Local business decries Manhattanville pre-construction

As early stage construction proceeds in the footprint of Columbia’s Manhattanville expansion, so do disruptions, business owners say.

“Preconstruction” work, which began in September, has involved the replacement of aging water mains and electrical conduits along Broadway and the adjacent blocks of West 125th and 129th Streets, and on St. Clair Place between 12th Avenue and 125th Street. This has required the temporary relocation of bus stops, the periodic closing of parking and traffic lanes, and the temporary cutoff of water service to certain buildings.

Meanwhile, in the past two weeks, the even more visible step of demolition—preceded by precautionary measures to prevent the release of asbestos—has begun on a handful of buildings on the block bordered by Broadway, 12th Avenue, 129th and 130th Streets.

Among the most affected businesses is Floridita Restaurant & Tapas Bar, which occupies three storefronts in University-owned buildings on the west side of Broadway between 125th and 129th Streets. Owner Ramon Diaz said that his business has been down 30 percent since preconstruction began in September. He added that in January, he plans to close his tapas bar—one third of his business, which includes the main restaurant and bakery.

“They close up the street during the night—they start at 9 and they won’t reopen until 6,” Diaz said. “They do away with parking for two weeks. Customers will just stop coming because they can’t find parking.”

University officials maintained they are working to minimize the impact on Diaz and other business owners.

“Utility relocation, reconstruction, and drainage improvement projects are an essential preliminary step in the long-term plan for the old Manhattanville manufacturing area,” University spokesperson Victoria Benitez wrote in an e-mail when construction began in September. “We have worked hard to ensure that Mr. Diaz is both fully informed of these developments and that they do not affect Floridita’s business, which we hope continues to thrive.”

A block west of Floridita, at the corner of 125th and 129th Streets, is one of two gas stations owned by Gurnam Singh and Parminder Kaur, who—along with Tuck-it-Away Storage owner Nick Sprayregen—are the only remaining landowners in the expansion zone who have refused to sell their properties to Columbia. There are two entrances to the gas station—one on 125th Street and one on 129th—but Zeroom Selassie, a friend of the Singhs who spends a lot of time at the station, said business has not been hurt because only half of 129th Street has been closed, leaving the station entrance accessible. The Singhs and their lawyer, David Smith, were not available for comment by press time.

When it comes to demolition, Columbia Executive Vice President of Facilities Joe Ienuso said in an October interview that University officials plan to keep the construction zones safe and clean.
“Dust will be kept to an absolute minimum, keeping the immediate vicinity of the demolition site wet, moist, so dust is kept on the ground and doesn’t become airborne,” Ienuso said. “The equipment will have filter systems to reduce the particulate matter.”

Aside from current utility work, little construction activity is planned in the immediate future, since the building design process is not complete. And as the project proceeds, Ienuso predicted, feedback from locals affected by construction will allow University officials to address their concerns.

“Everyone knows where my office is,” he said. “If there’s something I do, and I don’t do it well, I have many communities that will knock on my door.”