With a green light from the City Planning Commission, the University can start construction on the Baker Athletics Complex as soon as it gets approval from the City Council.
In an 11-1 vote Wednesday morning, the committee partially waived water zoning laws that would have required Columbia to devote 15 percent of its land to public waterfront access.
Columbia has maintained that it cannot comply with current laws in its plans for Baker Field—located at 218th Street in Inwood—because too much of the site was built before the law passed.
Pending final approval from City Council, the vote allows Columbia to instead provide about 1.5 percent of its land for a waterfront park.
Plans for the Baker Athletics Complex include the park, known as Boathouse Marsh, and the 48,000-square-foot Campbell Sports Center, which would include new weight rooms, coaches’ offices, and study space for athletes.
City Council will now have 20 days to bring the issue up during one of its meetings—something Council member Robert Jackson is sure to do, his chief of staff Susan Russell said.
“From the time that we receive it from City Planning, we have 20 days to call it up and thereafter we have 30 days to take a vote,” she said.
In a statement to Spectator, University spokesperson Victoria Benitez wrote that Columbia is pleased with the vote and expects that the additions to Baker Field will enhance the neighborhood.
“The Boathouse Marsh will provide seating and passive recreation areas. It will also restore and extend the area’s native marshland and educational offerings by creating an environment for learning about wetlands and plant species that once flourished in the area,” Benitez wrote. “We are committed to continuing to work with Community Board 12 and the Inwood community to provide long-term enjoyment of the Boathouse Marsh Park and Columbia’s athletic facilities by both local residents and the University community. We now look forward to working with City Council to address any questions they might have regarding this innovative environmental project.”
But according to David Brodherson, founder of the Inwood Mobilization Committee that advocates for residents’ concerns about Baker Field construction, the vote from City Planning does little to comfort Inwood residents who worry about Columbia’s construction plans.
“I’m deeply disappointed,” he said, though he added that he’s not surprised. “I learned of several instances when Columbia University representatives were able to meet privately with City Planning Commission representatives without members of the community present.”
Brodherson said the IMC has completed a set of recommendations that it hopes to send to City Council.
“I would hope that the Council would push the University to provide more benefits for the neighborhood,” he said.
The Council plans to work with all parties involved in order to address any lingering concerns, Russell said.
“They will certainly have an opportunity,” Russell said of residents voicing their concerns. “We’ll be meeting with Columbia University, we’ll be looking at the City Planning report, and we’ll be talking to community boards and residents in an attempt to resolve any outstanding problems.”
COMMENTS
Comments will be moderated in accordance with our comment policy