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from the issue of October 6, 2005
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Plan to be presented to chancellor, regents for final approval
Master plan draws favorable returns in final public showing
BY TROY FEDDERSON, UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
A steady stream of faculty, staff and students took advantage of the final public viewing of the UNL Campus Master Physical Plan during open houses Sept. 28 and 29 at the Nebraska and East unions, respectively.
An estimated 120 campus representatives - 70 on Sept. 28 and 50 on Sept. 29 - attended. While that tally was lower than similar sessions in March, Jennifer Dam, campus planner with Institutional Research and Planning, said the attendance was a good sign.
"I thought the turnout was pretty good," Dam said. "What we are proposing is not controversial. We've done a good job including faculty, staff and student input into this and people are responding to that.
"Those who came asked good questions and we had some good conversations."
Opinions levied at the open houses, along with those entered online will be considered as the plan moves into a final form. That document will be presented for approval to the Chancellor's Senior Administrative Team (Dec. 12) and the UNL Board of Regents (Jan. 20, 2006).
Last updated in 1998, the master physical plan outlines future land uses across UNL's City and East campuses. Dam said the plan does not include future funding estimates; instead it examines the amount of land available and recommends the best way to use it.
One of the major contributors to potential change on City Campus is the Antelope Valley Project, federally funded flood control construction. When complete, the project will provide major roadways that funnel traffic around campus. Planners expect the project will reduce the amount of traffic on campus, with 17th Street transitioning into an access roadway. Major entries to campus will include 14th, 16th and Vine streets.
The city campus plan also identifies a number of potential sites for future construction. Among those is a key point at the southeast corner of 14th and Vine streets, and sites for more buildings near the Beadle Center on land removed from the flood plain by the Antelope Valley Project.
Other potential building sites include a Greek housing complex northeast of 17th and W streets; the current site of the Textron property (north of 20th and Vine streets); a new UNL Crew boathouse northeast of Mabel Lee Hall; and at 16th Street, across from the Walter Scott Engineering Center.
To improve open space across City Campus, the plan also recommends the removal of Ferguson Hall.
Expansions are labeled for the Westbrook Music Building, Sheldon Art Gallery, Memorial Stadium (east stands), the Devaney Sports Center, the University Health Center, Temple Theatre, and two parking existing parking garages at 14th and Avery streets and 17th and R streets.
As was outlined in the 1998 plan, parking will continue to be shifted to the edges of campus.
On East Campus, the plan addresses an overhaul on how individuals enter campus.
JoAnne Kissel, planner with The Clark Enersen Partners - the firm working with UNL on the plan - said the plan calls for the consolidation of two entry points off Holdrege Street into one that aligns with East Campus' historic mall.
A 48th Street entry on the east edge is also included at Francis Street.
Kissel also said potential buildings sites could be created by moving current recreation fields to the northwest corner of campus - in close proximity to Fleming Fields, a baseball/softball complex used by UNL and the City of Lincoln.
Additional potential changes include: a new recreation center; construction of research facilities and teaching greenhouses; and demolition of old, and construction of new, residence halls (Burr and Fedde).
Kissel also pointed out a plan to make the East Campus Union easier to find.
Maps of both the City and East campus plans are available online http://irp.unl.edu/cp. The website also includes a link to a survey to provide feedback on the Master Physical Plan. To access the survey, click on the word "here" beneath the links to the two campus maps.
GO TO: ISSUE OF OCTOBER 6
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