The Columbia Effect, Detailed
Much has been made about the potential gentrifying effect Columbia University’s proposed expansion will have on Harlem. The draft environmental impact statement (PDF), which came out earlier this summer, does not disappoint. With the self-effacing accuracy for which these EIS’s are known, “approximately 3,293” residents of the surrounding area are vulnerable to “indirect displacement” due to “upward rent pressure” (p. S-31).
It is a big enough blip that the report’s authors, AKRF (which The Observer profiled this week), calls indirect displacement a “significant and adverse impact” that would be only partially mitigated by steps that the university is contemplating, such as developing affordable housing in the community board district or creating a graduate student residence on Columbia-owned land nearby.
And AKRF is being paid by Columbia--and by the Empire State Development Corporation (though that's another story).
North Haven
Envision a land encompassing 55 acres offering both sunrises and sunsets... . More details |
|
Guess what -- who cares whether they can live in Manhattan.
I am so tired about hearing about the poor being displaced in Manhattan. "Let them live in the Bronx" to paraphrase... New York should follow the European model of beautiful city centers and working class housing spread out along the perimeter. That is a factor in keeping most European cities alive and tourist meccas.
Columbia should expand and add great jobs to the city. I am African American and live in Harlem and I welcome Columbia's expansion and hope the whining stops soon. Hurry up and get started building.
I couldn't agree more. What Columbia is doing is far better than what NYU has done to the East Village. I just hope they hire the best possible architects. The Mc Kim, Meade, and White Morningside campus is a masterpiece!
amen hallelujah!
The rendering looks spectacular. Given certain mitigative approaches, there's no reason to oppose this in my opinion. Bring it on Columbia!
The rendering looks spectacular. Given certain mitigative approaches, there's no reason to oppose this in my opinion. Bring it on Columbia!
It is clear that the Columbia Expansion Plan will have tremedous impacts on Harlem community residents, businesses and the price of real estate driving up rental rates. It is incumbent obtain the residents, business owners and elected officials to ensure that the community benefits outweigh the negatives created by the Columbia expansion plan. As an African American business owner in Harlem, we need real retail/commercial, contracting opportunities, jobs, affordable housing and community facilities that service the needs of the people of Harlem. We need entrepreneurial and business opportunities to plan, construct and manage some of the properties that Columbia intends to build. We need to establish with Columbia and the City of New York some real ownership opportunity stakes within the West Harlem expansion area for minority owned business men/women,and entrepreneurs.