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College Town Life | Featured College Towns | College Town Issues | |
25-31 Pullman's
College Hill neighborhood under stress from challenges Things have gotten a bit better in the decade since that infamous 1998 incident, but a new report concludes the neighborhood is still "under stress" from a variety of challenges. The study said College Hill, private land directly north of the Washington State University campus, remains a place of wild parties and dilapidated houses owned by absentee landlords and rented to WSU students But College Hill is also on the National Register of Historic Places, with many lovely homes, including fraternity and sorority mansions, and residents who value the beauty and close proximity to their neighbors ... Citizen
Awards: Van Horn links MU, community "When I was being interviewed here, one of the things that sold me was the role that arts on campus played," said Van Horn, who got his undergraduate degree at University of Nebraska and did his graduate work at University of Florida. "There was a strong relationship with the arts organizations in town, and I found that very attractive. And frankly, that hadn't been part of my experience elsewhere." ... Durham
bike co-op gears up for first year "We'll help people put in time to fix them up," said Alison Carpenter, who worked for the city as the bicycle and pedestrian coordinator, but who now works for SURGE. She co-founded the DBC. "It's theirs if they're interested." Carpenter said they chose to open the co-op in Little Five Points because of its affordability, and also because the neighborhood provides a good place to breathe more life into the city ... Harvard
students lend a hand to Habitat effort "A week of hard physical labor is a complete change from our normal routine,'' Anna Whittington said. "I'm getting worn out in a way that makes my body tired, not my brain.'' The students, affiliated with Harvard's on-campus Habitat for Humanity, opted to take their spring break working in East Tennessee ... With
volunteers on hand, older homes get makeover Jones' house was brand new when her family moved there in 1947, when she was 4 years old, and she's lived there ever since, she said. Unlike many older intown neighborhoods, the community still is tight-knit and hasn't yet been transformed into college rentals ... Kent
nuisance laws likely to be tested soon Ordinance allows police to break
up parties In April 2006, police officers made numerous arrests during a "college fest" block party on College Avenue and Willow Street. In the fall of 2006, police made more than 100 arrests related to underage drinking, disorderly conduct and large house parties. And, with finals week at Kent State University less than two months away, so to is the annual May Day weekend, which typically features numerous graduation parties throughout the city and an increased contingent of safety personnel ... More
college-friendly retailers? A Daily Press article entitled “To up its cool factor, W&M seeking hot spots” reported, “The 2006 survey of perceptions of the school among prospective and current students was conducted by consulting group Widmeyer Communications. In it, students said they saw the school as an excellent academic institution, but that, according to the survey, there was a ‘lack of social life on a campus that lacks a real college town.’” “Students listed movie theaters, sports bars or other bars with alcoholic beverages, retail clothing stores and inexpensive or fast-food restaurants as their top four preferences for stores within walking distance,” the article stated ... ODU
students get testy in all-day housing line It includes 10 three-story buildings, half of which offer retail and
office space. It was designed by Ambling University Development Group
which, until last year, handled the leasing of apartments. In August, the university's housing office, which already handles numerous dormitories and residence halls, took over that task ... Council
candidates tackle neighborhood concerns Part of Spies' solution is to get the students out of the neighborhoods and into something like an "urban village," that offers them what they want whether that be more parking, exercise facilities, coffee shops or more affordable housing ... "If we create student housing, then that would free up houses in the neighborhoods and bring the housing prices down," Spies said. "Then people would have the opportunity to put their families in there." ... The
art of improv WTJU-FM
91.1 Celebrates 50 Years of Broadcasting at U.Va. on April 1 In 1947, WUVA began limited service to University listeners. The station was founded by then associate professor George P. Wilson of the Department of Speech and Drama ... Down-and-out
