interesting back and forth though. i think there are direct benefits/costs and indirect benefits and costs when you look at columbia’s expansion project. the problem is what costs are we willing to accept.where do we reach the balance between preserving the fabric of a community and necessary, useful innovation.that’s why substantive dialogue is necessary. and you can easily substitute costs with losses. there is no doubt that there will be significant impacts.some of which cannot be easily gauged or accounted for by those who are pro-expansion.already there are many safety nets that were available to the working class residents that are disappearing because property owners (on the promise of columbia’s expansion) are already seeing the profits they can reap. this is the already accelerating the number of tenants who in effect have had to leave the area and seek affordable housing in parts of other boroughs where the hand of gentrification has been slower to move. and regardless of whether this is the true motivation behind the borough president or not, his proposal is trying to somewhat buffer or contain the fallout from those effects.

i agree that 85% of the property on that strip is underused and that columbia building on that site is a whole hell of a lot better than say some sort of Forrest City Ratner concoction. However, some consideration must be given to those people who are business owners and have been there for years. If you were a small business owner and are all of a sudden told that somehow you’re not important enough to your community (where you have spent 15+ yrs) to remain where you are…how would you feel? would any amount of calculation of projected jobs and tax revenue somehow give you solace? it is tantamount to invading a country where you are unwanted and convincing those people that the it is for their own well being.

the small business owner as well as columbia both pay taxes to the government. and, believe it or not, even universities are businesses who have revenues, costs, and even…GULP…profits!

I just think that to lump the business owners with those who have nothing but baseless ignorant rants in protest to columbia is just as unfair. and please, unless you have been living here for at least 15 years do not try to opine on the what the “the mentality of the surrounding area and why people don’t understand the greater benefit of Columbia expanding in this area”. That’s just insulting.

As one of the articles lists on Uptown, one of the hold-outs (Nick Sprageyhn) is only in it for the money and instead of a research facility and a university who will reach out and give after school programs, scholarships and employment to the community – he’ll turnaround and sell his lot to a coned powerplant.

Please educate yourself on the Columbia Plan – it IS the best thing to happen to Harlem in decades. Until you read the entire proposal and Stringer’s amended plan then dialogue cannot happen.

GoColumbiaGo!

GoColumbiaGo the Harlem Girl comment is a great example of the mentality of the surrounding area and why people don’t understand the greater benefit of Columbia expanding in this area.