History and Past Struggles
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The Formation of the CPC
The Coalition to Preserve Community (CPC) was formed in the spring of 2003 when community activists learned about Columbia University’s plan to expand its facilities into Manhattanville. Because Columbia University has a history of displacing residents by buying up residential property for student and faculty housing, these pioneering community activists joined alliances with community groups that would also be affected by Columbia’s expansion. Along with concerned community members, these groups and activists formed what is known as the CPC.
The CPC Goes to Work
In its initial effort to prevent the gentrification of Manhattanville, the CPC brought a newly drafted resolution of Columbia’s proposed expansion to Community Board 9 Housing Land Use Committee (CB-9). CPC asked the community board to consider the resolution, which asked Columbia to maintain rent-regulated housing in the community by ending its conversion of University-owned, rent-stabilized community housing into housing for students and staff. By 2003, the number of rent-controlled apartments occupied by tenants who were not associated with Columbia, had declined from 6,000 to 750 since 1993. The CB-9 Board members, however, did not want to support the proposed resolution. Why not?
Instead, the CP-9 board called for a general housing policy dealing with non-for-profit organizations. Together, CPC worked with the CP9 board to devise this general housing proposal called the 197-A Plan.
CPC and the Community
Coalition to Preserve Community works hard to attract community members to the organization, and to get them involved in the issues that affect them directly. How?
According to a coalition memo, in addition to the demands outlined in the 197-A Plan, the CPC is calling for a permanent moratorium on Columbia University's conversion of rent-regulated apartments, a plan to designate half of newly constructed apartments to low and moderate income housing to offset the current crisis in affordable housing, and full disclosure of both short and long-term plans for acquisition and development.
Despite the community and school-based opposition to the school’s plans, Columbia has not wavered from its position . The University did not agree to the terms of the 197-A Plan, and began to lobby the city government to change zoning laws in the area in question so that it could proceed with its planned expansion.
In addition to lobbying the government, Columbia has also applied pressure on the local businesses that refuse to sell to Columbia. When these businesses have refused Columbia's offers, Columbia has threatened to use [Eminent Domain]to remove them, according to Maritta Dunn.
How Eminent Domain would effect Columbia
Columbia and the Community
In response to the escalating tensions between Columbia and those opposed to the expansion, the University created a special committee to attempt to preserve positive relations with the neighborhood. Columbia has also held various meetings addressing the debate. These meetings, however, have been superficial, offering little to no resolution and taking none of the community’s concerns into consideration. The Manhattanville tenants are still bitter towards Columbia and view the school as a domineering, elitist institution, despite its efforts to eliminate tensions. The overwhelming community feeling is that their concerns are of no value to Columbia.
In order to make any significant progress in their fight against Columbia, CPC feels as though they need to have a largescale, public meeting with President Bollinger. He has not yet agreed to a public meeting, though he has met with the CPC steering committee, made up of approximately 15 members, on a few occasions.
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