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College Town Life | Featured College Towns | College Town Issues | |
26-30 No
decision yet on UNC committee Mayor Kevin Foy and Councilman Jim Ward said Thursday there might be benefit in the idea, which UNC Chancellor James Moeser has raised. At the same time, the council isn't exactly rushing to embrace it. Foy and Ward reiterated the council's main concern -- that it isn't clear how much weight the council would be expected to give to the recommendations of such a committee. In other words, if the new committee vetted a new building proposed for UNC and gave its opinion, would the university see the town as obliged in some way to go along with that opinion?.. Going
back inn time Jerry and Nancy Jones own The Golden Lion, a one-of-a-kind bed-and-breakfast. Because of Jerry's expertise in genealogy and his reputation for tracing difficult surnames, the inn attracts many guests named Jones. They arrive clutching birth certificates, death certificates, census records and family Bibles, determined to unearth one more clue to their families' origins... Development
good for city, more rentals wanted On Tuesday, East Lansing City Council members approved plans for new apartments and condominiums to be built on Grand River and Albert avenues. While these condos, and probably the apartments too, aren't cost effective for most students, they could bring more permanent residents into East Lansing. The new building on Grand River Avenue will have nine two-bedroom apartments for rent, and the building on Albert Avenue will have three one-bedroom apartments and 33 two-bedroom apartments, all of which will be inhabited by owner occupants. Plans like this could help to keep MSU graduates in East Lansing after their four years are done. Plus, having more housing closer to downtown can help to rejuvenate the city and keep struggling businesses afloat. At the same time, East Lansing is a college town, and students' priorities and housing also should be kept in mind at council meetings. By approving more than nine apartments for renters, students might feel more included in the community... Bubba
Slye's Deli Bubba Slye was the name of a prisoner at Franklin Street's now-defunct jail. Slye escaped, but he made it only one block before being recaptured in the attic of a Beaufain Street house, the first Home of Bubba Slye's Deli. When the unlamented Roly Poly restaurant closed its Beaufain Street location last year, Bubba Slye's made the move to the current, much more visible King Street location. I worried that a slick, newly remodeled, brightly lit space might remove the cheerfully independent feel of Slye's, but mostly the move has made it easier to see your sandwich and easier to watch the world walk by outside the big, bright windows... City
hoping 'brand' will conjure up local allure That's the message some of Alachua County's marketing professionals are hoping potential tourists, investors and residents will glean from a new marketing campaign for the greater Gainesville area. With the slogan "every path starts with passion" and a new logo that adds a trail-like "s" to "Gainesville," a group of governments, agencies and businesses aim to unify the educational, natural and cultural elements that define the Gainesville area and distill them into a unique brand... Community branding has become increasingly popular in recent years, with many cities considered to be Gainesville's peers and competitors launching similar efforts. Among these are Norfolk, Va., (“Life. Celebrated Daily.") and Madison, Wis., (“Lake. City. Lake"). "Branding in general has become more visible, moving from the corporate world of consumer products to the nonprofit world to entities like cities and communities," said Ellen Foreman, director of brand management for the International City/County Management Association... MSU
Students Warned of Fire Risks For the third time in two weeks, a fire has plagued college towns nationwide. Three students have died in their off-campus homes, several others were injured. At Michigan State University, Pi Kappa Phi President Brian Kirsch says he received an email about it all from the local fire Marshall. It warned the 20 guys living in his house about common dangers, including lack of fire sprinklers, disabled smoke alarms and careless use of cigarettes and alcohol... Raleigh-Cary
tops list of 'Best Metros for Women Entrepreneurs' Additionally, college towns like Iowa City, IA, Boulder, CO, and Logan, UT dominate the list of small and medium metros, which shows the strong connection between academic research and business development in a knowledge-driven economy... Students
to offer plans for Riverpoint growth Now some college students are trying to push the idea closer to reality. Students from Washington State University and Eastern Washington University will present proposals for "smart growth" in the university district at a public forum tonight. The event comes in advance of a planned January visit by a team of Environmental Protection Agency officials who will further promote mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly development in the district... Students
