By Tara Kyle
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
GREENWICH VILLAGE — Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer hosted a forum Wednesday night to arm Villagers with the knowledge necessary to negotiate with NYU over its proposed expansion in the neighborhood.
A presentation delivered by Stringer’s land use director, Brian Cook, broke down some of the obscure acronyms and complex processes he said will be critical to the community's success in fighting aspects of NYU's expansion plan, which includes the erection of skyscrapers in places currently occupied by neighborhood playgrounds and a dog run.
Cook defined critical zoning terms like FAR, “floor area ratio,” or a measure of how many building are allowed on a specific area of land, and ULURP, the 7 1/2 month public approval process NYU will have to embarks on if its initial plans are approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Understanding these concepts will help Villagers angry about the proposed expansion to “speak the same language” as the university, Cook said.
Opposition to NYU’s plans was overwhelming amid the overflowing crowd attending the forum at the American Institute of Architects. Many wore stickers asking NYU to take its building plans to the financial district.
Stringer stressed, however, that they will have to learn to communicate strategically with the university, and possibly decide on a “point of conciliation.”
“When you say no, sometimes you get removed from the process,” Stringer said. “You lose your chance to make an impact.”
Local opponents will have a key opportunity to express their concerns at a public discussion held by Community Board 2 next Monday. Following Stringer’s disbanding of the NYU Expansion Task Force last month, the responsibility for tackling the expansion falls on CB2.
“We’ve got to roll our sleeves up and sit down at the table,” CB2 Chair Jo Hamilton told the crowd. “We can’t just say no but we can’t say yes.”
