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"The period of the unfolding of this new campus in Manhattanville should be a time in which we demonstrate that courage and confidence in ourselves to re-evaluate what we take to be important and the roles we should assume in the world" (President Bollinger on Manhattanville Expansion). Bollinger's quote portrays his view of both the new expanion's and Columbia's overall role in the world (transparent, tech-oriented, “clean,” postindustrial). The physical design of the building is intended to convey a sense of both transparency as well as a “look” into a tech-oriented future.

Various actors in West Harlem have different visions for how the place should emerge, but the city of New York has taken to Columbia University's vision. The assertion was that Manhattanville was "blighted," the likes of which rendered businesses and residents already there disposable. Community Board 9 members had a vision for the area as being a potential mixed-use development--Columbia concurred, but such would be fulfilled on their terms. Mixed-use for Columbia means purchasing whole blocks to be devoted to their institution.

Eminent domain played a big role in establishing this place, particularly as it is situated within the history of Columbia University’s previous expansions. In regard to the Expansion itself as it has started up and running in one of the new buildings, it is meant to contribute to the knowledge economy (hard sciences with a particular focus on neurobiology) and the arts, both of which will benefit primarily students and faculty. Local supermarkets, restaurants, bars, and stores have been replaced with more expensive alternatives.

Members of the Columbia University community and the government seek to examine gentrification and the various effects it has on the people residing in West Harlem. For example, the District Attorney of New York County has submitted a Criminal Justice Investment Initiative, specifically a proposal for a West Harlem Community Reentry Project for those formerly incarcerated. Council members and other governmental officials will attend general assembly meetings at Grant Houses to learn about the issues that matter to the residents (whether they act on them or not is a different story).

The relationship between Columbia University and the residents of the Houses have historically been articulated through racialized and classed differences, persisting despite Columbia’s insistence that its new Expansion will seek to integrate the community in its planning via a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA). I am interested in examining local knowledge practices of activists residing in the housing developments to comprehend the nature of the relationship of Columbia with the community.

The major sense intended to deflect attention from toxics in this place are visual. By hiding the majority of the Manhattanville Expansion underground, being vague about what exact facilities will be located there, and denying that the environmental review of the space was rushed/incomplete (despite activists claiming it was), Columbia not only hides toxics, but also implements a toxic narrative of "transparency" by claiming that the university is open and of the community.

This question is complicated to answer, due to the fact that certain modes of expertise are defined as being superior to others, and some are simply invisibilized. There is the mode of expertise propogated by the university, which imbues their staff with a great deal of opportunity and leverage when given the opportunity to reorder the city/engage in urban planning. The university hires architects as well who have designed some of the most noteworthy of public spaces and buildings to develop the Expansion.

The archive can be viewed as a literal place in the sense that these materials are stored in physical and digital archives. The use of "archive" for this essay is more of an imagined place of the totality of archives.