In surprising news to many, City Council voted to approve an expansion plan for Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus.  For years, Fordham has been attempting to expand their UWS campus, which was originally designed to accomodate 3500 students (there are currently about 8000 students that use the campus).  Now, the approval from City Council gives the go-ahead for Fordham to continue its $1.6 billion, 23 year plan, which will add about 1.5 million square feet of space to the existing campus, including dorm and classroom space, a student center, and law, business, and graduate school buildings.  When Fordham introduced past plans to City Council, there was significant protest from the local residents, and the plans were rejected.  Fordham listened to past community complaints and altered previous plans by respecting design review, making buildings lower with some underground classrooms, eliminating parking spaces, and including public open space in the current plan.  If everything goes according to schedule, Fordham’s expansion will be completed in 2032. [NY Times]