NYU Scales Back Village Expansion from Monstrous to Huge

NYU has announced its intention to reduce the proposed square footage for their controversial Greenwich Village expansion plan by approximately twenty percent.

1 minute read

April 16, 2012, 7:00 AM PDT

By elmahoney


New York University's contentious plan for campus expansion in the village will be reduced from 2.3 million square feet to just under 2 million square feet. The plan adds new dorms, classrooms, and commercial space to the two superblocks surrounding Washington Square Park. The university currently owns and operates 7 buildings surrounding the landmark park.

As one of the top 5 employers in New York City, NYU has its share of proponents. However the Greenwhich Village Historic Preservation Society, neighborhood activists, and the community board have all been vocal dissenters against the plan. Opponents argue that NYU's proposed towers are out of scale with the neighborhood's existing building heights and density.

It was for this reason that the Community Board unanimously rejected NYU's initial development plan despite strong support from Mr. Stringer, the Manhattan Borough President who recommended approval to the City Planning Commission on Wednesday. Although NYU's square footage reduction may seem like a compromise, some have argued that NYU overpitched their square footage to have room to negotiate to their ideal range.

Thanks to Elaine Mahoney

Tuesday, April 10, 2012 in New York Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Concrete Brutalism building with slanted walls and light visible through an atrium.

What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities

How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.

February 28, 2025 - Justin Hollander

Complete Street

‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge

Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.

February 27, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Green electric Volkswagen van against a beach backdrop.

The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan

Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.

March 3, 2025 - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

View of mountains with large shrubs in foreground in Altadena, California.

Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire

In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.

4 hours ago - Pasadena NOw

Aerial view of single-family homes with swimming pools in San Diego, California.

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule

The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

6 hours ago - Axios

Close-up of row of electric cars plugged into chargers at outdoor station.

Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives

A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.

March 9 - UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation