Community Board to Vote on Natural History Museum Expansion Wednesday

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A polarizing $325 million expansion application from the American Museum of Natural History will come before Community Board 7 for a full board vote Wednesday.

The proposed Gilder Center for Science, Education and Innovation has been a much-debated issue on the Upper West Side. Preservationists believe the center's quarter-acre expansion into Theodore Roosevelt Park is an irresponsible violation into neighborhood green space, whereas supporters believe the expansion will add much-needed educational space to the museum.

The meeting will be held at the Goddard Riverside Community Center at 593 Columbus Avenue (near 88th Street) at 6:30 p.m. The Gilder Center application is the first item on the board's agenda for Wednesday.

The expansion plan received a preliminary approval in late September, when a joint committee composed of members from the Community Board 7 committees on preservation and parks and environment voted to send resolutions to approve the plans to the full board. The joint committee voted to unanimously approve the new design for Theodore Roosevelt Park and voted nine to one to approve the design for the Gilder Center.

"I think this is an incredibly exciting design both inside and out," said Gabrielle Palitz, co-chair of the Community Board's preservation committee, at the joint committee meeting. "I feel like it's the next step in the museum's evolution, each of the architectural phases speaks to a different time. ... Every one of them speaks about this beautiful evolution and not staying in place."

On Wednesday, the full Community Board will vote to either accept, or reject those resolutions. No matter how the board votes, the Landmarks Preservation Commission will have final say on whether or not the Gilder Center plan is approved. In these types of situations the Community Board acts as an advisory body.

Photo Credit: Patch