Community Commitments

Columbia University has a long-standing history of working together with our local community, and as we build our Manhattanville campus, we are also expanding and enhancing many programs and services. Two major agreements codify the University's commitment to new investment in our local community. They are the Community Benefits Agreement, in partnership with the West Harlem Development Corporation, and the Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions with Empire State Development (ESD).

Highlights of the agreements include:

• $76 million to fund community benefits for the West Harlem community through the West Harlem Development Corporation
• $20 million to an affordable housing fund
• Up to $4 million in housing legal assistance for West Harlem residents
• $20 million to the Harlem Community Development Corporation (HCDC), an Empire State Development (ESD) subsidiary that plans and facilitates community revitalization
• More than $559 million paid to date to minority-, women- or locally-owned (MWL) construction trade firms

Reporting

The following agreements contain the University's commitments for Manhattanville project-related amenities and benefits:

Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions (DCR) DECEMBER 14, 2011

Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) MAY 18, 2009

These commitments are monitored and periodic updates on the University’s progress are submitted to ESD.  In recognition that the University is committed not only to ESD but also to the local community in general, it was determined that progress reports would be made available for anyone wishing to see them.  

View the most recent reporting submitted to ESD.

For the purpose of determining program eligibility, "local community" is defined as neighborhoods in Community Districts 9, 10, 11 and 12, unless otherwise indicated within each individual benefit.

In accordance with Section 5.02 of the Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions, ESD has appointed Landair, Inc. as an independent third-party monitor to provide ESD with reports and recommendations concerning Columbia University's compliance with certain commitments under these agreements.

Click here to view Columbia's reporting history for the Manhattanville in West Harlem expansion project.

Additional Information

For more information on each commitment, click on the links within the categories below.