GEC Research Proposal
Abby Mitchell, Shadrack Kioi, Cristina Sorrento
Introduction
In 2009, Columbia University finalized the plans for its Community Benefits Agreement. The agreement outlined Columbia’s plan for expansion over the 6.8 million square feet of Manhattanville, and emphasized the University’s commitment to providing employment and services to the community. However, the fact of the matter is that with this expansion, housing projects in Manhattanville will be destroyed to make room for University facilities, and hundreds of people will be displaced. Columbia has pledged upwards of 20 million dollars to affordable housing, along with 4 million towards legal council, but the University has not explicitly explained where this money is going and how it will be used in the future. Obviously, money cannot stave all of the ramifications of a move that has, in many cases, been the source of much controversy and strife. No matter what kind of benefits Columbia throws at Manhattanville residents, they are still faced with the harsh reality of rising prices, gentrification, and possibly the loss of their community. This is something that must be addressed by both Columbia and community leaders, and cannot be glossed over by unrealistic or unachievable goals.
Thus, community members are at a crossroads: their neighborhood is undergoing massive changes, and they must adapt and move with it. The question is, where to go? With gentrification occurring throughout Harlem, there are few opportunities for housing for displaced Manhattanville residents. Although there are new housing complexes being built in the city, such as Balton and Douglass Park on 127th street, procuring a spot in these new developments is very competitive, and because of the lottery system, very random. It is likely that many people will have to compromise, and move into more expensive housing complexes without the benefits of government vouchers or government programs like Mitchell Lama. Some may find themselves in the position of the residents of 3333 Broadway, a housing project that is no longer state subsidized. Those residents saw firsthand the disparity between the new, more affluent tenants, whose apartments are furnished with hardwood floors and granite countertops, and the older residents, who face problems of leaky faucets, rodents, and vandalism. The double standard is only exacerbated when you take into account the countless residents forced out of the complex by rising rents. Without careful planning and coordination, 3333 Broadway could become the norm for housing in Manhattanville: privatization creating more problems than it solves and community members being sacrificed for the sake of private interests.
For this proposal, we would like to closely examine the effects of the CU Manhattanville expansion on housing and to determine how the tenants and community members are affected by the plans. In order to do so, we will evaluate the level of gentrification in the area, as well as studying both the University’s and the city’s plans and legal documents about the project, with a specific focus on programs and regulations for housing in Manhattanville. By looking at the effectiveness of such programs and interviewing prominent scholars and community members, we hope to gain a greater understanding of the underlying issues plaguing the Manhattanville expansion and the implications it has on local residents.
Person to Interview: Lance Freeman,
+1 212 854 8495
He is an Associate Professor in the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP) at Columbia University. His academic research is geared toward affordable housing, gentrification, ethnic and racial stratification in housing markets and the relationship between the built environment and well-being-
Possible questions: -
1. Are the measures that Columbia has put in place enough to guarantee the housing security of the people at risk of displacement?
2. Besides eminent domain, what other socio-economic factors, if any, might result in the displacement of people?
3. How would Columbia University have approached this issue in such a way as to make everyone happy or reduce casualties to a minimum?
4. Where do you think the people displaced will move to and what impact will that migration have on that area?
Article to read- Gentrification and Resistance in New York City by Kathe Newman and Elvin Wyly.
This article discusses how gentrification, which used to be thought of as a boon, is actually a threat to the people living in the gentrifying neighborhoods. It addresses the underlying issue of class differentiation and attempts to analyze the displacement patterns in New York City drawing much of its evidence from Harlem, where Manhattanville is situated. Having shown the negative impact of gentrification, it then goes on to show how those who try to resist gentrification survive- what policies aid or inhibit their stay in their rapidly changing neighborhoods.
Place to Visit: Manhattanville Campus Construction Site
Since we are studying the current and future effects that Columbia’s Manhattanville expansion is having on current residents, a visit to the Manhattanville construction site would be relevant. We want to not only survey the construction site, but also get a feel for what the surrounding neighborhood currently looks like. It might be useful to visit local businesses so that we can talk to current residents of the neighborhood and hear opinions on the expansion. From talking to people, we might learn who the key players have been in local resistance to the expansion were and what the current and future living situations are for residents. We can compare Columbia’s promises to the community (outlined in its Community Benefits Agreement) to the reality that is taking place.
Link to Manhattanville Site: http://neighbors.columbia.edu/pages/manplanning/
Academic Resource: “Race, Class, and the Packaging of Harlem” (Sabiyha Prince)
This article is analyzes the gentrification of Central and West Harlem. It focuses particularly on the key institutions that catalyzed this change and its impact on the relationship between middle- and lower-income black residents. It will be a useful starting resource because gentrification that has occurred in these areas of Harlem may mirror the effects that the Manhattanville campus has on its community.