downtown I listened quietly to all of this. Two years ago, I covered Rugby's grand opening for this paper's arts and entertainment section. Now, I was bearing witness to its early departure-its very, very surprising early departure. To retrogress for a second: Rugby was conceived of as the younger, hipper, more athletic son of luxury American sportswear company Polo Ralph Lauren. It does not have an online counterpart, and its stores-purposefully located only in college towns like Georgetown, Boston and Charlottesville-market a lifestyle just as tenaciously as they market their signature pique cotton ... £120m
plans for Worcester’s second university campus The detailed plans, presented by the University, highlight how the new development will breathe new life and purpose into the derelict former Worcester Royal Infirmary site and transform it into a crucial part of a new Learning and Cultural Quarter for the City ... Finally,
A First Step "In order for the Partnership to execute an image of community, university and protect nature, they had to engage in a process in which they had to be patient and careful," said Steven Bacon, chairman of the Planning and Design Committee for the partnership ... Blacksburg
council mulls big-box development "I'm not so sure we want to bring a little bit of Christiansburg to Blacksburg. We know what happens to other places, how homogenized a town can become," Councilman Don Langrehr said ... Temple
Students Trying To Revitalize Neighborhood The forum tomorrow afternoon will study the redevelopment of West Philadelphia neighborhoods around the University of Pennsylvania as an example of how such revitalization can be accomplished. Featured speakers will include Eva Gladstein, the director of Mayor John Street's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, and John Kormer, the redevelopment consultant at Penn's Felks Institute of Government ... City Plan 2025
- Fayetteville, Arkansas Realizing the challenges of uncontrolled growth, the City Council initiated a 20-year plan to focus on preserving community character and livability while accommodating balanced growth and development. To better understand the community's vision for the future of their city, city staff conducted focus group meetings in the fall of 2005 and in Febuary 2006 the Project Team and city staff hosted a 10-day design charrette, including property owners, neighbors, business people, developers, elected officials, city staff, students, and community leaders ... City
set to ease bylaws on secondary suites Secondary suites, such as rented basements and garages, are currently illegal due to zoning issues, the lack of safety regulations and general community dissent. The bylaw change would acknowledge the existence of secondary suites and set rules to ensure their safety ... Student
village plan gets early OK Still, not everyone is convinced it's the right fit ... 1,000
Denied Housing Amy Jancewicz, a 6th-semester sociology major, will not be able to live on-campus her last year at UConn next year. Jancewicz, who has lived on campus since coming to UConn, had a number higher than the cutoff for those who will still get housing. "I don't think it's fair that UConn doesn't have adequate housing to meet everyone's needs," Jancewicz said. "We're a state school. We have land, funding and resources at our disposal and it doesn't make sense that we don't have enough housing." ... University
towns could see higher taxes Under House Bill 2593, counties that are home to regents universities would be allowed to increase the sales tax by one-tenth of one cent to help finance repairs and maintenance at the institutions ... Student
housing issue needs early solution What is especially disturbing are the anecdotal tales of students who may have to leave the university because there is no campus housing for them next year. The housing crunch is being blamed on two factors: more and more freshmen coming aboard and more and more students staying on after their freshman year ... ERT
begins construction of community at University of Michigan The Courtyards will feature one-bedroom/one-bathroom, two-bedroom/two-bath, three-bedroom/three-bath and four-bedroom/four-bath apartments in three, five-story buildings ... Limits
on occupancy ahead? "I haven't heard of situations where other jurisdictions have had this lack of courtesy for (their) residents," said Del. Susan Aumann, a Republican who is considering filing the bill because of problems with student housing in the Towson area ... Spotting
the Next Hoodie After seeing mostly skinny jeans, which she believes are on their way out, Ms. Job finally spotted a young woman in a T-shirt and high-waisted, straight-legged jeans. The sighting was further confirmation of a trend ... Inexorable
March to a Part-Time Faculty Behind
tower plan, an Elm City devotee Despite the existence of a few other towers in the Elm City, developer Joel Schiavone ’58 said high-rise buildings do not fit with the character of New Haven, which he described as first and foremost a college town. The city should focus instead on building three- to four-story buildings that could help foster a friendlier and less intimidating downtown than the skyscrapers would ... Students
