Manhattan Community Board 9 - 197a Plan
* The Community Board 9 197-a Plan documents are in Adobe Acrobat format 
Since early 2003, the Pratt Center has been working closely with Community Board 9's 197-a planning committee and with the Harlem Community Development Corporation to craft a comprehensive set of recommendations to guide the future development of three neighborhoods in northern Manhattan: Morningside Heights, Manhattanville, and Hamilton Heights. The "197-a Plan" (authorized by the NYC Charter) covers issues around affordable housing, economic development, transportation, environment, community facilities, urban design, and land use and zoning.
The plan was developed through public forums in each of the neighborhoods, analysis by Pratt Center planners, and the leadership of the community board.
Recommendations include preservation of the historic neighborhoods of Morningside and Hamilton Heights, and a special mixed-use district for Manhattanville. Other priorities are affordable housing, preservation of industrial jobs, and improved environmental quality.
After revising the recommendations based on feedback from the community at large, the Pratt Center submitted the plan to the Community Board and it was unanimously approved. It was submitted to the Department of City Planning in August, 2005, and passed threshhold review in November, 2005.
As one key element, the plan provides a framework for the community to respond to Columbia University's proposal to expand in Manhattanville. The community board is calling for an integrated approach which rejects the use of eminent domain, preserves existing businesses and buildings, and features a community- benefits agreement to ensure community-accessible parks, access to jobs, affordable housing, and neighborhood services. The Pratt Center assembled a team of technical assistance providers to assist Community Board 9 in evaluating Columbia's proposal – including a review and analysis of the scope and draft of the environmental impact statement (EIS). In addition, our team will be providing CB9 and a related coalition of community organizations with analysis for their use in negotiations with Columbia University over the shape of the redevelopment, and a the community-benefits agreement to ensure that new development benefits local residents.
