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Tag: NYU 2031

History Lost to NYU

We all know that New York University has an enormous presence in Greenwich Village and the East Village — one that has grown tremendously in recent decades, and is continuing to grow with the construction of their “NYU 2031” expanded campus on the Washington Square Village and Silver Towers superblocks south of Washington Square. The […]

On this Day: Washington Square Village Found Eligible for State and National Registers of Historic Places

On this date in 2011, the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), presented a “Resource Evaluation” that agreed with the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s earlier finding that the complex known as Washington Square Village was eligible for inclusion in the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places. In this evaluation, SHPO noted that Washington […]

This Day in History: NYU Incorporated

Today is the 184th anniversary of the incorporation of NYU. Originally chartered as the “University of the City of New-York”, in 1831 admission was open to all during a time when most universities only admitted members of the privileged classes. The founders of NYU imagined a non-denominational center of higher learning that would be open to all […]

A Landmark of Hypocrisy?

You never know what you might stumble upon when walking around the neighborhood. Recently I discovered that NYU had installed a sign on the grounds of the I.M. Pei-designed Silver Towers complex touting its landmark designation by the City in 2008.  The signage appeared to indicate that the NYU administration was proud of the landmark […]

NYU Expansion Plan; Not Over, But Still Outrageous

Last week’s news that the First Department Panel of the Appellate Division struck down Supreme Court Justice Donna Mills’ ruling halting much of the NYU expansion plan was disappointing to say the least.  But, as we have reminded people, it is not the end of the story by any means.  Working with our co-plaintiffs and […]

2013 Village Award Winner: NYU Faculty Against the Sexton Plan

You don’t often hear “NYU” and “award” in the same sentence (at least not when GVSHP is giving the award).  But a bold and unapologetic group of NYU faculty who have spearheaded the charge from within against the university’s massive Village expansion plans was a favorite of the GVSHP Awards Committee this year. Let’s find […]

Quinn and City Must Not Omit Three Key Sites From South Village Landmarking

Op-Ed from The Villager newspaper, April 25, 2012 http://thevillager.com/2013/04/25/quinn-and-city-cant-omit-3-key-south-village-sites/ Quinn and City Must Not Omit Three Key Sites From South Village Landmarking (if you want to help, write the City and Speaker Quinn today — click HERE) BY ANDREW BERMAN | On April 15, the Landmarks Preservation Commission held a public meeting to present its […]

NoHo and SoHo Firewall Against NYU in Jeopardy

From the January 31, 2013 issue of The Villager. Noho and Soho’s firewall against N.Y.U. is at risk http://www.thevillager.com/?p=10030 By Andrew Berman, Executive Director, Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation The mantra from the New York University administration throughout the public approval process for the school’s massive expansion proposal was “We’re making our plans transparent […]

NYU Variance Hearing Shines Light on BSA, Elected Officials

Yesterday’s Board of Standards and Appeals (BSA) hearing on NYU’s variance application for 730 Broadway was revealing in several ways. GVSHP urged the board to reject NYU’s application (read our testimony HERE) as did Community Board #2, the NoHo Neighborhood Association (NNA), and a representative of Assemblymember Deborah Glick.  NNA and Assemblymember Glick are, by […]

City Council Votes to Approve NYU Plan

Today the City Council chose to ignore thousands of New Yorkers and by far the majority of NYU faculty, staff, and workers who had called upon them to reject the plan. GVSHP had offered several alternative approaches which both the university and the City Council refused to consider.  As you have seen in previous Off […]

The Truth About Open Space & The NYU Plan

Although NYU’s massive Village expansion plan was modestly reduced at this week’s City Council Land Use Committee meeting (the university would still get over 80% of what it proposed), if it is approved by the full City Council next week, the plan would still dramatically alter the physical character of the neighborhood. While much attention […]

The New School vs. NYU — A Telling Comparison

The New School recently “topped out” its new “University Center” at 65 Fifth Avenue at 14th Street.  With the building now having reached its full height and bulk, and the facade beginning to take shape, it’s worth comparing this project, The New School’s ambitious look toward its future, with NYU’s proposed developments under its twenty-year […]

Save the Date: June 29th @ City Hall

Start spreading the news — the City Council’s public hearing on NYU’s massive proposed Village expansion plan has been set for Friday, June 29th at 9:30 am in the Council Chambers, at City Hall. This is likely the ONLY public hearing the City Council will hold on the plan before a vote takes place in […]

A Campus Comparison

As part of its massive proposed Village expansion plan, NYU is seeking to build 2.5 million sq. ft. of space – the equivalent of the Empire State Building – on the blocks south of Washington Square.  All of the university’s proposed development is prohibited under current laws and zoning, but would be made possible if […]

What NYU Doesn’t Want You to Know About Faculty Housing at Washington Square Village

NYU’s massive, out-of-scale plan to construct 2 million square feet of new buildings within the Washington Square Village and Silver Towers superblocks is touted by the University as being desperately needed to accommodate its growth.  NYU President John Sexton in particular called out the need for more faculty housing. We have to call this in […]

Superblock Sleuthing

“Superblock” is a term that we have been hearing more and more with the publication of the NYU 2031 Plan and its roadmap for massive additional development on two of the city’s most prominent and historic superblocks- Silver Towers and Washington Square Village.  The University is asking zoning and urban renewal deed restrictions to be […]

NYU Expansion Plan More Than A Little Scary

NYU recently sent around a notice about this year’s NYU and Community Board #2 Children’s Halloween Parade. According to NYU, they want “YOU to help!” design an image for this year’s parade. Well, we couldn’t think of anything scarier than NYU’s massive proposed 20-Year Expansion Plan, in which the university asks the City to give […]

A Slow Ride Back to ’75 on East 11th Street

We’re always on the lookout for album covers shot in the Village, East Village, or NoHo.  Many of the great album covers of the last half century were shot on our streets, so you might say it’s a bit of a preoccupation of ours (see prior post, “It Happened Here: Album Covers“). So imagine our […]

The Past and Future NYU

This week marks the 180th anniversary of the incorporation of New York University, which was chartered in April 1831 as the City University of New York. And it seems the University was a bit pickier with its choice of architects in those early days. Feast your eyes on their spectacular Gothic Revival main building, which […]