Public Advocate Lays Out Proposals For M'ville Expansion

Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum has developed a set of recommendations for Columbia’s Manhattanville expansion project, according to a spokesperson.

The announcement comes after Community Board 9 members pressured the office’s representative for months to take a stance for or against the expansion plans. In addition to reaffirming the public advocate’s opposition to eminent-domain use, Gotbaum’s Manhattan community liaison, Simeon Banister, laid out six points of concern regarding Columbia’s relationship to the Manhattanville community.

“Community input is not a nicety, it is a necessity,” Banister said.

The six points called for public access to Columbia facilities, affordable housing, adherence to environmental standards, the creation of a community-business institute, and open art space.

Banister was particularly enthusiastic about the idea of an initiative to support local business owners. He explained that, since Columbia plans to build a new business school in Manhattanville, the public advocate’s office requests that the University investigate the possibility of a training program for neighborhood entrepreneurs.

The public advocate’s office also presented the idea of art-exhibition space housed at Columbia’s Manhattanville campus to serve the surrounding community.

At a meeting Thursday night, CB9 member Vicky Gholson questioned Banister about affordable housing, not only for Manhattanville residents, but also for Columbia students, who she believes “are being ripped off.” He replied that her thoughts were “more than reasonable,” and added that he and his wife, a Columbia graduate student, would be pleased to pay less for their apartment.

Betsy Morais can be reached at news@columbiaspectator.com.