surprisingly underserved on the residential treatment side and there are people struggling in all the boroughs."

Urban Recovery will treat people with addiction, depression, anxiety or pain through a detoxication, stabilization and recovery program that goes beyond the 28-day model, said Singer.

Treatment at the 20000-square foot, 36-bed facility includes access to a recording studio, a yoga room, fitness center and private outdoor space as well as one-to-one therapy, acupuncture and nutrition classes to assist them through withdrawal, said an employee who answered the Urban Recovery telephone but did not provide her name.

"We're not a traditional 12-step program," Singer said. "We have an integrated approach because we have a very eclectic staff."

Prices have not yet been set for the self-pay residential program, but Singer said it was comparable to other high-end facilities across the nation. And when partners Michael Mosberg and Johan Sorensen first presented plans for the boutique clinic in December 2013, they estimated would charge clients about $50,000, DNAinfo reported at the time.

"We're trying to price it to New York City is an expensive place," said Singer. "It is a self-pay concept, but we will help people to get the most reimbursement from their insurance."

News that the facility would serve as a rehab center rankled several local residents who told DNAinfo in 2016 that Urban Recovery's upper management had misled them.

"We have thought since January that it was a hotel," said Ron Kyle, the owner of the nearby wine store DryDock. "If you are bringing a business into the community, you should tell the community. You shouldn't lie."

"The way it was handled was very shabby," added John McGettrick, who complained that no community hearings had been held. "Who misled the public and why?"

But Singer noted Urban Recovery hopes "to be a good neighbor," and has taken steps to integrate and contribute to the local Red Hook community.

The building features traditional Red Hook design elements, such as a red brick facade and street lamps meant to resemble gaslights, coffee will be sourced from a local Red Hook manufacturer (such as Stumptown Coffee Roasters), and there are future plans to provide addiction classes and meetings in the neighborhood, Singer said.

"It's part of our thinking that as we generate business we can help the neighborhood," Singer said. "We're trying to support Red Hook."

Photo by Kathleen Culliton