More good news for OSU and Downtown

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

The proposed student housing is three blocks from campus. That's all.

I graduated from a large Midwestern university and have visited other similar campuses. Three blocks for cycling or walking to class is nothing at such universities.

It wasn't uncommon for me to walk a half-mile one-way to class. And it was good exercise (this was when the obesity rate was much lower than it is now). Gets you out in the fresh air. It lets you interact with people and some semblance of the real world.

I, for one, am not in favor of making universities some sort of self-contained bubble in which the real world doesn't exist.

Again, I get the point of it not being a comparatively far distance to walk or bike.  But have you seen what they are going to be walking or biking past?  There isnt going to be any "interaction with people or semblance of the real world" between the housing and the rest of the campus. Its a barren wasteland with bad lighting, bad roads, torn up driveways where houses once stood, and garbage. I hope thats not the real world.  Could you give me the name of one of those other midwestern university campuses where there is something like this in between the student housing and the rest of the campus?

To prospective student, and possibly parent, touring different campuses to see which one they like best...  Here is our beautiful campus, and over there, ( you cant see it from here) past those roads and over that hill, past several blocks of dark abandoned torn up lots, and along some pothole filled, rock and trash strewn roads,,, will be your housing. Oh and as for that cluster of trees with the tents and mattresses covered in broken glass and drug needles, its just the bums, they arent likely to hurt you so dont worry about it.  Niiiiiice. That will win them over.

[swake]

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

The proposed student housing is three blocks from campus. That's all.

I graduated from a large Midwestern university and have visited other similar campuses. Three blocks for cycling or walking to class is nothing at such universities.

It wasn't uncommon for me to walk a half-mile one-way to class. And it was good exercise (this was when the obesity rate was much lower than it is now). Gets you out in the fresh air. It lets you interact with people and some semblance of the real world.

I, for one, am not in favor of making universities some sort of self-contained bubble in which the real world doesn't exist.

Again, I get the point of it not being a comparatively far distance to walk or bike.  But have you seen what they are going to be walking or biking past?  There isnt going to be any "interaction with people or semblance of the real world" between the housing and the rest of the campus. Its a barren wasteland with bad lighting, bad roads, torn up driveways where houses once stood, and garbage. I hope thats not the real world.  Could you give me the name of one of those other midwestern university campuses where there is something like this in between the student housing and the rest of the campus?

To prospective student, and possibly parent, touring different campuses to see which one they like best...  Here is our beautiful campus, and over there, ( you cant see it from here) past those roads and over that hill, past several blocks of dark abandoned torn up lots, and along some pothole filled, rock and trash strewn roads,,, will be your housing. Oh and as for that cluster of trees with the tents and mattresses covered in broken glass and drug needles, its just the bums, they arent likely to hurt you so dont worry about it.  Niiiiiice. That will win them over.

Washington in St Louis is in a far worse area

[TheArtist]

I dont think anyone would disagree with the location of the OSU campus.  I like the location of the campus.

[Chris]

I think they might go for a cross between the orangish brick and some green, like a hybrid between the buildings here in Stillwater and on the Tulsa campus. I hope so anyways, that would probably be pretty urban looking. I'll call Boone.[8D]

[Sangria]

Orange and Green - kinda pumpkinish.

My hope is that with the arena comes further developement and the barren wasteland of trash becomes viable businesses.

OSU Tulsa should be enough to encourage more food places to open up, maybe more other stores too.

As for housing location - I think what matters most is that the location is SAFE!!!! I would not want my daughter walking in the dark through a barren trash land to get to her housing. EEEEK !!!!!

FOr that matter, I would not want anyones children having to do that either.

[tshane250]

I imagine that the barren wasteland between the student housing and campus would look a lot more attractive to prospective developers once the student housing is built.  Within a few years there will likely be infill there.  Perhaps this is just wishful thinking, but it could happen.

[TheArtist]

^ I dont think you all understand.  The college owns ALL that property.  Thats why I find it an odd choice to place their first housing on the furthest corner away from the rest of the campus when they can just as easily put it closer. Nobody else can buy or build on any of that property but them. I had at one time wanted to purchase some of that property to build there and was told the college owns it all and they arent selling lol.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

^ I dont think you all understand.  The college owns ALL that property.  Thats why I find it an odd choice to place their first housing on the furthest corner away from the rest of the campus when they can just as easily put it closer. Nobody else can buy or build on any of that property but them. I had at one time wanted to purchase some of that property to build there and was told the college owns it all and they arent selling lol.

Perhaps the rest will be more classroom buildings?

[AVERAGE JOE]

Artist brings up a good point, and I get the feeling the answer is that their Master Plan calls for a lot of stuff between the current campus and the new housing. I don't know that, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were building according to a much bigger plan and leaving room for the rest.

I'm supportive of what they are doing, but I would still throw in my 2 cents and hope that they build their housing and the rest of their campus to be more urban, dense and walkable than what currently exists. By adding housing, they are strategically trying to create a residential campus instead of a commuter campus -- or at least greatly reduce the percentage of commuters over time. That means less parking is required and greater empahsis on the pedestrian should be encouraged for getting around campus. Heck, the best way to get around any well-planned campus is on a bike -- OSU-Tulsa should plan on-campus circulation around that mode of transportation.

Building on an urban, walkable, bike-friendly scale would also fit PERFECTLY with their setting just a block north of the Brady District. That's their "campus corner" if you will. Could've been Greenwood, but their suburban sprawl model with acres of asphalt on that side of campus killed that idea. With the Cain's and the Brady Theater so close by this new housing, they shouldn't repeat the mistake they made on Greenwood and take full advantage of the assets at hand. Talk about a recruiting tool -- what college student wouldn't want to live a 2-3 block walk from the Cain's??? []

[Rico]

Put one of these across Detroit and Cincinnati and call it a day........



Boy, what a view of Downtown you would have in the evening.

OSU owns all of that land.. the fact that they are building on the property farther away from the Campus to begin with does not really indicate the use they have for the rest.. Prior to groundbeaking on the Research Center someone I know spoke with the Pres. of OSU and was told all the property would be used for students and staff housing.

I have a few pictures of the last speakeasy / brothel on North Main... as this all began.. Can't lay my hands on them at the moment.... Might add a little color to the subject.. []

[Rico]

quote:Originally posted by Rico

Put one of these across Detroit and Cincinnati and call it a day........



Boy, what a view of Downtown you would have in the evening.

OSU owns all of that land.. the fact that they are building on the property farther away from the Campus to begin with does not really indicate the use they have for the rest.. Prior to groundbeaking on the Research Center someone I know spoke with the Pres. of OSU and was told all the property would be used for students and staff housing.

I have a few pictures of the last speakeasy / brothel on North Main... as this all began.. Can't lay my hands on them at the moment.... Might add a little color to the subject.. []

Looking at these buildings, this far removed from what they had become, it seems a shame they had to go..








At least maybe it will help Downtown, Brady, etc...

[SXSW]

Something like these lofts going up in Fort Worth would look great in that area just west of OSU-Tulsa, maybe with some street level retail space though along N. Main:


Have a certain "look" to the buildings (maybe add the green roofs LOL) but also keep them somewhat different so it doesn't get repetitive.  I would like to see this kind of up-to-the-sidewalk style multi-level housing along Main, Boston, and Cincinnati up to the campus on Detroit.  That would be an interesting area full of students right across 244 from the Brady District.  Lots of private lofts would probably be created by a development like that, not to mention the restaurants and such in Brady.

[TheArtist]

Those would fit in quite nicely.