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July 22, 2008
Columbia University Plan Could Impact Atlantic Yards
Opponents of Both Have Said State Abuses Eminent Domain
Brooklyn Daily Eagle
by Ranaan Geberer (and AP)
The Empire State Development Corp. (ESDC) has given preliminary approval to Columbia University’s plan to build new housing, laboratories and other facilities in West Harlem, which may force some property owners to give up their land — an issue which is somewhat related to Atlantic Yards.
The agency also ruled that two studies had found the neighborhood where Columbia wants to build is full of old, obsolete buildings in deteriorating condition. Declaring the area blighted gives the state the power to force the sale of private owners’ land needed for the expansion.
Two property owners say they don’t want to sell to Columbia, and have vowed to fight the expansion in court.
This issue is basically similar to the Atlantic Yards battle in Brooklyn, since opponents of that sports-housing-office proposal have also filed suit against the possibility of eminent domain.
NoLandGrab: Yes, "the issue is basically similar," but as for how Columbia's plan "could impact Atlantic Yards," we're not quite sure what the Eagle's headline writers are getting at.
Posted by eric at July 22, 2008 9:45 AM