The Eminent Domain

Columbia and the West Harlem Local Development Corporation have reportedly reached an agreement on $150 million in unspecified community benefits.

We’ll get you the details as soon as we have them. But based on earlier reports, we can be fairly sure of two things: the deal will include substantial funds for housing, and it represents the interests of the elected officials whose staffs negotiated it — not the community in whose name it was executed. As a certain resident of Yankee Stadium used to say, “It’s deja vu all over again.”

For further enlightenment, check out Good Jobs New York’s excellent report on Yankee Stadium, which describes how the Yankees hired longtime political operative Stanley Schlein to broker a “community benefits agreement” with the City Council — giving Bronx members $800,000 a year in cash to spend — in order to win the Council’s support for the stadium plan. The community had nothing to do with it.

Columbia can’t do any worse. Or can it?

Earlier today, the City Council’s subcommittees on Zoning & Franchises and Planning, Dispositions & Concessions approved Columbia’s rezoning plan for Manhattanville as well as Community Board 9’s own plan for the surrounding area. The plans both now go to the full Council for a vote, with no further public hearing. The Columbia Spectator has the story.

Crains reports that two more members of the West Harlem Local Development Corporation have resigned as negotiations with Columbia for community benefits — including a housing fund — hurtle forward. As we’ve noted, three other members who resigned last week reported that community representatives had been excluded from negotiations with the university.