[This speech was delivered at the November 15th, 2005 scoping hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Columbia expansion proposal]

My name is Ann Whitman and I'm the owner of Hudson Moving and Storage at 3229 Broadway. I'm here tonight to tell you that the Columbia expansion plan has a negative impact on the historic resources in our community of Manhattanville. The 197-a Plan protects historic resources.My building was listed on the New York State Historic Register September 20th, 2005. My building is also listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings as of November 9, 2005. The Columbia plan only respects the historic resources of our community at their convenience, like the Prentis Building and the Studebaker. But there are many interspersed between these two buildings with a rich history that this community should not let go of.

There's major impact on the neighborhood character. My building is a six- story flagship building on the Broadway corridor at 130th Street and is an important part of the neighborhood character. My father purchased this property in 1972 and we have been owner occupants for thirty-three years.

My company is one hundred percent woman-owned and it is formally certified by the City of New York as a woman business enterprise. I employ twenty-three people. One hundred percent of my employees are either women or minorities. The Columbia plan injures women and minorities and I don't accept mitigation. I accept avoidance

3229 Broadway is prominent in the commercial history of Manhattanville which has included industrial uses in its history for the past two hundred years. Our building and our business and those of our neighbors are prominent and important to the neighborhood character of Manhattanville.

Our building represents our past, our present and our future and it is important. We cannot duplicate what we have. We purchased these buildings, 3229 and 3247 Broadway, because of their Broadway address on the convergence of two major truck routes, 125th Street and Broadway. They are easily accessible to our customers and to our employees by private and public transportation. What we have is irreplaceable. Once it's gone, it's gone forever. We pay full freight in real estate taxes, and to take our businesses away from us and give it to a tax-exempt institution is criminal.

The EIS must address the negative impact on businesses and the loss to the community of neighborhood services. The EIS must address the alternative to eminent domain and it must address the 197-a Plan approved by this Community Board.

New York City never even put out a formal request for proposals for Manhattanville. It's just a dirty backroom deal.

My building has been in continuous use for over one hundred years. As owners/operators, we are committed to remaining in our building---committed to continuing our participation in the economic and social welfare of the West Harlem community. That being said, we look forward to working with our neighbors and being part of any improvement in this area. This land is my land, Columbia University, not your land.