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The Wooster Collective has photographs of wheatpastes from Columbia's Student Coalition on the Expansion and Gentrification that call attention, "in tongue and cheek fashion, Columbia's condemnation of Manhattanville as a 'blighted' neighborhood." Benign animals, explaining eminent domain in street art? That's gold!
This complements news about yesterday's SCEG protest on the Columbia campus. The group organized a rally with students and local residents to call Columbia's South Lawn "blighted" since dirty snow has been covering up a field used in fairer weather and therefore hasn't been "fully utilized." Community Board 9 member Vicky Gholson told students, "You should not be used as a tool by the administration of Columbia University. Do not separate yourself from this argument, from this fight."
Last week, the Observer had details on Columbia's negotiations with neighbors. And here's Columbia's website on Manhattanville planning.
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Kay,
Well I AM both a former student at Columbia AND a neighbor of Manhattanville and I say redevelop. Really, there's nothing much for anyone of any class or race to do up here and the housing available to lower income people is not only replacable by new development here and elsewhere, but honestly the area they're talking about fixing up is dumpy. Moreover, that thing about the fields at Columbia is a joke. Look, I live up here and everyone - students, residents of all races, the city government - treats the area like crap - garbage on the streets, drugs, shitty shitty schools and stores. I say offer overly generous by outs to those willing and really discuss the matter with those unwilling. There's a lot of great, rational reasons to redevelop and - let's be frank - calling this a race issue is a red herring - its a class/money issue and the lower classes here will have the same access to schools and nurturing communities both here after redevelopment and elsewhere. Manhattanville is not a great place to live and the history of the place is not tied into the area to be replaced. Let's try something new and see what happens - and I mean all of us - developers and lower-income residents (which I guess includes me).
Gentrification is not development and vice versa. I am for development without gentrification, but I don't think my neighbors - particularly the white liberals - see the difference.
Wow. Whenever I come over here to check out a story at the Gothamist, I am amazed at the lack of good writing skills. Read this article without clicking on the links contained within it and it makes absolutely no sense! Who is editing articles over there, anyway? All the writers and editors at the Gothamist should go back to school and learn the basics of writing and journalism.
As the artist responsible for these wheatpastes, I have a few clarifying comments for those who are trying to understand my statements out of context. The Student Coalition on Expansion and Gentrification (SCEG) is a coalition ON expansion, not against expansion. We fully understand that Columbia's expansion into Manhattanville is unavoidable and probably necessary. However, as students, we are concerned about the real life consequence of first and secondary displacement of tenants, businesses and jobs as a result of the use of Eminent Domain (which has not been removed from the table), or Columbia's expansion in general. Yes, space is an issue at Columbia, but the community is not asking for a complete halt to all expansion plans, they are asking that Columbia be accountable to the community in the development proceedings. Community board 9 and other community organizations advocate a 197a plan that would be mutually beneficial to the community and to the university. This is not a pro or con issue, it is an issue of conversation and accountability. Get informed
Sophie,
Good stuff.