NYU Tries to Study Itself
 NYU’s massive twenty-year expansion plans are expected to begin the formal public review and approval process next year, where they will have to be approved by the City Planning Commission and the City Council in order to move ahead. Before that, however, NYU is legally required to conduct an environmental review of the impact of the changes they are seeking, which will take several months. However, the scope of that review, and how it is conducted, can have a big impact upon what it finds.
That’s why GVSHP is working to ensure that the review takes into account a broad range of factors, and not only looks at all potential scenarios for what the impact of NYU’s plans might be, but considers better alternatives as well.
The City Planning Commission will be holding hearings on NYU’s proposed scope of their environmental studies on Tuesday, May 24th at 2 and 6pm at 22 Reade Street in Lower Manhattan, and will be accepting written comments until Monday, June 6 (read more HERE). GVSHP will be providing copies of our own comments and suggested responses closer to that date.
In related news, NYU has recently released a study, paid for and commissioned by the university, which (no surprise) says that NYU is great for the Village and for New York City. Of course no one disputes that NYU employs thousands of people; the question is, would their massive twenty-year expansion plan be best suited for the Village, which it would overwhelm, or someplace like the Financial District, which can not only absorb the growth but would benefit immeasurably from the influx of residents and cultural activities, and the diversification of its economic base. Unsurprisingly, the report avoids addressing that question. Read more in Crain’s NY and The Real Deal.
Next: 05/20/11
Previous: 04/27/11
|
