By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
GREENWICH VILLAGE — Neighborhood groups calling for the protection of open spaces from NYU development will get a helping hand from local politicians on Sunday, at a rally urging the transfer of the parcels to the Parks Department.
"We're hopeful that the concerns of local residents and tax payers will prevail and the land that was originally dedicated to open space will remain available to the public," Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, one of several elected officials who will speak at the rally, told DNAinfo.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, state Sen. Tom Duane and City Councilwoman Margaret Chin will join Glick at the event.
NYU unveiled plans to take over the six green strips between Houston Street and Washington Square Park from LaGuardia Place to Mercer Street in May, as part of the school's 2031 expansion plans.
Neighbors quickly protested the move, arguing that the open spaces, including the Mercer-Houston dog run and LaGuardia Playground, are scarce in the Village and important to the community.
"It's clear they have this grandiose vision and we're just an obstacle," said Susan Gammie, a 35-year resident of the Village and public member of the Community Board.
Community Board 2 voted to transfer ownership of the strips from the Department of Transportation to the Parks Department in order to preserve them as public land in October.
Sunday's rally is a part of a larger effort coordinated by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation and the Community Action Alliance on NYU 2031 to push the university's expansion to the Financial District.
The coalition celebrated a victory in November when NYU withdrew its plans to build a tower in the landmark protected Silver Towers Complex after the building's architect, I.M. Pei, objected to the proposal.
Despite the growing momentum, residents said they're braced for long negotiations with the university.
"It's one battle in a very long war," Gammie said.
The rally will take place 1 p.m. Sunday at LaGuardia Place between Bleecker and West Third Streets.
