Columbia U. expansion gets green light from the PACB.

Columbia University's 17-acre expansion plan for Manhattanville received the green light from the state last week.

The Public Authorities Control Board's nod echoes previous approvals from the city and the Empire State Development Corporation. The school has estimated that 14,000 construction jobs and 6,000 university jobs will be added during the 25-year build-out.

"The expansion of one of New York's oldest educational institutions will enhance the vitality of both the university and its neighboring community, while meeting the long-term needs of its residents," Governor David A. Paterson said in a prepared statement. "While the national recession has led to a decline in development in New York, this $6.3 billion project will be one of the largest to move forward this year."

The university has already begun pre-construction activity such as moving underground utility lines and will continue to move ahead with similar work, according to officials.

One outstanding matter is litigation brought by property owner Nicholas Sprayregen of Tuck-It-Away storage, who issuing the Empire State Development Corporation for its approval of the development project, which Sprayregen maintains is unjustly using eminent domain. Gas-station operators the Singh family has also not sold its land for the Columbia University plan. Oral arguments were heard last week.

"We believe we have properly complied with all aspects of eminent domain use as the law applies and we hope to move forward with the plan which will enable Columbia University to maintain its position as one of the foremost educational and cultural institutions in the world and a major private sector employer of New Yorkers," ESDC spokesman Warner Johnston said when asked about the case.

Information about last week's arguments could not be obtained by press time. A decision may not be delivered for a couple of months.

Columbia's plan will bring 6.8 million s/f of mixed-use, academic development. It will also include some 100,000 s/f of publicly accessible space.

According to the plan, the first phase will be finished in 2015 and will include a science center that will study issues related to diseases including Parkinson's; new spaces for specific schools within the university and a public secondary school. Subsequent phases will finish up around 2030 and will feature student and faculty housing and space for interdisciplinary studies, the university said.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the new campus will "complement the city's investment at the recently opened West Harlem Piers Park and planned streetscape improvement along West 125th Street, and build upon other initiatives in Upper Manhattan, including last' a year's rezoning of 125th Street and the East 125th Street development."