‘The Untouchables’: How Columbia and N.Y.U. Benefit From Huge Tax Breaks

As Columbia University (NY)  puts the last touches on its brand-new campus in Harlem, it has reached a milestone: The university is now the largest private landowner in New York City. In a city where land is more valuable than almost anywhere in the nation, the school now owns more than 320 properties, with a combined value of nearly $4 billion. The growth has helped it stay competitive within the Ivy League and meet its broader ambitions to become a global institution.