Manhattanville controversy - Revision history

Pacman at 13:53, 3 June 2013

2013-06-03T13:53:06Z

Cds2148 at 18:15, 2 June 2013

2013-06-02T18:15:25Z

Absentminded: /* External links */

2013-04-27T04:14:14Z

‎External links

Pacman: /* Eminent domain */

2010-07-08T02:19:39Z

‎Eminent domain

Jiabao: /* Support of the plan */

2008-12-21T18:35:29Z

‎Support of the plan

Jiabao: /* Support of the plan */

2008-12-21T18:34:55Z

‎Support of the plan

Absentminded: /* Eminent domain */

2008-12-19T22:36:08Z

‎Eminent domain

Absentminded: /* Eminent domain */

2008-12-19T22:35:09Z

‎Eminent domain

Pacman: /* Eminent domain */

2008-12-18T21:56:21Z

‎Eminent domain

Pacman at 21:49, 18 December 2008

2008-12-18T21:49:02Z

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-[[File:PrezBo and Bloomberg at MVille.jpg|thumb|Bollinger and Bloomberg plot while looking over Manhattanville from one of the new buildings, made possibly by eminent domain]]
+[[File:PrezBo and Bloomberg at MVille.jpg|thumb|[[Bollinger]] and [[Bloomberg]] plot while looking over Manhattanville from the [[Northwest Science Building]]]]
-In the summer of [[2003]], President Bollinger announced the University's intentions to build a [[Manhattanville campus|satellite campus extension]] in the area bounded by [[125th Street|125th]] and 133rd Streets between [[Broadway (avenue)|Broadway]] and 12th Avenue, an area of approximately 18 acres. The region in question, known as Manhattanville, is a largely depopulated industrial area northwest of campus.
+In the summer of [[2003]], President [[Bollinger]] announced the University's intentions to build a [[Manhattanville campus|satellite campus extension]] in the area bounded by [[125th Street|125th]] and 133rd Streets between [[Broadway (avenue)|Broadway]] and 12th Avenue, an area of approximately 18 acres. The region in question, known as Manhattanville, is a largely depopulated industrial area northwest of campus.
 Controversy surrounds the impact of Columbia's plans on the neighborhood and the possibility of the state using eminent domain to condemn properties in the area. As of [[2008]], plans to use the state's power of eminent domain to force the sale of the remaining holdouts on the planned campus are underway. Some of the objection surrounds the alleged but disproven plans for the construction of a Bio Safety Level 3 laboratory on the campus.

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:15, 2 June 2013
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		+	[[File:PrezBo and Bloomberg at MVille.jpg\|thumb\|Bollinger and Bloomberg plot while looking over Manhattanville from one of the new buildings, made possibly by eminent domain]]
		+
	In the summer of [[2003]], President Bollinger announced the University's intentions to build a [[Manhattanville campus\|satellite campus extension]] in the area bounded by [[125th Street\|125th]] and 133rd Streets between [[Broadway (avenue)\|Broadway]] and 12th Avenue, an area of approximately 18 acres. The region in question, known as Manhattanville, is a largely depopulated industrial area northwest of campus.		In the summer of [[2003]], President Bollinger announced the University's intentions to build a [[Manhattanville campus\|satellite campus extension]] in the area bounded by [[125th Street\|125th]] and 133rd Streets between [[Broadway (avenue)\|Broadway]] and 12th Avenue, an area of approximately 18 acres. The region in question, known as Manhattanville, is a largely depopulated industrial area northwest of campus.

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 * [http://www.prattcenter.net/cp-cb9-197a.php Community Board 9 197-a plan]
 * [http://www.stopcolumbia.org/ Coalition to Preserve Community]
 [[Category:Scandals]]
 [[Category:Manhattanville]]
 [[Category:Manhattanville campus]]

