Links to Other Groups fighting Columbia's Expansion

Mirabal Sisters Cultural & Community Center

Student Coalition on Expansion & Gentrification at Columbia University

West Harlem Business Group, representing businesses in the expansion zone that are resisting hostile takeover by Columbia, and are in opposition to the use of eminent domain

Recent Press & Publicity Highlights

Rage building in Harlem. New York Daily News. June 1, 2007.

""This fight will determine if low-income housing disappears in all of West Harlem," said Luis Tejada, director of the Mirabal Sisters Community Center, one of the neighborhood groups opposed to the Columbia plan. ... "Columbia has nothing but contempt for the community," [business owner Anne] Whitman said. "They think their way is the only way. When will they understand, my building's not for sale?"." read the whole article

Columbia launches land-grab plan: Many in West Harlem would be booted from their homes. New York Daily News. February 25, 2007. (the link is to an alternate site, as the NY Daily News does not make archives available freely)

"Eminent domain casts a dark pall over the negotiations with the community and is, in effect, a bullying tactic demonstrating who wields the power. It's not the history of the 1968 expansion that lingers in people's minds, but current misdeeds that indicate Columbia has learned little from the past." read the whole article

Master of His Domain Columbia Spectator. February 22, 2007.

"Faced with the threat of forced evictions, eminent domain and the wrecking ball minority residents and employees ... are fighting back... Most of the 425 West Harlem residents, who live in 132 apartment units, don't want to move out. And many of the remaining business owners, who employ some 1,200 people, don't want to sell." read the whole article

Better Standards for Manhattanville. Columbia Spectator. February 5, 2007.

"Columbia's hypocrisy is staggering. ...as it tries to forcefully remove the tenacious community of residents and businesses that have flourished amid properties the University has left to rot. ... the administration apparently believes that spiritual and physical integration [with the community] are better achieved by kicking people out and bulldozing their homes and businesses." read the whole article

Columbia, play nice. New York Daily News. January 21, 2007.

Columbia Faces Two-Front Opposition to Expansion Plans . The New York Sun. December 7, 2006.

Columbia and Expansion: A Recipe for Disaster . Columbia Spectator. December 4, 2006.

West Side Story . The Guardian. November 28, 2006.

Columbia's Bad Attitude. The New York Post. November 27, 2006.

In West Harlem Land Dispute, It’s Columbia vs. Residents . The New York Times. November 20, 2006. (the link is to an alternate site, as the NY Times does not make archives available freely)

"'On a scale of 1 to 10, Columbia is a minus 5 in terms of trust,' said Jordi Reyes-Montblanc, chairman of the local community board ... Anne Z. Whitman, the owner of Hudson Moving and Storage ... believes the university will eventually try to condemn her building through eminent domain. ... 'No way Columbia is going to steal this property right out from underneath me,' she said. 'Remember that man who stood in front of the tank at Tiananmen Square? That’s me.'" read the whole article

Recent Press & Publicity Highlights

Residents, community groups decry Columbia expansion plan. New York Newdsay. August 1, 2007.

School of Hard Knocks. New York Daily News. July 31, 2007.

Storage Mogul Is an Obstacle to Columbia's Expansion. The New York Sun. July 19, 2007.

Rival Vision for Harlem Challenges Columbia Plan. Architectural Record. July 18, 2007.

Committee Shelves the Big Stick, For Now. New York Press. July 16, 2007.

Committee Approves 197-a Plan. Columbia Spectator. July 10, 2007.

Columbia Presents Expansion Plan. WNYC. July 10, 2007.

Columbia Expansion Plan Debate Will Intensify. The New York Sun. July 9, 2007.

Columbia Ousts Auto Shops. New York Post. July 5, 2007.

Judge Orders Expansion Documents Released. Columbia Spectator. July 2, 2007.

Neutrality in Expansion at Columbia is Questioned. The New York Times. June 30, 2007.

