Testimony of Deborah Broderick
Associate Vice President
Marketing Communications
New York University
Before the New York City Planning Commission
For the Public Hearing on the New York University Core Project
Chair Burden and fellow Commissioners,
My name is Deborah Broderick and I was born, raised, and still reside in Manhattan. I have been working for New York University for 27 years.
First, let me say that I fully support NYU’s plans for expansion. During the 27 years that I have been here I have seen this University fundamentally change. The story is not new. This University has become a destination.
I remember when I was in high school, this neighborhood was not the place to be. My parents would give me “mugger money” when I would come down to The Unique Clothing Warehouse on Broadway. My sister, a student at SEHNAP, would leave class and rush to get back uptown. Now, granted, the City then was not a safe one, but when things turned around, this area rebounded far faster and farther than other New York City neighborhoods and it was because of NYU.
In 27 years I have seen tremendous growth, and I don’t mean in the size of our student body. The real story is in the growth of our reputation and standing in ADDITION to the student growth, things that usually don’t happen at the same time. Increasing our space had to have gone along with it. If we don’t continue to grow, to accommodate the sheer numbers of people who want to be part of this institution, if we don’t look forward, we are, in effect, going backwards. Complacency about our infrastructure and the limits of our physical plant will only result in our being eclipsed by other institutions that are free to continue their evolution unencumbered.
Our location in New York City, and specifically in Greenwich Village has always been one of our distinguishing characteristics. It is an asset. NYU has, for the better part of the last 20 years, been a distinguishing characteristic of New York City, and specifically of Greenwich Village. And let’s be candid, that asset runs both ways. If we persist in pursuing excellence, and space is a part of it, everyone benefits. Everyone. Thank you.
