Top court upholds NYU expansion in Greenwich Village

ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York's highest court has upheld New York University's planned expansion in Greenwich Village, which community groups sued to stop.

The Court of Appeals, upholding a midlevel court, says the City Council had authority in 2012 to approve NYU's plan to expand its campus, which will make Mercer Playground and LaGuardia Park inaccessible during construction. It will also affect LaGuardia Corner Gardens with shadows and relocate the Mercer-Houston Dog run.

The court says those parcels were not permanently designated as parkland and the city controls them.

The expansion plan calls for four new buildings near Washington Square Park and demolition of two low-rise buildings.

Community groups said the city was illegally turning over public land.

A judge last year agreed, saying the state Legislature needed to approve the change.

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6/30/2015 11:10:46 AM (GMT -4:00)