Campus Auto 'Wreck': Push by Columbia. New York Post. June 25, 2007.

A Community Burdened With Columbia's Need to Expand. New York City Independent Media Center. June 19, 2007.

Ulurp: Is That the Sound of Columbia Absorbing Part of Harlem? The New York Times. June 19, 2007.

Document Details Expansion's Impacts. Columbia Spectator. June 19, 2007.

Columbia University's Proposed Expansion Comes Under Fire From Activists. New York 1. June 18, 2007.

City Certifies Expansion Application. Columbia Spectator. June 19, 2007.

Piano, SOM's Columbia Plan Stirs Controversy. Architectural Record. June 18, 2007.

Expansion Certification Delayed. Columbia Spectator. June 4, 2007.

Rage building in Harlem. New York Daily News. June 1, 2007.

Columbia Expansion Faces Neighborhood Controversy. WNYC. June 1, 2007.

Timing of Review of Harlem's Expansion Plans Irks Board. The New York Sun. June 1, 2007.

'A War for Space'. Metro New York. June 1, 2007.

Columbia expansion plowing ahead. Crain's New York Business. June 1, 2007

Only the Sleaziest of Projects': Harlem Protests Columbia's Expansion Timetable. The New York Observer May 31, 2007

Columbia's Harlem Lobbying Effort Gets Expensive. The New York Sun. May 24, 2007.

Stringer Presents Plan for W. Harlem. Columbia Spectator. May 2, 2007.

Harlem Parcels Are Bought for $940 Million. The New York Observer. May 1, 2007.

Hearing Monday on Columbia expansion. amNewYork. April 19, 2007.

Manhattan es Para Todos. Hoy. April 19, 2007.

Contra Expansión de Columbia. El Diario / La Prensa. April 19, 2007.

Groups Hold Teach-In on Campus. The Columbia Spectator. April 19, 2007.

Columbia Expansion Spikes West Harlem Prices. The New York Sun. March 29, 2007.

Columbia Eviction Plans Stir Concern in Harlem. The New York Sun. March 28, 2007.

LDC Criticized at Public Forum. The Columbia Spectator. March 28, 2007.

Eminent domain race ripples. The Washingon Times. March 2, 2007.

City Will Not House Magnet School at P.S. 36. Columbia Spectator. February 27, 2007.

Columbia launches land-grab plan: Many in West Harlem would be booted from their homes. New York Daily News. February 25, 2007.

Master of His Domain. Columbia Spectator. February 22, 2007.

Students join Columbia expansion protest. amNewYork. February 20, 2007.

Columbia's the real blight, insist critics. New York Daily News. February 20, 2007.

Students Declare South Lawn Blighted. Columbia Spectator. February 20, 2007.

Group looks to 'blight' Columbia plan. Metro New York. February 20, 2007.

Residents, Alumni Protest Columbia University Expansion. 1010 WINS. February 20, 2007.

Mr. Bollinger's Battle. The New York Observer. February 19, 2007.

Better Standards for Manhattanville. Columbia Spectator. February 5, 2007.

Blight Study May Pave Way For Columbia Expansion. The New York Sun. February 1, 2007.

Columbia, play nice. New York Daily News. January 21, 2007.

Negotiations to Begin Over Columbia's Expansion. The New York Sun. January 19, 2007.

Columbia Faces Two-Front Opposition to Expansion Plans. The New York Sun. December 7, 2006.

Columbia and Expansion: A Recipe for Disaster. Columbia Spectator. December 4, 2006.

West Side Story. The Guardian. November 28, 2006.

Rethinking P.S. 36. Columbia Spectator. November 28, 2006.

Columbia's Bad Attitude. The New York Post. November 27, 2006.

Parents Protest Columbia Plan. The New York Times. November 22, 2006.

Parents Share P.S. 36 Concerns. Columbia Spectator. November 22, 2006.

'School Squeeze' Protest. New York Post. November 22, 2006.

