New York City Sued Over Approval of N.Y.U. Expansion Plan Eleven groups have filed suit against New York City for approving a plan to expand New York University's footprint in Greenwich Village, a move that critics say could destroy the university's historic neighborhood. The lawsuit, filed Monday in State Supreme Court in Manhattan, accuses government decision makers, including both the City Planning Commission and the City Council, of illegally turning over public land to facilitate the university's plans. It also claims that the approval process lacked transparency and denied the public a chance for meaningful input. The suit asks the court to reverse the city's approval. It also seeks to prevent the university from starting any construction. The City Council gave final approval to the plan in July despite opposition from neighborhood groups and preservationists, who warned that it could change the character of a beloved neighborhood that has nurtured artistic and social movements throughout the decades. The area includes row houses and carriage houses dating from the 1820s to the 1850s. In the early 1920s and 1930s, the Greenwich Village Follies gave Martha Graham and Cole Porter their start. Among the artists who eventually lived or worked there were Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Allen Ginsberg, Andy Warhol and Keith Haring. The expansion plan calls for four new buildings in the area around Washington Square Park and the demolition of two low-rise buildings. After objections from residents and university faculty, the proposal was reduced by about 20 percent to 1.9 million square feet of new classroom space, and other facilities for the more than 50,000 students that attend N.Y.U., the nation's largest private university. Supporters have argued that the university's ability to attract top students boosts the city's economy because many stay in the area after graduating. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit include the university's faculty members, Greenwich Society for Historic Preservation, the Historic Districts Council, Washington Square Village Tenants" Association, the East Village Community Coalition and others. The city's Law Department said it was reviewing the suit. John Beckman, the university's vice president for public affairs, said the proposal went through a five-year planning process. The City Planning Commission and City Council overwhelmingly approved N.Y.U.'s proposal after holding extensive public hearings and engaging in a thorough and rigorous public review process as required by law.