VOL. 23, NO. 16	FEBRUARY 27, 1998

Pictured above is a view—looking northeast at the intersection of 113th Street and Broadway—of the residence hall and public library building, designed by architect Robert A.M. Stern, also a Columbia professor. Photomontage by Robert A.M. Stern Architects.

olumbia’s 113th Street residence hall project, which will include a 17,000 sq. foot branch of the New York Public Library, passed its first hurdle last week when Manhattan Community Board 9 voted overwhelmingly to support two key actions: the sale of a parcel of city land to Columbia, and the purchase by the City of the part of the building that will house the new public library for Morningside Heights.

  The Community Board voted 19 in favor, 2 opposed, and 3 abstentions on the first action and 23 in favor, 0 opposed, and 2 abstentions on the second. Community Board review is the first step in New York City’s municipal land use approval process, known as ULURP (Uniform Land Use Review Process).

  “I am particularly pleased,” said Executive Vice President for Administration Emily Lloyd, “that a large majority of people voiced opinions and voted in favor of the project. I believe this support reflects the on-going consultation between Columbia and the community, discussions which began over 15 months ago, even before the building design. The University made some significant compromises, but I also believe that neighborhood residents made good faith efforts to understand the needs and constraints of a student residence hall space.”

  The Board vote was taken last Thursday night (Feb. 19), following a public hearing earlier that week (Feb. 17), where community residents expressed opinions about the residence hall-library project, designed by Robert A.M. Stern. At the end of the public hearing, a non-binding vote of those in attendance was taken to provide Board Members with a measure of community sentiment. There was strong support for both actions.

  As part of the public consultation process, which included 10 meetings (two public and eight working group sessions), the height of the building was reduced from 21 to 14 stories (142 feet); the number of beds was reduced from 430 to 373; design modifications were made by the architect to preserve the facade of the adjacent Sigma Chi fraternity, a town house; light color brick—similar to the residential buildings on Broadway—was chosen for the project, rather than the traditional Columbia red brick, and the library space was relocated to a more prominent corner location.

  According to Dean of Columbia College Austin Quigley, this project will provide “an important new residence hall for senior undergraduate students, one that will play a vital role in our plans to improve the overall quality of undergraduate residential life. I am very pleased that it will go forward in a timely fashion.”

  The residence hall will share an existing student entry way on 114th Street with Hogan Hall; the public library will have a separate entrance on Broadway. Among the student facilities featured in the residence hall will be: several lounges, a coffee bar, music practice rooms, and a printing and photocopying room. In addition to the public library branch, the building will have 6,000 square feet of commercial retail space.

  Community Board 9 must rule on one more action in connection with this project: a variance, to be granted by the Board of Standards and Appeals, which would waive the need for a setback at 85 feet and allow for the construction of a contextual building—one that is similar in appearance to the other buildings on Broadway. It should take several months to complete the remaining review by Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields, the City Planning Commission, and the City Council of the variance and the actions approved last week. Ultimately, if all actions are approved, work will begin on the site this summer and the residence hall will open in the fall of 2000. The existing Chase Bank branch, on the site of the residence hall location will move to 109th and Broadway; a new Chase ATM center will open on the southeast corner of 113th and Broadway.