poised to fight housing tax Student leaders took up the fight earlier this month, they said in a group interview last night, forming an unusual coalition of the Student Government Association and Graduate Student Government presidents, a local development blogger and a former SGA chief of staff. The group joined forces to lobby against a bill that would remove incentives for developers to build housing nearby the university. The bill, which has shown up during previous Annapolis sessions but has never had the votes to pass, has already sailed through the House of Delegates after achieving sponsorship by the entire Prince George's County delegation. If it passes in the Senate, it could be a windfall for local politicians, who have sought to dramatically ramp up housing legislation in an effort to limit student populations in area neighborhoods ... Ugly
new houses invade Old North area Over the last few years, this and other neighbourhoods like it have undergone redevelopment to accommodate student housing. Many of these redevelopments have shown respect both for students and for the neighbourhood and its aesthetic and social values. Some have not. One of these is the KAP Holdings’ new development at 186 and 188 Huron St. This KAP Holdings project goes beyond bad design and development. It’s a disgrace to the neighbourhood! ... Providing
affordable student housing is a delicate balancing act for all universities UMW,
neighbors to chat On April 26, representatives from the neighborhoods around the university, along with City Council members and city staff, will gather with UMW President William Frawley and other school officials. Clyde Matthews, president of the College Heights Civic Association, says he hopes the meeting will be the start of a formal town-gown committee where concerns between the college and city could be shared on a more regular basis ... Blacksburg
considers cap on store sizes The resolution proposed by Councilman Don Langrehr and passed 5-2 by the council asks the Planning Commission to fast-track consideration of an ordinance that would cap the size of retail stores in the general commercial district at 80,000 square feet. Developers who wanted to build larger stores would have to ask the council for a special use permit, according to the resolution ... Langrehr also pointed out that other towns and cities, especially college towns, have such ordinances, some of them even more restrictive than his proposal ... Overloaded
FGCU short rooms Feeling like they're being kicked out, some have organized a petition to voice their grievances with FGCU administration and are requesting an apology for what they have deemed disorganized management ... Route
1 dreaming Transforming College Park calls for a unique partnership between the City of College Park and the university to help improve relationships between school and city and help to create a city that embodies features of college towns across the country. When you get off the Capital Beltway you should be able to tell you're in the city that is home to the University of Maryland by more than just an old sign sitting at the corner of Route 1 and Cherry Hill Rd ... Selling
Affordable Housing Dogwood Housing Limited Partnership is selling all of their 21 buildings in the inner-city of Charlottesville, many of which are historic properties, with hopes of selling to a group, who will continue to provide affordable housing. Dogwood Housing had a goal when it was first formed: to restore properties and rebuild neighborhoods like this one here, while providing quality housing for those less fortunate Eugene Williams is an entrepreneur. He bought his first property with his brother in 1960 for $22,000. It's now selling for over $240,000 ... Hundreds
sign 'studentification' petition People living in Fulford, Badgerhill and Heslington want City of York Council to include a study of the impact of student housing on communities as part of the Local Development Framework process. The petition adds: "This study should examine areas with high levels of student housing and explore opportunities to ensure that communities do not become unbalanced as a result." ... Keg
Registration Goes to Governor Heritage
economics: reusing old buildings No longer - it has been transformed into a destination in itself. A walking guide spells out the roots from which the change has come: "The village has fully blended with its surroundings through the centuries, as no scientifically planned town could have. In growing naturally, the village has integrated with nature, as much as Papegaaiberg and the Jonkershoek Twin Peaks are part of nature; its houses seem to have settled here, sinking their roots deeper and deeper into the earth as if saying: ‘You'll never move us, just try to shift us; you'll rue the day you do.'" Building off those roots, the restoration and maintenance of a hundred historic buildings, some 300 years old, has transformed this town. Today it is packed with tourists using this as their base for a few days instead of Cape Town so that they can enjoy one of the most continental of atmospheres of any towns in Africa. ... UMd.
