NEW YORK—New York University’s Washington Square campus got the green light for its expansion plans in a vote of 12 to 1 on Wednesday. The City Planning Commission passed a modified version of the contested plan.
Modifications include forming an oversight committee, no longer building a hotel, and not allowing any underground academic space under parkland, reported Curbed.
Andrew Berman, executive director for one of the main opponents of the plan—the Greenwich Village Society for Historical Preservation—expressed little surprise with the move, citing the mayor’s support and the commission’s close alignment with the mayor.
The sole vote against the plan came from a representative of Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, according to Berman.
The citywide expansion plan NYU 2031: NYU in NYC, calls for four new buildings on two superblocks bordered by West Third Street, LaGuardia Place, West Houston Street, and Mercer Street.
According to the planning commission’s website, in the next step in the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure—invoked when plans include changes such as zoning and map—City Council has 50 days to review and vote on the plan. If approved, the mayor could veto the decision; however, if that happened, City Council would hold another vote and have final approval or veto power.
Previously, Community Board 2 voted against the plan, and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer approved it. Both were advisory votes.
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