Spring Break
The Daily OrangeLocal residents raise concerns with new dorms
By Lauren Migaki
Posted: 10/31/07, 1:22 AM EST Section: News
One woman said that if the contractors did not include plans for a fence and trees, she would protest and stop the construction.
Bill Harris, president of Allen and O'Hara, said that working landscaping into the plans was a possibility.
Another common apprehension among residents was that the number of parking spaces would intensify the already congested traffic conditions. They also complained that an increase of students living on South would swarm their neighborhoods with young drivers.
"This is traffic going through our neighborhood," said another resident during the forum. "This is traffic that goes zipping by, not with concern to residents."
A Lancaster Avenue resident said that as a mother and pet owner, she is already concerned because students drive at high speeds, often ignoring stop signs on her street.
Harris responded to the concerns by saying that state law requires parking spaces for at least three-quarters of residents. He also mentioned that a traffic study will be a part of the pre-construction process.
Many residents mentioned their concern with drainage. They said their streets flood in the spring and worried that this problem would worsen with new construction.
A university operated water-retention pond would be capable of preventing any runoff from the dorms, Harris said.
"Drainage studies are being undertaken now," he said. "The basic stipulation of these studies is that there will be zero additional runoff coming out of that retention base."
Additionally, residents were distressed over the future property value, demanding to know who would move into the off-campus duplexes that students currently rent if there were a large upper-classman migration to South.
Beth Rougeux, SU executive director of government and community relations, did not directly address the homeowners' concerns, but said she had received many petitions and letters in an effort to move students back on campus.
And this new development was one result.
Though the meeting addressed many concerns, residents said they thought there were many alternative solutions to the housing dilemma. Rougeux promised the group that more meetings would be held to further discuss the issue.
Before adjourning, one resident said in disapproval: "I'm not truly satisfied with anything I've heard tonight."
Bill Harris, president of Allen and O'Hara, said that working landscaping into the plans was a possibility.
Another common apprehension among residents was that the number of parking spaces would intensify the already congested traffic conditions. They also complained that an increase of students living on South would swarm their neighborhoods with young drivers.
"This is traffic going through our neighborhood," said another resident during the forum. "This is traffic that goes zipping by, not with concern to residents."
A Lancaster Avenue resident said that as a mother and pet owner, she is already concerned because students drive at high speeds, often ignoring stop signs on her street.
Harris responded to the concerns by saying that state law requires parking spaces for at least three-quarters of residents. He also mentioned that a traffic study will be a part of the pre-construction process.
Many residents mentioned their concern with drainage. They said their streets flood in the spring and worried that this problem would worsen with new construction.
A university operated water-retention pond would be capable of preventing any runoff from the dorms, Harris said.
"Drainage studies are being undertaken now," he said. "The basic stipulation of these studies is that there will be zero additional runoff coming out of that retention base."
Additionally, residents were distressed over the future property value, demanding to know who would move into the off-campus duplexes that students currently rent if there were a large upper-classman migration to South.
Beth Rougeux, SU executive director of government and community relations, did not directly address the homeowners' concerns, but said she had received many petitions and letters in an effort to move students back on campus.
And this new development was one result.
Though the meeting addressed many concerns, residents said they thought there were many alternative solutions to the housing dilemma. Rougeux promised the group that more meetings would be held to further discuss the issue.
Before adjourning, one resident said in disapproval: "I'm not truly satisfied with anything I've heard tonight."
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