lead the way on active citizenship This movement to teach values and skills of community leadership is far more pervasive than many realize. Campus Compact, the national higher-education association dedicated to campus-based civic engagement, has grown to more than 1,000 college and university presidents representing more than 5 million college students. Colleges and universities across the country -- from the University of Pennsylvania to the University of Southern California, from Tufts University to the University of Minnesota -- are building much more substantial undergraduate public-service programs not just to address the urgent need for more effective community leaders. A second and equally powerful influence is student demand -- increasing numbers of college students expect community service to be part of their college experience... Area
colleges add $5.5B to economy Never. Higher education. In fact, a new study being released today on the economic impact of higher education in Middle Tennessee was the result of a Nashville contingent's visit to the ultimate "college town." The study shows that 20 colleges and universities in the Midstate enroll nearly 100,000 students, provide employment for 75,000 people and create an overall economic impact of $5.5 billion annually.... Housing
pillar uprooted They have been saying that Udayan, a Bengal Ambuja project near Purvapalli, around 195 km from Calcutta, would disrupt the ecological balance of the Khoai, a laterite zone... Changes
in store for USM campus master plan That's the vision that has emerged after three work sessions of the Southern Miss master planning committee, made up of more than 30 campus, city and county representatives and professional consultants charged with developing a document that will guide the Hattiesburg campus' development over the next generation... American
Campus Communities Begins Construction on LEED Silver Residence Hall at
the University of Hawaii, Manoa ACC will perform third-party development and construction management services for the development. The 810-bed Frear Hall is anticipated to open for occupancy at the beginning of the Fall 2008 academic year. “We are very pleased to be a part of this exciting transformation to the University of Hawaii campus,” said Jason Wills, ACC senior vice president of on-campus development. “We are proud that this community represents the University’s commitment to a healthy residential community, sustainability and the Hawaiian sense of place.”... Battle
of the Ridge American Campus Communities, the Texas-based company that also manages the University Village at Sweethome, recently bulldozed the property and plans to open the doors to a new student housing complex in the fall of 2008... Forum
exposes misgivings over Chapel Hill condo project About 75 people attended the Chapel Hill Downtown Partnership's annual meeting and forum Tuesday night. While suggestions to improve downtown ranged from planting more flowers to improving crosswalks, the redevelopment of the town's Parking Lot 5 as condos and retail space loomed large. The Town Council is still considering whether to fund the project. "I'm afraid that we are making the wrong decision here. I think that we have overemphasized this [idea] of people living downtown," said Scott Maitland, owner of Top of the Hill Restaurant. "The issue that we have is barriers to getting here."... Mini-dorm
mayhem A single-family home such as this one in the College Area surrounding SDSU is an example of what many homeowners and what San Diego City Councilmember Jim Madaffer refer to as a "mini-dorm" - a home with several college students or other renters living in it. "This is not a new problem," said Doug Case, the coordinator for fraternity and sorority life on campus and the president of the College Area Community Council. "In the 1980s, SDSU had a lot less campus housing than it does now (Chapultepec and Cuicacalli residence halls had not been built yet) so a lot of homes in the area were purchased by investors and they started adding on bedrooms and rented them out... Morgantown
Garbage Service “There’s trash everywhere,” Sweeney said. “It’s pretty disgusting.” The Sunnyside garbage situation is one of several trash-collection issues facing Morgantown City Council... A
vintage find in Cleveland is the envy of New Yorkers I later learned just how swanky The River Cafe was. My LBD might not cut it. I didn't want to show up looking like I had just rolled out of a bale of hay in cow town, so with just hours before we left I went on a dress hunt. I grew up shopping in thrift stores out of necessity, not fashion prowess. I've learned that resale is a finicky medium. You need frequency and patience to get the best finds. I had only one shot, and it had to be a quick one. So I went familiar and headed to Flower Child on Clifton Boulevard near West 117th Street. I rushed in the door and relayed my dilemma to the expert sales staff... The dress was a hit at the wedding, but I was really giddy after several fashionable hipster New Yorkers stopped me on the street to ask about the dress. The look on their faces when I told them what a deal it was, was even better... Editor's Note: To get there from Cleveland State University, take the Gold Line (55X/55F) RTA's most efficient bus route which runs east and west along Clifton Boulevard. Purple
Onion opening delayed, for now The Purple Onion, a Dinkytown staple, will probably open later in the week in the 1301 University apartment complex, he said. The building sustained structural damage during exhaust repairs, causing the delay. "It's been really frustrating and a financial bummer," Weinberg said. For the past 13 years, the café was located on the corner of 14th Avenue Southeast and Fourth Street Southeast... North
