October 21, 2014

The Honorable Margaret Chin
New York City Council Member
250 Broadway, Suite 1804
New York, NY 10007

Dear Councilmember Chin,

Thank you for staying in touch with me so regularly since I last wrote you in May. I know how important the matter of an extension for the School Construction Authority (SCA) to decide on the Bleecker Street site has been for you, and you know how much we respect your role as an elected official. So I am glad to be able to convey that NYU will extend the time period during which the SCA may decide if they need the site.

NYU will extend the cunent deadline -- December 2014 -- to December 2018. This would seem to provide the SCA with ample opportunity -- within its 5-year capital plan-- in which to make a decision about the inclusion of the Bleecker Street site. This extension is given with the understanding that if the SCA does indicate to the University that it intends to move forward with the project, it must start construction by July 2020 (so that all parties can have certainty about the site's future).

All the other elements of the prior agreement as memorialized in the Restrictive Declaration remain as before, including:

  • If the SCA does choose to build, the below grade space will be available for NYU.
  • Construction on the site unde1iaken by the SCA or NYU must comply with the Restrictive Declaration that governs the Core Plan approvals.
  • If the SCA chooses not to build or does not decide by the deadline, the parcel will revert to NYU (with the understanding that any new building must hold 25,000 sq. ft. of above-grade space for community purposes).

I am glad to be able to share this news with you. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Sincerely,

Lynne P. Brown

A PDF version of this letter is available upon request via community.engagement@nyu.edu.