A New York-centric Thursday, New Orleans Schools, Charlotte’s Ghettos, MORE
Hayley Richardson | Thu, Dec 13th, 2007 | Category: Commentary | Tags: commentary, hayley richardson, headlines, eminent domain, tolls, ethnic neighborhoods, ghettos, columbia, new york-centric thursday, salt lake city, charlotte suburbs, east river, crescent city
Columbia Vows Not to Use Eminent Domain
“Columbia University officials testified Wednesday that they won’t use eminent domain - or evictions - against residential properties or tenants in its $7billion campus expansion. Questioned at a City Council hearing, Robert Kasdin, Columbia’s senior executive vice president, asserted, “Under no condition will Columbia University use eminent domain against any residential properties.”
But they still left open using the government property-condemnation process against three holdout commercial landowners.”
“A mechanized roof patterned after Safeco Field in Seattle. Eight street-facing restaurants - open Sundays - with sidewalk seating and valet. Scores of water features, including a stream alongside the food court, and an 18-foot cascading waterfall. And, double the amount of trees downtown.
These City Creek Center details were presented Wednesday evening, prompting an impressed Salt Lake City Planning Commission to set Jan. 9 for a possible vote on the $1 billion-plus project.”
Charlotte’s Suburban Ghettos
Charlotte City Council members say they’re surprised to learn how far the city’s starter-home suburbs have declined in just a few years. They’re calling for new efforts to revive dozens of subdivisions—and at least one builder is pledging money and manpower to help.
Money Pours Into New Orleans Schools
“Three philanthropic groups plan to give $17.5 million for New Orleans’ public schools. It is the largest donation by private groups since the system was reorganized after Hurricane Katrina.
The grants, from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Doris and Donald Fisher Fund and the Broad Foundation, will be given over three years. They will go to three nonprofits, New Schools for New Orleans, New Leaders for New Schools and Teach for America-Greater New Orleans.”
Housing Standoff in the Crescent City
“The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development wants to demolish about 4,500 public housing units at four of the city’s largest complexes and replace them with mixed-income neighborhoods.
In normal times, redevelopment of public housing to make way for mixed-income neighborhoods might have gone largely unopposed. But passions are high in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, where residents are desperate for cheap housing.”
Tolls on the East River: NYC’s Solution to Traffic Congestion?
“The chairman of the state commission studying ways to reduce traffic in Manhattan is increasingly pushing a measure certain to prompt opposition in the rest of the city: charging tolls on the four East River Bridges.
“I’ve made it pretty clear that I think the bridge tolls proposals might be part of a solution that this commission’s going to look at before it’s over,” said Marc V. Shaw, the commission chairman, after a meeting of the panel on Monday.”
But is this politically feasible? The City Room weighs in
Ethnic Neighborhoods Q & A
The following is the first round in a set of answers from Joseph Berger, an education and regional columnist for The New York Times, who is taking questions from City Room readers this week about New York City’s ethnic and immigrant neighborhoods. It’ll make you remember why you love the city.