Phila. getting first new movie theater since 1940s The Pearl Theater will open next to Temple University's main campus, on North Broad Street. It will be part of The Edge , a 12-story student housing complex that features ground-level shops, restaurants and banks... Education
Realty Trust completes Santa Barbara deal Fixing
Higher Ed, Legislator-Style Hogwarts
U. Each of these institutions has established, is planning, or is expanding an internal system of residential colleges: permanent, cross-sectional, faculty-led societies that bring the educational advantages of a small college into the environment of a large university. This wave of college founding, taking place in public and private institutions from Kentucky to Louisiana, from Missouri to Florida, from Pennsylvania to Arkansas, and elsewhere around the world, is one of the most substantive structural reform movements in higher education today, and it promises to repair a half-century of destructive bureaucratic centralization... Landlords
challenge zoning ordinance Alan Begner, an Atlanta attorney hired by a group of landlords called the Milledgeville Residential Investors, said the ordinance violates a person's right to equal protection, due process and right to privacy because it attempts to define what a family is... Frommer's
Announces the Top Travel Destinations for 2007 Is
it too late for buy-to-let “ Understand your market and don’t underestimate the value of good tenants. That is when you really will benefit from any rises in property value.” Charles believes interest rates are likely to fall this year, which will ease the pressure on landlords. “But it’s a double-edged sword: you want your property to be worth more, but you don’t want prices to be too high if you are looking to buy more rentable homes.”... Partying
at 65 decibels Although we doubt it's the intention of the city to introduce an underhanded way to monitor student partying, this is exactly what would result. The noise pollution benefits are negligible, as a party would be granted an extra 10 decibels before heavy fines are enforced. Currently, the decibel limit is 55, about the level of normal conversation. We don't know what sort of parties max out at 65 decibels, but we're willing to bet even Diamondback get-togethers would violate a limit set by librarian wannabes. The most telling part of Brayman's proposal is the parameters offered: A party would be inside only, approved by neighbors beforehand and accompanied by a contracted police baby-sitter stationed on the sidewalk... Frustrated
residents aim an attack at noisy parties Since February of this year, the Old Northwest Neighborhood Advisory Board, which covers most of the housing around the university, has been considering a proposal to impose fines on houses that draw police and emergency services because of unruly parties. While the Old Northwest NAB may adopt the proposal for its homeowners, a Reno ordinance would affect all citizens living in the city's boundaries... Citizens
reveal the torment of living near a party house But as the music repeatedly booms in her ears she lays in bed knowing only one thing - she can't sleep. For Brenda, 57, and her sister, Barbara Pope, 66, the disturbing noises come from two doors down, the Sigma Nu fraternity house... Potential
party code needs student involvement Oh, and most of those residents will probably be college students... Sustainable
UCSB Building Gains LEED Honors The new Marine Science Research Building just received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit organization that aims to promote sustainable building design. The structure, which cost $25 million to construct, was awarded the distinction for innovative design in energy and water efficiency... EPA
recognizes CSU efforts Tumbleweed
— we will miss you After all, a night of dancing at the Tumbleweed is a tradition many students experience upon entering Stillwater for the first time... Because Stillwater is a college town, one would think there would be more than just one 18-to-enter bar or club. If the Tumbleweed closes, this concept could soon be just a memory... Kent
seeking state change for tax Extra 4-cent charge for beer eyed to solve
city's budget crisis The city of Kent is planning to ask Ohio legislators to give municipalities the authority to impose individual sin taxes. Current Ohio law allows only counties to enact such a tax. City Manager Dave Ruller, at the informal request of Kent City Council members, asked Law Director Jim Silver to discuss the possibility with state representatives. Councilman John Kuhar discussed the idea of a tax on individual beer sales in October. Since the issue arose, Ruller has posted a blog on his Web site, Kent360, and has been discussing the idea with a Columbus lobbying firm... "Sin taxes raise revenue by imposing excise taxes on liquor and tobacco," Ruller wrote, "which happen to be a couple of the most popular commodities in our college town and also contribute to a lot of our city service calls (such as) police and fire... it's a value-laden tax that says if you consume this product you should pay more because it has some consequences that are viewed as bad."... University
