By Y.M. Lowy

The street near Maimonides Hospital at 10th Avenue and 48th Street is currently closed as the hospital deals with an urgent closure of five upper levels of its main parking garage.

The garage closure began Tuesday evening due to "necessary repairs" and is expected to remain in effect through next week. More than half of the garage’s parking spaces are currently unavailable.

With the garage operating at reduced capacity, the closed street area is now being used for VIP parking, affecting regular parking availability in the area.

Parking in the remaining garage spaces is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the garage is full, no additional vehicles will be permitted to enter.

Maimonides is advising staff and visitors to use public transportation or ridesharing whenever possible while the repairs are underway.

Just a week ago, a large emergency response was triggered when a person was standing on the ledge of the parking structure’s upper floors. It is unclear whether that incident is connected to the current "repairs".