Yeah, on one hand I don't think admin are to blame for the delays in acquiring space and development. They have to compete against the enormous cost, enormous time delays, and even their student body who despise gentrification. That said, these delays have definitely contributed to the tensions, as we can see in the difference in relationships with admin held by BME, neuro, and CBS, who were granted space in Manhattanville, vs everyone else.

I don't know too much about NYC development, but Manhattanville seems somewhat unambitious in height, I don't know if that was the limit to Columbia's air rights or what, but it seems like a waste of limited footprint.