The historic expansion of Columbia University over 17 acres of West Harlem was approved by the City Council yesterday after the university agreed to add $76 million to the $24 million it had previously pledged in “community benefits.”
Councilman Robert Jackson (D-Manhattan), who helped push through what would be one of the largest expansion projects in recent Manhattan history, put the total value of the benefits package at $150 million.
He said most of the money would go toward affordable housing.
The noncash items contributed by Columbia include community programs, access to its facilities, and curriculum development for a new city school.
Jackson claimed it was strictly coincidental that the side deal on community benefits was completed just before the council’s 35-5 vote approving changes in land use.
“It just so happened it aligned at the same place, at the same time,” he said.
Even opponents conceded that Columbia had considerable support for its sweeping 25-year plan, which is expected to produce 6,000 new jobs and allow one of the city’s most important universities to grow and remain competitive.
“This is a very important economic-development action we’re taking today,” declared Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan).
But the council’s approval came only after the usually unflappable Jackson engaged in a rare public confrontation with firebrand Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn), who accused his colleague of cutting a back-room deal with Columbia.
“There was no back-room deal,” shouted back Jackson, visibly angered, as Land Use Committee Chairwoman Melinda Katz (D-Queens) pounded her gavel to try to restore order.
“I had to listen to his nonsense,” protested Barron, continuing his demand that the vote be delayed.
In the end, much of the debate within the council centered on the possibility Columbia would invoke eminent domain to condemn a few commercial properties in its way, not the worthiness of the expansion itself.
The university committed earlier not to evict any residential tenants.
One official said that only three commercial property owners haven’t settled yet with Columbia, and two were closing in on a deal.
“If we approve this knowing full well eminent domain might be pursued down the road, nobody’s property is safe,” warned Councilman Tony Avella (D-Queens).
But Quinn argued that eminent domain was justifiable when there’s “an overriding good,” which included the creation of 6,000 jobs in one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods.