A group including former Councilman Alan J. Gerson is attempting to block the sale of the former St. Vincent's Hospital campus to the Rudin Organization and says it has "a deal in the works to establish a full-service hospital at the site," according to an article by Eric Morath in today's edition of The Wall Street Journal.

The group also includes Dudley Gaffin, an attorney, and Dr. Robert Adelman, and it is protesting the proposed$260 million sale because it will not "bring a designated trauma center back to the area," the article said.

"The objecting contingent, which calls itself the alternative purchaser group," the article continued, "said it will offer a rival bid for the hospital campus unless the would-be buyers commit to opening a hospital at or near the St. Vincent's site. 'The residents and workers of the west side of Manhattan are desperately in need of a full-service hospital,' the protesting group said in papers filed Wednesday with the U. S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan.

"The alternative group said in court papers that a large New York City developer and a local hospital operator and medical school are preparing a deal that would match the Rudin offer," the article said, "and would guarantee to build a hospital. The group didn't give specifics of its deal. It only said that it is 'presently raising financing' and will submit a written proposal to the bankruptcy group prior to an April 7 hearing to consider approving the Rudin deal."

"As part of the proposed [Rudin sale," the article said, "North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health Care System has agreed to take over the former hospital's O'Toole Building and invest $100 million to create a health-care center with a free-standing emergency department."