Text size:

Council pushes through Columbia University expansion

By David Freedlander, amNewYork Staff Writer
More stories | dfreedlander@am-ny.com

December 20, 2007

Protesters at the vote over expansion for Columbia University. (Photo by Jefferson Siegel / December 19, 2007)

Columbia University's expansion into West Harlem cleared its largest hurdle Wednesday by sailing through the City Council despite accusations of backroom dealings and a rushed vote.

"When is the City Council and the mayor going to realize they are responsible to the people of this city and not the institutions?" said Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) chair of the zoning committee. "If the revolution has to start today then we are going to start it."

The proposal easily passed zoning and land-use committees Wednesday, before receiving final approval before the full council, on a 35-5 vote with six abstentions. Opponents of the plan as well as several councilmembers were caught off guard by the timing of the vote, which hadn't been expected until January.

"Now, after five years and innumerable discussions, negotiations, plans, documents, hearings, and votes, we have arrived at a significant turning point on the matter of space for the University to grow together with our communities," said Columbia University president Lee Bollinger.

"The long-term opportunities for Columbia and the people who live and work in our community and our city are barely imaginable to us at this early moment."

Columbia wants to build a 17-acre campus in Manhattanville to house research labs and housing for students. Area residents have expressed concern that the historic character of the neighborhood will be altered and that Columbia has refused to rule out the possibility of using eminent domain to acquire commercial properties.

The vote came on the heels of the successful negotiation of a community benefits agreement between Columbia and the West Harlem Local Development Corporation Tuesday night.

Backers of the plan dismissed the idea that the vote was speeded through.

"This process has been going on for more than two years," said Robert Jackson (D-Harlem) who represents the area in the council. "If you didn't know then you have not been paying attention."

The Empire State Development Corp. will now review the plan, though it is unlikely to stop it. Opponents will likely attempt to tie up the project in the courts.

In the council Wednesday, Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn) attempted to keep the issue from going to a full vote by a making a motion to delay. After a brief pause so council staffers could check the rules to see if a delay was permitted, the motion was denied.

"If we've been at it for two years what's the matter with two more weeks?" he said.

"Give the public a chance. We are here to protect out community from eminent domain and the abuse of those in power."