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 *Gurnam Singh, who owns two gas stations in the area
-These holdouts have caused Columbia to pursue plans to have the property taken by [[w:eminent domain|eminent domain]], a power possessed by [[New York State]]. Under the plan, recalcitrant owners would be forced to sell to the state, which would then sell the land to Columbia. Eminent domain is philosophically justified by the premise that a greater use, or public good, can justify property displacement, so long as there is fair compensation, as allowed in the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution. There is ongoing legal controversy about whether a private developer can constitute a public good - relevant in Columbia's case. The Supreme Court in ''[[w:Kelo v. New London|Kelo v. New London]]'' upheld the idea that uses of eminent domain for private purposes are legitimate.
+These holdouts have caused Columbia to pursue plans to have the property taken by [[eminent domain]], a power possessed by [[New York State]]. Under the plan, recalcitrant owners would be forced to sell to the state, which would then sell the land to Columbia. Eminent domain is philosophically justified by the premise that a greater use, or public good, can justify property displacement, so long as there is fair compensation, as allowed in the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution. There is ongoing legal controversy about whether a private developer can constitute a public good - relevant in Columbia's case. The Supreme Court in ''[[w:Kelo v. New London|Kelo v. New London]]'' upheld the idea that uses of eminent domain for private purposes are legitimate.
-On [[December 18]], [[2008]], the Empire State Development Corporation voted unanimously to use eminent domain to seize Manhattanville property for Columbia's benefit.<ref>http://www.bwog.net/articles/new_york_state_decides_to_use_eminent_domain_in_manhattanville</ref> In May of that year, the corporation had approved Columbia's plan for the area, which it characterised as "blighted". In [[2007]], the plan was approved by the New York City Land Use Committee.
+On [[December 18]], [[2008]], the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC) voted unanimously to use eminent domain to seize Manhattanville property for Columbia's benefit.<ref>http://www.bwog.net/articles/new_york_state_decides_to_use_eminent_domain_in_manhattanville</ref> In May of that year, the corporation had approved Columbia's plan for the area, which it characterised as "blighted". In [[2007]], the plan was approved by the New York City Land Use Committee.
 The 197-a plan contained clauses proscribing the use of eminent domain in the area.
 == Support of the plan ==

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 == Support of the plan ==
 * Expansion creates new job opportunities<ref>6,900 university jobs [http://www.neighbors.columbia.edu/pages/manplanning/faqs/index.html#N100E8 from Columbia's Neighbor Website]</ref> in the neighborhood
-* Expansion leads to more commerce in the area and in New York City<ref>$11 Billion in commerce generated[http://www.neighbors.columbia.edu/pages/manplanning/faqs/index.html#N10129 from Columbia's Neighbor Website]</ref>
+* Expansion leads to more commerce in the area and in New York City<ref>$11 Billion in commerce generated [http://www.neighbors.columbia.edu/pages/manplanning/faqs/index.html#N10129 from Columbia's Neighbor Website]</ref>
 * Expansion would change the character of the neighborhood for the better
 * Plan includes community amenities including the creation of parkland and the creation of Columbia secondary school
-* Expansion improves the university's research capabilities, which benefit society in many ways.
+* Expansion improves the university's research capabilities, which benefit society in many ways
 == Objections to the plan ==

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 Typical of these kinds of land use disputes, there are a number of 'hold-outs' in the Manhattanville area. Several businesses were approached with buyout offers by Columbia, and many accepted over time.
-A number of property owners were initially opposed to any sort of deal. Anne Whitman of Hudson Moving and Storage famously went on the record in August 2006, stating “No way Columbia is going to steal this property right out from underneath me. Remember that man who stood in front of the tank at Tiananmen Square? That’s me.” She accused Columbia of deliberately causing family strife when it reached a deal in 2007 with her brothers, who owned a nearby property. In June 2008 she agreed to swap her property for one on Audobon Avenue near Columbia's [[Columbia University Medical Center|Medical Center]] in [[Washington Heights]], on which Columbia agreed to build her a new building, while providing temporary accommodation on yet another site.[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/nyregion/11columbia.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion]
+A number of property owners were initially opposed to any sort of deal. Anne Whitman of Hudson Moving and Storage famously went on the record in August 2006, stating “No way Columbia is going to steal this property right out from underneath me. Remember that man who stood in front of the tank at Tiananmen Square? That’s me.” She accused Columbia of deliberately causing family strife when it reached a deal in 2007 with her brothers, who owned a nearby property. In June 2008 she agreed to swap her property for one on Audobon Avenue near Columbia's [[Columbia University Medical Center|Medical Center]] in [[Washington Heights]], on which Columbia agreed to build her a new building, while providing temporary accommodation on yet another site.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/nyregion/11columbia.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion Landowner Who Balked Gives In to Columbia], New York Times, June 11, 2008</ref>
 Ultimately only 2 refused to sell:

