Community Board Schedules Special Meeting to Discuss Natural History Museum Expansion

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Two Community Board 7 committees — the preservation committee, and the parks and environment committee — will hold a special meeting to discuss the Natural History Museum's expansion plan.

The public meeting will be held Sept. 20 at the Goddard Riverside Community Center on Columbus Avenue and West 88th Street. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m.

On Thursday the Natural History Museum filed an application for its $325 million Gilder Center expansion plan with the Landmarks Preservation Committee. The museum originally announced its plan to build the expansion in 2014, but has since made slight modifications.

The plans filed Thursday outline a reduced expansion into neighboring Teddy Roosevelt Park. The museum's planned expansion into the park was strongly opposed by groups looking to preserve green space in the city. The plan also calls for a larger overall expansion. The application lists the expansion size at 235,000 square feet, larger than the original number of 218,000 square feet.

Community Board 7 will vote on the landmarks application on Oct. 5 and the Landmarks Preservation Committee will vote on the application on Oct. 11.

Photo: Patch