Per this article, a new dorm will be started August/September on the site of the Health Center, South West of University and LaPorte. The plan is to have it available in 2014.
http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/porter/19230324-418/vus-confucius-institute-to-move-for-new-dorm.html (http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/porter/19230324-418/vus-confucius-institute-to-move-for-new-dorm.html)
Interesting.
Kind of embarrassing that Fred Plant won't paint a flipping crosswalk for the kids though.
Exciting to see more buildings being put in! I have no idea where this area is that this cultural exchange building is moving to. Where is East regarding the Valpo campus? By the ARC? By Eastgate?
Wow, no crosswalk. That is an odd decision.
Quote from: valpotx on April 03, 2013, 11:53:35 AM
Exciting to see more buildings being put in! I have no idea where this area is that this cultural exchange building is moving to. Where is East regarding the Valpo campus? By the ARC? By Eastgate?
LaPorte runs east and west. Old campus is west, eastgate is, well, east!
I guess, without the crosswalk being put in, students living in this new dorm will actually have to look up from their iPods and phones to see if they can safely cross Sturdy to get to campus. My gosh, what an absurd concept...right?
Quote from: valporun on April 03, 2013, 02:13:20 PMI guess, without the crosswalk being put in, students living in this new dorm will actually have to look up from their iPods and phones to see if they can safely cross Sturdy to get to campus. My gosh, what an absurd concept...right?
You would think...but without one wouldn't one and all be guilty of jaywalking were they not to find the nearest one (roundabout?)?
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=756+Finch+Court,+Valparaiso,+IN&hl=en&sll=41.462894,-87.034721&sspn=0.018589,0.032487&oq=756+Finch,+Valparaiso,+IN&hnear=756+Finch+Ct,+Valparaiso,+Indiana+46383&t=m&z=16
Confucius say:
If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.
Quote from: valporun on April 03, 2013, 02:13:20 PM
I guess, without the crosswalk being put in, students living in this new dorm will actually have to look up from their iPods and phones to see if they can safely cross Sturdy to get to campus. My gosh, what an absurd concept...right?
ugh, I don't think they will have to cross Sturdy or any other street to get to campus as the new dorm is on campus just north of the softball field!
Quote from: vu72 on April 03, 2013, 02:35:19 PMugh, I don't think they will have to cross Sturdy or any other street to get to campus as the new dorm is on campus just north of the softball field!
...
QuoteCity Engineer Tim Burkman suggested a crosswalk so students can cross Sturdy safely, but Plant, the university's Executive Director of Planning, said most of the students go by car and ride sharing.
Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on April 03, 2013, 02:50:08 PM
Quote from: vu72 on April 03, 2013, 02:35:19 PMugh, I don't think they will have to cross Sturdy or any other street to get to campus as the new dorm is on campus just north of the softball field!
...
QuoteCity Engineer Tim Burkman suggested a crosswalk so students can cross Sturdy safely, but Plant, the university's Executive Director of Planning, said most of the students go by car and ride sharing.
They aren't talking about the students living in the new dorm crossing Sturdy but the students using the Confucius Institute. The CI would be moved from 1404 LaPorte Ave to 756 Finch Court (across Sturdy near Eastgate) to make room for the new dorm on LaPorte at the intersection of University Ave. (a fairly new street) and LaPorte Ave. (southwest corner)
I say it would be good for Fred Plant to think that a student using the Confucius Institute might not have a car or not have a friend with a car every time they want to use the CI.
Quote from: bbtds on April 03, 2013, 02:31:04 PM
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=756+Finch+Court,+Valparaiso,+IN&hl=en&sll=41.462894,-87.034721&sspn=0.018589,0.032487&oq=756+Finch,+Valparaiso,+IN&hnear=756+Finch+Ct,+Valparaiso,+Indiana+46383&t=m&z=16
Confucius say:
If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.
Looks like the University has been more successful at buying homes near eastgate than McIntyre.
I believe VU has owned most of the homes in the Eastgate area since they were built. Has Valpo not owned that land since it was bought from farmers in the 1940's?
About time! I wish they had released a rendering....I wonder if it will resemble the other dorms, more of a Guild/Memorial style, or more of a modern style.
A nice, new dorm at the intersection of LaPorte and University Av. will be another great addition to the "re-creation" of LaPorte Av. between Roosevelt on the west and University Av./Campus Dr. N. on the east. Some of you "long distance" alums may not know that University Promenade, a complex of 28 urban lofts with retail shops on the 1st floor, is under construction and will be a very attractive addition to the Uptown East and West residential complexes already completed.
Here is University Promenade's website: http://www.universitypromenade.com (http://www.universitypromenade.com)
For more on University Promenade, see this other thread. Can it be merged with this one? We had 4 pages of discussion about residence halls and housing.
http://www.valpofanzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=90.75 (http://www.valpofanzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=90.75)
Quote from: covufan on April 03, 2013, 05:18:59 PMLooks like the University has been more successful at buying homes near eastgate than McIntyre.