rolls down Route 1 The university recently announced it has found a partner to develop about $600 million in new entertainment facilities, housing, offices and retail on its East Campus along Route 1. The project joins the university's M Square research park, the University Town Center mixed-use complex, and the University View apartments and Northgate condos as additions to the county's 2002 Route 1 Sector Plan, which encourages development along College Park's main road ... UCF
Students Conserve Enough Energy to Power 115 Homes Throughout February, UCF educated students about how they can conserve energy by turning off lights when they leave a room, turning off computers when they are not in use and taking other simple, everyday steps. Students responded by cutting their February energy use by 136,000 kilowatt hours, or 8 percent, compared to their consumption during February 2006 ... Bid
to improve Cardiff's student housing The Cardiff Community Student Plan, which brings together the local authority, Cardiff University, the University of Wales Institute Cardiff (UWIC) and the University of Glamorgan has been adopted by Cardiff Council ... Balance
student housing, neighborhood needs There are those who want to protect the value of their homes and others who want to use their property as rentals, such as mini-dormitories near the University of Arizona ... Compromise
reached on housing bill In a special session, six of eight council members supported amendments that would expand the area, after the mayor and council spoke with residents, student leaders and the landlord who controls more than half of the Knox Boxes. The legislation, sponsored by state Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Prince George's and Anne Arundel) and the Prince George's House delegation, would charge developers a more than $7,000 one-time fee per student housing unit built. But student housing constructed 1.5 miles around the campus would be exempt, and the amendment allows more development east of Route 1 to avoid the tax. Properties outside the exemption boundary can petition the fee ... Overseas-driven
housing boom LOW vacancy rates are driving rental growth across Australian cities, sparking bidding wars between potential tenants and giving rise to a healthy environment for investors. But a lack of new housing stock - one supply-side factor fuelling the market - is absent in the healthy student accommodation market, which is being buoyed by growing demand. Investors, including the universities themselves, are entering the market to take advantage of the opportunities. And they are finding you don't have to build a 10-storey apartment block to invest in the swell ... College
Station, A&M officials explore alliance Texas A&M's plans for a mixed-use development "would probably be in the neighborhood of about 90 acres," Bisor said - and some of the acreage is currently occupied by student housing. "We have to think about what the existing facilities are, where they would move, when and how," Bisor said. "If [bulldozing the apartments] is the direction we want to go, we have to think about how to replace those and what that means for the residents." ... College,
troupe create university of laughter It isn't a typical college classroom. A new program at Columbia College Chicago allows students to take classes at Second City, the humor mecca that has turned out some of America's best-known improvisational comedians. Students also attend shows, network with artists and present their work in a showcase -- all for college credit ... City
throwing support behind plan to convert part of Bleachery into upscale
condominiums It would be built by K. Hovnanian Homes, the same company that oversaw Four Seasons at Gold Hill, a 300-unit, age-restricted subdivision in Fort Mill. In throwing their support behind a concept said to be unlike any other tried in the Southeast, Rock Hill and Winthrop University leaders are banking on a unique selling point: Residents can live close to both a downtown district as well as a college campus that offers performing arts, sporting events and classes ... How
to pay for policing college drinkers There are several proposals to raise money that would help West Chester, and other college towns, pay for police and other expenses related to playing host to thousands of students. Most would require changes in state laws ... Mother-daughter
team open trendy fashion shop Jackson said many of her Buckhead customers were from the Athens area or were students at the University of Georgia, and they urged her to open a shop here. The success of the store in Columbia, another university town, helped convince Jackson and Wright that Athens would enjoy a similar reception ... Developer
eyes New Rochelle blocks near Iona College With 3,200 undergraduate students, Iona suffers from a shortage of campus housing and can only guarantee living quarters on campus for freshmen and sophomores, said Derek Zuckerman, director of residential life. With more high-quality housing nearby, "certainly we feel that we would be able to maintain a higher number of students," ...
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