In West Harlem Land Dispute, It’s Columbia vs. Residents. The New York Times. November 20, 2006.

CB9 Opposes Plans for P.S. 36. Columbia Spectator. November 17, 2006.

Parents Decry Proposal To Add Older Students to Mix. New York Sun. November 15, 2006.

Columbia is a Big Meanie! Gothamist. November 15, 2006.

Protesting Columbia. New York Post. November 15, 2006.

Parents Protest Magnet School: Meeting Over Columbia Secondary's Location at P.S. 36 Postponed. Columbia Spectator. November 15, 2006.

Angry over nixed school meeting. New York Daily News. November 15, 2006.

Columbia's B-School Move Draws Ire: The pending transfer to a West Harlem site is part of the university's expansion plan. But local businesses aren't happy. BusinessWeek. November 15, 2006.

Harlem Residents Plan to Sue to Stop Columbia Expansion. New York 1. November 10, 2006.

Turf Battle with Columbia University Heats Up. WNYC. November 10, 2006.

Harlem Suit: State Keeps Secrets. Village Voice (Power Plays). November 10, 2006.

M'Ville Proprietors Sue State Agency. Columbia Spectator. November 10, 2006.

No Blight Designation of Fancy. Columbia Spectator. October 25, 2006.

State Begins Conditions Study for M'ville Area. Columbia Spectator. October 12, 2006.

Expansion at Columbia Causes Biohazard Fears. NY Resident Magazine. September 26, 2006.

Columbia Settles Lawsuit. Metro New York. August 18, 2006.

Columbia Modifies Harlem Plan. Metro New York. August 1, 2006.

Bring Out the Wrecking Ball, Columbia Says. Castle Watch. July 20, 2006.

Upper Manhattan Residents March For Affordable Housing. New York 1. June 13, 2006.

Upper Manhattan Takes Affordable Housing Issue to the Streets. Columbia Spectator. June 12, 2006.

Zoning Versus Planning in Manhattanville. Gotham Gazette. June, 2006.

Tenants, Activits to Protest Harlem Housing Shuffle. New York Amsterdam News. June 8, 2006.

Columbia's Planned Expansion to Manhattanville Draws Fire From Small Businesses, Community Board. The New York Sun. June 1, 2006.

Morningside Fights. Metro New York. May 5, 2006.

Columbia's Domain. The New York Sun. May 1, 2006.

CPC Storms Steps. Columbia Spectator. April 28, 2006.

Driven Out By Columbia? Columbia Spectator. April 24, 2006.

Relocation Discussions: Residents Allege HPD Secrecy, Privacy Violations . Columbia Spectator. March 2, 2006.

Columbia Expansion Extensive. Washington Square News. January 26, 2006.

Columbia Expansion and Eminent Domain. Gotham Gazette. December 9, 2005.

Manhattanville: Where We Are. AdHoc. November, 2005.

The Environmental Impact: Manhattanville's Future Health. AdHoc. November, 2005.

Columbia's Plan to Expand Campus Raises Neighbors' Ire . The New York Sun. November 16, 2005.

CU Expansion Foes Go On the Record. Columbia Spectator. November 16, 2005.

Tenants' Fear Rises With Rent. Columbia Spectator. November 16, 2005.

West Harlem Residents Voice Opposition To Columbia Expansion Plan. New York 1. November 16, 2005.

Siegel Urges Student Resistance to CU. Columbia Spectator. November 15, 2005.

Affordable Housing Remains an Issue. Columbia Spectator. November 15, 2005.

CB9 Plan Clears Its First Hurdle. Columbia Spectator. October 31, 2005.

City, CU Answer Questions on Expansion. Columbia Spectator. October 31, 2005.

Vocal Business Advocate Whitman Joins CB9. Columbia Spectator. September 29, 2005.

Manhattanville Expansion: Conflict Emerges Over Possible Eminent Domain Use. Columbia Spectator. May 9, 2005.

