The future of University Village?
I recently came across several images of plans for University Village. All of the plans and renderings are from Icon Architects and they appear to be from a few years back. Click here to view a video of these plans.
Some of the plans seem to have changed from when these proposals were drawn up. For instance, the plans show a new UND Alumni Center just west of Suite 49. Recently, the Alumni Association announced plans for a new center, but the proposed location is now near the President's House on campus.
Still, I think the plans are interesting. For instance, they show a potential location for the University Village hotel: just north of the Ralph Engelstad Arena. In the past, the location I had heard mentioned was just north of Suite 49.
One rendering also shows a proposed student housing complex. This has been mentioned before, but this is the first time I've seen any possible designs.
-All images Icon Architects
Digg 
del.icio.us 
Posts
26 comments:
So is Marriott Suites the hotel that is being added? Or is it Cambria Suites? Did it take so long because the hotel developer wanted additional co-development simultaneously to its announcement?
I think it'sgreat they are putting student housing bakc in the plans. I know the whole "dinkytown" idea died when the Ralph was built. But students deserve that space as much as the wealthy alumni.
I doubt they're putting student housing back into the plan. I think what we're seeing here is an old plan. The new residence hall on Univ. Ave. is now open with high occupancy, but the former motel, now dorm on 42nd St. is mostly vacant, so the immediate need for more student housing is not there. Plus, there's still plenty of 1950s low grade "family housing" to replace in the Univ. Ave. area before any need to take up new space on the Bronson Property.
When did UND cease being an university?
ec99, you must be getting failing grades. Can't think of another reason for your constant negativity of the university.
Since when did grades factor into whether or not you complain about the university? I've got plenty of gripes for a 3.8 student...
We are clearly looking at old plans here. Still, there is plenty about the plans that I find interesting...particularly the potential site for a hotel. I've never heard of plans to actually connect the hotel to the arena or to build it that close to the arena...I always thought that the big grassy areas around the front of the Ralph were being intentionally kept empty.
As far as the hotel...the two names that I've always heard are Marriott and Cambria...probably will be one of those. I think I missed a story on WDAZ this week about the hotel...was it anything interesting?
I do think we'll see some student housing on the property in the future...I'm just not sure how much.
BTW, talking about hotels...whatever became of those plans to expand the Hilton?
" Can't think of another reason for your constant negativity of the university."
Then you haven't been reading my posts. I've been sheeling out $1,000s a year to send my son there, only he can't get the courses he needs because UND won't hire enough faculty to cover the increase in enrollment. But the do seem to have enough money to go into the real estate development business and pay their hockey coach a potential $300K+ per year.
ec99... hate to say it, but most universities are like that. Athletics and other non-academic programs are a priority because they bring in more money from alumni. This thinking stinks for the students.
"Athletics and other non-academic programs are a priority because they bring in more money from alumni."
Actually that's another NCAA myth. Athletics actually cost the univerities millions. Read Sperber's books on the subject.
ec99 - show me a major US university without athletics.
Well, the obvious solution would be to send your son somewhere else. If you don't agree with the way that the University is operating, vote with your feet. It's not as easy as whining, but it's somewhat more effective.
ec99's posts really don't sound whiny to me. Rather, he is airing certain facts of which many readers here may not be aware. Voting with his feet may be an option, but so is voting for state legislators who are willing to fund higher education to the extent it was funded in the past and not let a narrow-minded board of higher education cave in to all things athletic.
"vote with your feet. It's not as easy as whining, but it's somewhat more effective."
Ah yes, the chronic GF responses: "if you don't like it leave" and all criticism is whining. Do a little research; if you can come up with evidence that contradicts my points, do so.
Your complaint is that you are spending "$1,000s a year" on an education that you're not happy with. I certainly wouldn't argue with that. However, the most sensible thing to do is to send the kid some place that you WOULD be happy with. Marginally better would be running for political office on the platform of de-focusing on athletics.
Instead, you post obtuse, and effectively anonymous, complaints on a web blog, which has little to no effect, other than making you feel better about your own bad decisions.
By your own admission, you are shortchanging your son by sending him to UND. What's the sense of that?
I've said it before, I'll say it again. "If you don't like it, leave" is stupid advice, except in the case where what you want can only be accomplished by leaving. In which case, it makes perfect sense.
If you think that you're going to change the Board of Higher Education, UND and popular opinion on the role of athletics within the time that your son will remain in school, go for it. But you're going to need to do more than post here.
ec=ever complaining. I have come to expect negative with just about every post. If this is cheap therapy for you then I guess we'll listen.
ec99 -
I had no trouble in my 3 1/2 years at UND getting the classes I need. The key to my success, have a plan and stick with it. I know lots of people who have had the same trouble as your son and most of them do it to themselves by withdrawing from classes and trying again another time, don't have a plan and decide doing a crap shoot is the best method, are unreasonable in terms of the time they want to be in class (aka no 8-10 am classes for me please), or taking to few credits (I am sorry 12-14 credits is not enough if you want to get anywhere). Granted there are times when you will get the short end of the stick, that is true will all universities, plus issue such as a change of major which puts you at the bottom of the pile again, but I am a firm believer if you take 16 credits each semester with no withdrawals you will have no problem getting in the classes you need (not want mind you, there is a difference).
Regardless of whether or not UND should be investing in areas other than academics, I'm not sure how that debate enters into this topic. Yes, there will be more development - including a hotel - coming to University Village. However, I would assume that an outside company will be building the hotel and the other commercial projects as has been the case with prior commercial developments on the property. In other words, the money for these projects is not coming out of UND's pockets.
grandforksguy - very true. In fact, the lease of the land is making UND much more money for its budget than would be made if the land were sitting idle.
I remember when the location for the Alerus Center was being scouted it was stated that nothing but academic uses were allowed on the Bronson property. This was supposedly a term of the endowment. My how things change.
I'm not much of a hockey fan or a Sioux fan, but would there be room to expand onto the main arena of the Ralph. What is its max capicty now, 12,000, to 13,000 people. Although there is a need for it to fit more people now, I know expansion won't happen in the next few years or even ever, but I wonder if it could be expanded to accomodate 15,000 to 18,000 people. I'm just speculating and dreaming. The hockey program sure has the potential to become even hotter, but of course the nickname and logo thing would have to be resolved and better Native American relations would have to dramatically improve.
ec99, what is this book you are talking about? I'm interested.
As far as athletics go, they should be for the benefit of the students--for athletes to compete, and for the rest of the campus to watch. Sort of hard to justify spending millions on hockey and nothing on academics. O, right, we're a 'research school,' which must mean that any money left over from the hockey program goes directly to the faculty and skips right over the students, grad and undergrad.
If UND wants to be taken seriously, they should stop this insane belief that a good hockey team will get them good students.
-----
www.CampusDakota.com - for North Dakota college students
Any of the ones listed at this site on Amazon. Sperber taught at Indiana and actually got death rheats when he criticized Bobby Knight's treatment of his players. Had to take a semester sabbatical for his own safety. IU basketball is analogous to UND football for fanaticism.
Oops...here's the link
http://www.amazon.com/Onward-Victory-Creation-Modern-College/dp/0805038655/ref=sr_1_2/102-8628158-4308943?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1192200983&sr=1-2
Oops again. That should have read UND hockey.
Thanks. Already checked out "Beer and Circus" from the library.
Post a Comment