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 == Eminent domain ==
-Typical of these kinds of land use disputes, there are a number of 'hold-outs' in the Manhattanville area. Several businesses have been approached with buyout offers by Columbia, but have refused the offer:
+Typical of these kinds of land use disputes, there are a number of 'hold-outs' in the Manhattanville area. Several businesses were approached with buyout offers by Columbia, and many accepted over time.
 *[[Nick Sprayregan]], a wealthy property owner, is the most vocal of the holdouts
 *Gurnam Singh, who owns two gas stations in the area
-These holdouts have caused Columbia to pursue plans to have the property taken by [[w:eminent domain|eminent domain]], a power possessed by [[New York State]]. Under the plan, recalcitrant owners would be forced to sell to the state, which would then sell the land to Columbia. Eminent domain is philosophically justified by the premise that a greater use, or public good, can justify property displacement, if there is fair compensation. There is ongoing legal controversy about whether a private developer can constitute a public good - relevant in Columbia's case. The Supreme Court in ''[[w:Kelo v. New London|Kelo v. New London]]'' upheld the idea that uses of eminent domain for private purposes are legitimate.
+These holdouts have caused Columbia to pursue plans to have the property taken by [[w:eminent domain|eminent domain]], a power possessed by [[New York State]]. Under the plan, recalcitrant owners would be forced to sell to the state, which would then sell the land to Columbia. Eminent domain is philosophically justified by the premise that a greater use, or public good, can justify property displacement, so long as there is fair compensation, as allowed in the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution. There is ongoing legal controversy about whether a private developer can constitute a public good - relevant in Columbia's case. The Supreme Court in ''[[w:Kelo v. New London|Kelo v. New London]]'' upheld the idea that uses of eminent domain for private purposes are legitimate.
 On [[December 18]], [[2008]], the Empire State Development Corporation voted unanimously to use eminent domain to seize Manhattanville property for Columbia's benefit.<ref>http://www.bwog.net/articles/new_york_state_decides_to_use_eminent_domain_in_manhattanville</ref> In May of that year, the corporation had approved Columbia's plan for the area, which it characterised as "blighted". In [[2007]], the plan was approved by the New York City Land Use Committee.

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 Controversy surrounds the impact of Columbia's plans on the neighborhood and the possibility of the state using eminent domain to condemn properties in the area. As of [[2008]], plans to use the state's power of eminent domain to force the sale of the remaining holdouts on the planned campus are underway. Some of the objection surrounds the alleged but disproven plans for the construction of a Bio Safety Level 3 laboratory on the campus.
-[[Community Board 9]] is the local neighborhood group that works on this issue, negotiating with Columbia through the West Harlem Local Development Corporation.  Having initially presented their ideal 197-a plan, they are now looking to negotiate an agreement with Columbia for affordable housing, community benefits, and other forms of local funding. Columbia has already agreed to create a public high school on or near the campus.
+[[Community Board 9]] is the local neighborhood group that works on this issue, negotiating with Columbia through the West Harlem Local Development Corporation.  Having initially presented their ideal 197-a plan, they are now looking to negotiate an agreement with Columbia for affordable housing, community benefits, and other forms of local funding. Columbia has already agreed to create a [[Columbia Science, Math and Engineering Secondary School|public high school]] on or near the campus.
 The [[Student Coalition on Expansion and Gentrification]] is the main student group against Columbia's expansion as proposed, calling for changes to the plan to make Columbia accountable to the community. The [http://www.stopcolumbia.org/ Coalition to Preserve Community] is a neighborhood group dedicated to protecting the rights of tenants in the wake of Manhattan's largest development. Anti-Columbia activist [[Nellie McKay]] has also spoken out on the issue.