I just read in depth about Columbia University's 30 year plan to expand its campus into the entire site between Broadway and 12th/ 125th and 133rd streets with numerous new academic buildings/ housing etc. It includes many 12-20 story buildings that have 1-2 levels of ground level retail/community space that reverses an earlier trend of turning its back to the community. My understanding is also that architect Renzo Piano will be involved with the designs.

I saw some prelim renderings that look good. The Studebaker and 2 other buildings will be preserved, but the rest of the structures on this land will be demolished. Neighborhood NIMBY's protest the height and density, the loss of historic architecture, and want more manufacturing jobs. Bloomberg isn't too interested in manufacturing.

Anybody know much more about his?

Check out the site: www.verticalfarm.com then click on
"social implications"

Supposedly, through this new development Columbia and this organization are going to test out an urban indoor self sustaining vertical farm project. It would be multistoried and produce crops years around. It would be the vanguard for future skyscraper farms (yes growing hydroponic crops vertically). Its sounds like a very intriguing project.

Neighborhood NIMBY's protest the height and density, the loss of historic architecture, and want more manufacturing jobs.The NIMBYs must be living in their own little fantasy world. In case they not aware, people are no longer doing any manufacturing here in the U.S., let alone some neighborhood in Manhattan.
NIMBYs once again prove how completely retarded they can be.

I don't want to sound like a downer to this project, but why can't developers like Columbia Universtiy just let Manhattanville remain affordable or at least stay itself?