I don't know, qualitatively, they feel similar. VU owns many, but not all, of the properties. I suppose they own enough of the "bird streets" near eastgate to start some construction, and the same may not quite be true of the smaller area on McIntyre.
Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on April 03, 2013, 11:33:16 AMKind of embarrassing that Fred Plant won't paint a flipping crosswalk for the kids though.
Yeah, that came across really strangely, probably badly, in the article. I mean, a regular painted crosswalk might not do much. Valparaiso drivers aren't particularly good about stopping for pedestrians to use them, and cars can have a pretty good head of steam on Sturdy there.
And, maybe the foot traffic wouldn't warrant something with lights that would stop traffic.
But, I hope plant was more diplomatic in person than the portrayal in the paper.
Quote from: vu72 on April 03, 2013, 11:10:44 AMPer this article, a new dorm will be started August/September on the site of the Health Center, South West of University and LaPorte. The plan is to have it available in 2014.
Interesting to read it here "first". Thanks for the link.
On campus, a new dorm seemed likely, but I was under the impression that the board of directors still had to sign off on it (and the fundraising plan for it, in particular) at their next meeting - in a month or so.
I wonder if this really represents some sort of a solid statement of intention from VU? Or even some binding commitment of sorts? Or is it just some timely heads-up of a likely, but not certain, eventuality?
Quote from: wh on April 03, 2013, 06:25:52 PMSome of you "long distance" alums may not know that University Promenade, a complex of 28 urban lofts with retail shops on the 1st floor, is under construction and will be a very attractive addition to the Uptown East and West residential complexes already completed.
I just hope they fill in! Quite a lot of new commercial space. But, if it all comes together, it could be very nice.
(Sorry for the quadruple post.)
Speaking of almost getting run over by cars while crossing Sturdy to go from your car to Gelerson/from campus to intermural games...
http://binged.it/10A74ms (http://binged.it/10A74ms)
This has to be one of the worst pedestrian crossing places on campus. Every day I would almost get hit walking to class because some car would be going 45 in a 25 right down the hill and zoom past the crosswalk. The first time I crossed that road I nearly died. I always though a big yellow sign with crossing people meant Yield for pedestrians. Apparently it's more like "continue going 20 mph over the speed limit and nearly avoid people that are in the way."
Quote from: a3uge on April 05, 2013, 12:28:37 PMI always though a big yellow sign with crossing people meant Yield for pedestrians. Apparently it's more like "continue going 20 mph over the speed limit and nearly avoid people that are in the way."
I'm just like everybody else who drives on campus: crosswalks are just an attempt at road art, stop signs are just a suggestion, the speed limit is however fast you want it to be, and pedestrians are target practice!
In all honesty I'm a junior and in my 3 years here nobody has yet been hit by a car which is a miracle in itself.
Quote from: classof2014 on April 05, 2013, 12:38:54 PM
Quote from: a3uge on April 05, 2013, 12:28:37 PMI always though a big yellow sign with crossing people meant Yield for pedestrians. Apparently it's more like "continue going 20 mph over the speed limit and nearly avoid people that are in the way."
I'm just like everybody else who drives on campus: crosswalks are just an attempt at road art, stop signs are just a suggestion, the speed limit is however fast you want it to be, and pedestrians are target practice!
In all honesty I'm a junior and in my 3 years here nobody has yet been hit by a car which is a miracle in itself.
If you wore a big sandwich board sign that said "Hit me, please!" then the drivers would stop because of the uniqueness of the situation. Or is the word "marquisness?" ;)
Make all those puns you like.
I'm just gland you now got your pro strate.
Quote from: LaPorteAveApostle on April 05, 2013, 02:33:08 PM
Make all those puns you like.
I'm just gland you now got your pro strate.
If you get hit by a car on Linwood near Kroenke you would have to worry about not only lying
prostrate but also the damage to your
prostate. Wear the sandwich board and show your
"marquisness!"
Quote from: vu72 on April 03, 2013, 11:10:44 AMon the site of the Health Center, South West of University and LaPorte.
Driving by today, it's not so clear how it will fit! I'll be curious to see what the geometry looks like. There's not a ton of space if they work around the tennis courts. The parking lot will go, I suppose. But, then you'll have a dorm awfully close to a tennis court.
It's not going to make the driving/parking situation there any better, either. People are always pulling up on the side of Scheele there, perhaps with their hazard lights on, dropping it down to one lane of traffic and congesting things.
On another thread, it was mentioned that some of the outdoor tennis courts will go away in the strategic plan. Maybe this is the time that it happens
Quote from: VULB#62 on December 04, 2012, 07:23:47 PM
If you look at the 30 year plan map it shows that the new dorm does, indeed, cover the footprint mentioned by President Heckler and it requires the removal of those 3 tennis courts. However, on the map it also shows the removal of the outdoor BB court and then three new courts nestled closer to the SB outfield fence. When you build a big ticket building, replacing those three courts should be a minor budget line. In line with the improved recruiting and the drive for a better record, I would hope that the great start this recruiting season doesn't get blunted by a lessening of their facilities.