Students 'Camp' to Protest Expansion. Columbia Spectator. April 28, 2005.

Profs Sign Expansion Letter. Columbia Spectator. April 26, 2005.

Community Angered by CU Attempt To Seize Land. Columbia Spectator. April 22, 2005.

Memo Stirs Nabe Anger at Columbia New York Daily News. April 21, 2005.

CU Letter on Expansion Incites Protest Columbia Spectator. April 21, 2005.

Columbia Expansion Plans Step on Neighborhood Toes The New York Sun. April 21, 2005.

Community Blasts CU for Secrecy, Evasiveness. Columbia Spectator. April 18, 2005.

CU Paving Way for Eminent Domain Use. Columbia Spectator. April 15, 2005.

Exposing Expansion. Columbia Spectator. January 21, 2005.

Six firms that won't sell out to Columbia; Convenience, history key factors in wanting to stay in West Harlem. Crain's New York Business. January 17, 2005.

Open University. City Limits. December, 2004.

Area Businesses Fight Eminent Domain. The New York Sun. November 16, 2004.

Masters of Their Domain: West Harlem Takes On Columbia. City Limits. September 27, 2004.

Lawyer to CU: No Eminent Domain In West Harlem. Columbia Spectator. September 16, 2004.

In West Harlem, Residents Feel Expansion Concerns. Columbia Spectator. September 14, 2004.

Civil Rights Attorney Takes on Columbia in Manhattanville Plan. Columbia Spectator. September 13, 2004.

Harlem Building Ends Low Rent Program. Columbia Spectator. April 28, 2004.

CB9 Debates Long-Awaited Planning Guide. Columbia Spectator. November 13, 2003.

Friday Demonstrators Protested Planned University Expansion. Columbia Spectator. October 20, 2003.

Neighbors Voice Concerns About Columbia Expansion. Columbia Spectator. October 9, 2003.

Heights Residents Aim to Fight Conversion of Apartments Into Columbia Housing. Columbia Spectator. October 8, 2003.

Campus Expansion Worries Neighbors. Columbia Spectator. September 12, 2003

Research / Historical Documents:

Columbia Builds a Company Town: Morningside Heights' biggest landlord has a history that includes harassment. homelessness, and most recently, evictions. City Limits, January 1984. (Cover Story) Pages 16-21

Columbia University: Town on a Hill. Broadway: Magazine of the Columbia Spectator, March 1987. Pages 6-7, 19.

This article addresses how Columbia has pursued expansion in the past, and in particular the ways in which Columbia's housing practices completely changed the demographics of the Morningside Heights neighborhood as a whole.

Columbia Expansion and Urban Renewal. Publication of the Columbia Students for a Democratic Socity. Publication date unknown (possibly 1967-1968)

The study shows Columbia University's role in shaping urban renewal policies in the 1950s and 1960s---not only in Morningside Heights / West Harlem, but throughout the West Side of Manhattan—in a manner that benefited the University at the expense of working-class residents.

Columbia cannot develop as it wishes in Manhattanville without approval by various city and state agencies. The documents below address various elements of the political process:

Th City of New York will be evaluating Columbia's proposal concurrently with the 197-a plan designed by the local West Harlem community through Community Board 9. The City's approach to dealing with these two proposals, including a summary of discussions so far, is detailed in this September 12, 2006 Memorandum: Negotiations between Columbia and the Community: The City's Role.

Coalition to Preserve Community Documents:

CPC official response to Columbia's Draft Environmental Impact Statement (aka. DEIS scoping document) (.pdf) — This 46 page document is the Coalition to Preserve Community's official response, sent to New York City's Department of City Planning, to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement submitted by Columbia University. Columbia's proposal involves re-zoning Manhattanville, and this requires approval by the City Council of New York and its Mayor.

CPC Letter to Columbia University President, June 2005

Other Documents

Columbia University faculty open letter to Columbia University's President and its Board of Trustees