Plans a Spark in College Park University officials plan to lease 36 acres of the east campus near Paint
Branch Parkway to a private developer -- the largest such offering in
the school's history -- to transform the underused area into an all-hours
retail and residential district near the College Park Green Line station. Editorial:
Vibrant campus villages Now the University of California Board of Regents has approved the first phase of an ambitious mixed-use project for UC Davis called West Village, an affordable, convenient retail neighborhood with transit, bicycle and pedestrian networks linking the main campus and Davis. Eventually, the project will cover 208 acres of university farmland west of the main campus near Highway 113 and Russell Boulevard. It will provide housing for 3,000 students and 500 faculty and staff, as well as facilities for the larger community... New
report proposes higher-density housing on campus Compiled by consulting firm Brailsford and Dunlavy at the direction of campus provost and executive vice chancellor David Kliger, the nearly 200-page report also observed that employee for-sale housing has become “permanent” rather than “transitional,” as designed. The report states that the campus would have the maximum benefit if its for-sale housing program returned to a "transitional" approach. Currently, for-sale owners are reluctant (or unable) to move off-campus, the report notes... In
the land of brats and beer, an unlikely feast But in a college town where bars outnumber restaurants, why'd she open a place that doesn't even fry up a plain burger? "Because I think the public needs (raw food), and I like to cook a lot," she said. As for the public's response: Business has been steady... A
decade after the ashes More than a dozen of the University's 36 residence halls and housing clusters are not equipped with sprinkler systems, and the town has no authority to require sprinkler systems in most off-campus houses, some of which rival the Phi Gamma Delta house in age... The Princeton Review estimates that more than half - 58 percent - of UNC students live off campus. The 1996 fire codes require sprinklers only for apartments and Greek houses, leaving some students with possible safety concerns. "The biggest risk right now is boarding houses and individual rental properties," said Chief Jones, who still keeps the names of the five 1996 fire victims attached to his desk as a remembrance... City
may create partying permits One weekend last September resulted in $7,000 in fines for 12 noise violations, according to the city's department of public services, but City Council Student Liaison Jesse Blitzstein said he favors a $20 permit that would avoid the fine and possibly encourage more responsible partying. Blitzstein was named chair of the committee that will explore the issue... Once
bastion of radicals, Berkeley parents seek People's Park facelift But times may be a-changin' for People's Park. A growing number of neighbors - including many middle-class parents - worry about robbery, vandalism and drug sales at the 2.8-acre parcel owned by the University of California, Berkeley... Priced
Out of the Promised Land? New
Main Street condos enhance downtown living I went on a trip to Milwaukee to see their waterfront, and I came across hundreds of new urban condos in downtown Milwaukee that were selling as fast as they could be built. I liked the architecture they were using and I took pictures," he said... Radford
sets its sights on the future, again If you think you've heard this before, well, you have. Radford, like every other municipality in the commonwealth, embarks upon extended bouts of hand-wringing over the future. Children grow up and move away, the population grows older, life moves faster, and no one knows what tomorrow may hold. A plan! We need a plan!... Council
creates regulations governing conflict of interest The new rules govern commissions that make recommendations for funding to the council. The Office of Cultural Affairs, the Boone County Community Services Advisory Commission and the Community Development Commission may no longer appoint any MU employee who works for an agency within the university that has applied for funds from the commission that the employee serves on. However, Mayor Darwin Hindman said he thinks the change should apply to private industry, other state agencies and other schools, not just MU. He thinks the council should consider treating these commissions like the rest of the city’s commissions, and require commissioners to exclude themselves from any vote where there could be a perceived conflict of interest... Resale
store readies to open Habitat is preparing to reopen its home-improvement resale store and headquarters at a new location next week the former home of the Salvation Army thrift store and shelter at 119 E. University Ave., C. Hundreds of volunteers pitched in to help contractors with the daunting task of converting the century-old building into retail and office space... Quality
of life is top issue "Our regulations right now are a little weak," said Buckley, noting they should be updated soon. He said a trend is for the parents of SHU students to buy a home for their child to live in, then allow other students to move in and split the rent. "It's a real money-maker," Buckley said...
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