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=41.466532,-87.04405&spn=0.002516,0.004061&t=h&z=18&iwloc=14054543092734372402 (https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=41.466532,-87.04405&spn=0.002516,0.004061&t=h&z=18&iwloc=14054543092734372402)
You'll have to move the map up towards LaPorte Ave.
It sounds like 6 tennis courts and the basketball court will be removed to make room for the new dorm construction.
http://www.valpo.edu/masterplan/ (http://www.valpo.edu/masterplan/)
EDIT: Looking at the master plan map it looks like we could lose only the basketball court. I guess it depends on what the contractor can comfortably fit in that space. It usually takes more room for construction than needed for when the building is completed.
So we'll now have a tennis team without tennis courts, a track team without a track, and a football field without a football team!
Quote from: a3uge on April 05, 2013, 05:05:53 PMand a football field without a football team!
No different than UDM. Their soccer teams play on the area that is still a football field for intramurals. Better watch the comments about the football team though. There's students that are pretending to be a real football team practicing these days.
Quote from: a3uge on April 05, 2013, 05:05:53 PM
So we'll now have a tennis team without tennis courts, a track team without a track, and a football field without a football team!
Our tennis team now has access to indoor courts that they will use more often than the rest of the outdoor ones that will be left. I believe that they are called the Courts of NW Indiana or something, and are supposedly state-of-the-art
Quote from: bbtds on April 05, 2013, 04:48:04 PM
Quote from: VULB#62 on December 04, 2012, 07:23:47 PM
If you look at the 30 year plan map it shows that the new dorm does, indeed, cover the footprint mentioned by President Heckler and it requires the removal of those 3 tennis courts. However, on the map it also shows the removal of the outdoor BB court and then three new courts nestled closer to the SB outfield fence. When you build a big ticket building, replacing those three courts should be a minor budget line. In line with the improved recruiting and the drive for a better record, I would hope that the great start this recruiting season doesn't get blunted by a lessening of their facilities.
https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=41.466532,-87.04405&spn=0.002516,0.004061&t=h&z=18&iwloc=14054543092734372402 (https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=41.466532,-87.04405&spn=0.002516,0.004061&t=h&z=18&iwloc=14054543092734372402)
You'll have to move the map up towards LaPorte Ave.
It sounds like 6 tennis courts and the basketball court will be removed to make room for the new dorm construction.
http://www.valpo.edu/masterplan/ (http://www.valpo.edu/masterplan/)
EDIT: Looking at the master plan map it looks like we could lose only the basketball court. I guess it depends on what the contractor can comfortably fit in that space. It usually takes more room for construction than needed for when the building is completed.
Yep, BBTDS, that's what my original comparison of the Vision 2032 Plan map and Google Maps indicated (and I looked at them again and confirmed my original thoughts). The Student Health Center, International Student House, the outdoor basketball court and three tennis courts will fall into the construction footprint, but the 3 lost tennis courts will be rebuilt where the basketball court is now so that all 12 will still be there in the end.
I'm anxious to see specific renderings of this building other than the Vision 2032 sketches. This first building will forecast the architectural direction the campus will take over the next 20 years of construction. Anybody know if there are some out there?
My guess is that the design language will be similar to the Welcome Center and other buildings recently built. I have a feeling this was made a higher priority seeing that they keep talking about Valpo having 6000 students within a few years...need somewhere to put them all...
Brian
Quote from: bmlvu97 on April 10, 2013, 06:41:29 PM
My guess is that the design language will be similar to the Welcome Center and other buildings recently built. I have a feeling this was made a higher priority seeing that they keep talking about Valpo having 6000 students within a few years...need somewhere to put them all...
Brian
It's more about building something that is current versus needing more space. Once complete I suspect one of the older dorms will be gone. President Heckler has stated that if the dorms were filled (no vacancies) that at present there would be one entire dorm vacant.
Given the growth plans (even if it's not likely that we'll make it to 6000 in a few, or even in five, years) I'd be very surprised if they tore a dorm down.
The 30 Plan shows all dorms (Wehrenberg to Scheele), along LaPorte replaced.
remember some of that growth (1000 of the 2000) is planned from the graduate side which generally does not require campus housing.
I've heard they'll break ground on the dorm in August. (But, they also started chopping trees down some time ago.)
In related news, I've heard that the health center will relocate to the ground floor of the university promenade building that's currently under construction (the western of the two).
The eastern promenade building has at least one tenant - a medical office.
In somewhat related news, it sounds like undergrad enrollment is expected to be up more than 5% for next year. (But these things aren't so easy to predict until the students are in the chairs, etc.)
If it is only up 5%, I believe that takes us to 3,150 undergraduates?