Community Debate Over Sacred Ground Intensifies

While most eyes are focused on the University’s proposed development in Manhattanville, a lesser known Columbia expansion project has hit a new snag.

With Columbia and the trustees of St. John the Divine engaged in a dialogue regarding Columbia’s plans for construction on the north grounds of the church, Morningside Heights’ Community Board 9 has again taken steps to hinder developments. In December, CB9 resubmitted a petition to gain landmark status for the entire grounds of the cathedral.

If successful, the controversial resolution to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission would make it much harder to build on the site in the future. The trustees of St. John are seeking landmark status for only the area immediately surrounding the cathedral building itself, clearing the way for construction.

Officials from St. John are also talking to private developers about plans to build on the southeastern portion of the site.

Still incomplete over a century after construction began and facing publicized financial difficulties, revenue from new construction could help cathedral staff maintain its facilities, continue to provide programs for area residents, and begin a raising funds to complete the structure.

Herb Katz, director of communications for the cathedral, declined to comment on the church’s motives for pursuing development. Katz said that cathedral officials have discussed the situation publicly several times in the past.

Liz Golden, Columbia’s director of operations, planning and special projects, also declined to comment on CB9’s resolution.

As the proposal moves through levels of city administration, two Morningside Heights community organizations are working to shape the future of the site.

The Morningside Heights Historic District Committee, an area preservation association, seeks to block further development by joining CB9 in working for landmark status for the entire church grounds.

“The Columbia administration does not seem to understand that they are tampering with a great national site,” said Carolyn Kent, an active committee member and longtime neighborhood preservationist. “We don’t want massive new construction coming onto [the grounds].” The HDC is planning a community forum and a private meeting with University President Lee Bollinger to voice its concerns.

Another neighborhood group, Community to Support the Cathedral, opposes the HDC’s position. CSC maintains a Web site and is petitioning in favor of development. Just over 300 individuals have signed the group’s petition promoting development on the grounds of St. John.

“The cathedral is in poor shape and the place is clearly in need of maintenance,” said Brad Taylor, an area architect and Webmaster for the pro-development organization. “One way to improve the site is through architecture.”

Taylor questioned whether Kent and CB9 were really acting in the best interest of the cathedral and the area.

“There is an idea that because Columbia is involved, Columbia’s needs are driving this project and, as another Columbia encroachment, we should try and stop it,” Taylor said. “In fact, this project is driven by the cathedral’s needs.”

“The original architect [Ralph Adams Cram] envisioned more building on the grounds,” Taylor added.

In the past, cathedral trustees have expressed a commitment to ensuring that new construction passes strict standard guidelines set by the church. At this stage, drawings for the new construction proposal are not yet available.

“They would like to stop this thing before we even see what is going up,” said Taylor, referring to his opponents.

CB9’s new petition reopens a complex, three-year, multi-party wrangle through several layers of city bureaucracy.

In 2002, Columbia University and the cathedral trustees entered negotiations offering the University exclusive rights to develop on the grounds. In response, CB9 sent a resolution in December of that year to have the entire grounds of the cathedral protected by New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission. When the LPC sent a proposal to the City Council attempting to grant landmark status to only the cathedral structure itself, the city council rejected the attempt—overriding a veto from Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Kent interprets the city council rejection as a move in favor of granting the entire site landmark status, especially in light of Bill Perkins’ support of efforts to block development at St. John the Divine.

“The issue of restoration designation began a new concern with the landmark process by the city council that will help tremendously in the mission to preserve New York City,” Kent said.