In 2012, the New York City Council approved NYU’s Core Plan granting NYU permission to develop new facilities on the two superblocks bounded by West 3rd Street and Houston Street to the north and south, and by Mercer Street and Laguardia Place to the east and west.

With the guidance of Council Member Margaret Chin and the City, NYU agreed that in addition to the approved plan, the University would fulfill a series of commitments to the community. These commitments to the community are memorialized in an agreement between NYU and the City, known as the Restrictive Declaration (PDF: 17 MB).

This Core Commitments Progress Report is updated quarterly and provides a short overview of each commitment in the Restrictive Declaration along with its current status. The commitment categories include enhancing spaces for public use, implementing construction mitigation measures, incorporating sustainability initiatives, and formalizing oversight procedures for construction and open space maintenance.

Spotlight: Completed Commitments

Bleecker Street Landscape

Work on the Bleecker Street Landscape was completed in April 2016. The Bleecker Street project included the installation of new pavement, the removal of old chain-link fencing, installation of new, lower fencing, and landscaping within the planting beds. The project also included tree pruning. NYU worked with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Transportation to enhance these spaces.

Bleecker Street Landscape

Fiorello Laguardia Park

The Fiorello LaGuardia Park project included landscaping within planting beds and design features including benches within the east-west paths and around the LaGuardia statue, now framed with a spotlight. It also included sub-terrain leveling and installation of new paving surfaces, wicket fencing. Dead and diseased trees were pruned and small ornamental trees were added. NYU worked with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Transportation to enhance this space.

Laguardia Street Landscape

Mercer-Houston Dog Run Relocation

Work on the replacement dog run operated by the Mercer-Houston Dog Run Association was completed in January 2016. This project included the installation of new pavement, sub-surface fountain mechanics, and design features including an equipment shed, LED lighting, and a semicircular bench. More information about the run can be found at mercerhoustondogrun.org.

Laguardia Street Landscape