Frequently Asked Questions

Building construction on the Washington Square Village block is not anticipated until 2022 at the earliest.

The University is prohibited by the Restrictive Declaration from conducting major construction on two different buildings at the same time. Construction can begin on a new building, once the original construction is far enough along so that it is essentially being internally fit-out. 

The University has worked hard and in close collaboration with the Coles Advisory Committee, a group of Coles stakeholders representing faculty, students, staff, and alumni, to develop plans that best accommodate the many users of NYU’s athletic facilities during the interim between the closing of Coles and the opening of a new, mixed-use facility. A new gym at 404 Lafayette Street is now open, and features new strength and cardio equipment, more cardio pieces than were present at the Coles facility, and two studios for various classes. The University has extended operating hours at the Palladium Athletic Facility and has enhanced the Brooklyn Athletic Facility in the Jacobs Building and Roger Hall at 6 MetroTech Center in downtown Brooklyn, which already has extended operating hours and nearly double the workout space. Find more information on memberships to alternative fitness locations on the NYU Athletics website.

The Open Space Oversight Organization (OSOO) is an independent 501 (c)(3). The role of the OSOO is to ensure NYU is complying with NYU’s maintenance agreement with the NYC Parks Department of the public open spaces. There are five appointees, one each from the New York City Council, Manhattan Borough President's Office, Community Board 2, NYC Parks Department, and NYU.

An option has been provided to the NYC School Construction Authority (SCA) to build a school on the Bleecker Street site. In October 2014, at the request of Council Member Chin, NYU extended the SCA notice deadline from December 31, 2014 to December 31, 2018. If the SCA indicates to the University that it intends to move forward with the project, construction must commence by July 31, 2020.

The Restrictive Declaration is a legally binding document generated by City Planning during the land use approvals process. NYU’s commitments to the community are memorialized in this agreement between NYU and the City.