Morningside Park gym

In 1968, Columbia University announced the plan to build a “quasisegregated” gymnasium in Morningside Park under an agreement with the State of New York, perpetuating the ideal of diverse but controlled spaces and the protection of institutional interests. To be built on the hill of Morningside Park, the gymnasium plan consisted of Columbia’s eight-floor space resting on top of a two-story structure to be set aside for community access. The gymnasium was allegedly meant to expand upon the community athletic program conducted by the University among teenage boys of Harlem and Morningside Heights. While part of the same building, the Columbia University entrance was to be at the top of the park while the Harlem entrance would be on the other side of the building, thus resulting in absolute segregation between Columbia affiliates and residents from Harlem. However, the cliff slanted in such a manner that only about 12 percent of the total space would be devoted to Harlem residents (Chronopolous 2012: 50). According to a brochure dispensed by Columbia University entitled “The New Columbia Gymnasium,” the new gymnasium would be open to both the Columbia family and in the University’s neighbors in the same manner as the remainder of the campus. The gym would “be a source of pride and satisfaction to both Columbia and the community.”

As tensions increased between the institutions and the surrounding community, residents of the neighborhood organized in consortium with Columbia University students and professors, politicians, and community organizations to oppose the gymnasium plan in full force. With his 1965 election as mayor, John V. Lindsay encouraged African Americans from Harlem and Columbia University students to oppose the construction of the gymnasium. Parks Commissioner Thomas P. F. Hoving, Charles Rangel, Basil Patterson, and other politicians also spoke out against this and any other future plans for spatial takeover. Columbia commenced construction regardless of protests, only to face more opposition from students in the spring of 1968 when demonstrations shut down the University. Then-president of Columbia University Grayson Kirk resigned and with his resignation came the resignation of both the plan for the gymnasium as well as (temporarily) the vision for the Manhattanville Expansion, which required the use of eminent domain and thus would potentially arouse greater conflict than the gymnasium plan (Chronopoulos 2012: 51).  Part of the Morningside General Neighborhood Renewal Plan, the Manhattanville Expansion was intended to be shared with noninstitutional users and residents, with a focus on creating a middle-class commercial, institutional, and recreational space. However, due to lack of funds and fear of opposition, interim President Andrew Cordier chose to cancel the Expansion. Instead, with I.M. Pei as master planner, Columbia proceeded to build above and below ground, within the main campus (Chronopoulos 2012: 51-2).