Columbia received the green light for demolition this Monday.
Since 2008, the University has been planning to demolish three brownstones on 115th Street between Morningside and Amsterdam Avenues. Columbia has maintained that the buildings, 408, 410, and 412 115th Street, are in a state of disrepair.
On the eve of Thanksgiving last Wednesday, Columbia took the next step in this process, filing demolition papers with the New York City Department of Buildings. On Monday, the DOB informed Morningside Heights Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell, who has been a vocal opponent of the demolition, of the filing.
Shane Seger, communications director for O’Donnell, shared a copy of the DOB job filing with Spectator, which shows the DOB’s Nov. 30 approval for the application to demolish the three Columbia-owned brownstones.
O’Donnell expressed disappointment with the University for going through with the plans.
“It is deplorable that an institution with so many resources and talented thinkers cannot find a way to preserve these historic structures,” O’Donnell wrote in a statement on Monday. “Columbia has fallen back on its bad neighbor behaviors.”
Last December, the New York State Historic Preservation Office—which lists building candidates for the National Register of Historic Places—deemed the brownstones historic, but the structures have not received acknowledgment from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, which grants landmark recognition with legal authority.
“There has been no attempt at all to evaluate the suitability of rehabilitating them,” Harry Schwartz, a representative from the 116th Street Block Association, said, adding, “These brownstones have been found to be historically significant by the state, and Columbia has ignored that.”
Daniel Held, Director of Communications for Columbia Facilities wrote in e-mail on Tuesday, “The University has had meetings with the local community, including the 116th Street Block Association, and local elected officials to discuss our plans.”
But Brad Taylor, treasurer for Friends of Morningside Park, said, “They need to tell us what the plan is for the site. The biggest concern is that there will be something quite tall there.” Community Board 9 Landmarks Committee chair Walter South agreed, saying, “Columbia needs to learn to respect the neighborhood.”
Held responded, “We do not have a firm schedule for demolition or specific development plans for the site at this time.”
Dan Keefe, spokesperson for the New York State Historic Preservation Office, said that because the brownstones were private property, they are not going to be taking any action. “We are not involved,” he said.
Elisabeth de Bourbon, spokesperson for the Landmarks Preservation Commission, said the Commission also had no relation to the properties, which she said were never considered for designation.
But in 1996, O’Donnell submitted a request to the LPC for the evaluation of a comprehensive historic district, bordered by Riverside Park and Morningside Park, from 110th to 125th Street.
De Bourbon said that the commission is in the early stages of reviewing a historical district that would run from 119th to 116th between Claremont and Riverside and 116th to Cathedral Parkway, between Broadway and Riverside. This covers around 60 buildings, she said, but does not include the 115th Street brownstones soon to be demolished.
Joseph Nigai, the super for 403 W. 115th, across the street from the brownstones, said he was glad to hear the news of demolition. “It’s a good thing to take them down,” he said, pointing to the boarded up buildings. “They’re just sitting there.”
But Barbara Griffiths, GS ’56 and neighborhood resident for 50 years, said that though the demolition would be a true loss, she expected nothing more from the University. “It’s sort of déjà vu,” said Griffiths, who has seen Columbia buy properties and redevelop them for many decades. She added of the University’s real estate, “It is pure business.”
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