U-Blvd re-consultation kickoff

The wonders of free food.

Yesterday, if you were ambling by the south side for the SUB, you may have noticed a crush of people scribbling on questionnaires, brandishing barbecue vouchers, and collecting delicious AMS catering fare. Yesterday marked the first event in the renewed push for re-imagining the much loathed University Boulevard development project – also known as the U-Blvd neighborhood plan and University square.

About three hundred people filled out the lengthy survey in three hours yesterday afternoon. Just to compare, only 170 students filled out the hugely advertised “Campus Plan” survey online several months ago, which was available for a week. Yesterday’s survey, (which can be found here, and can still be submitted till Friday) comprised of open-ended questions. A detailed vision statement generated by the Board’s consultation working group was supplied. The questions mostly regarded how people use the space now, and what they envisioned for it in the future.

This consultation, and another round that will happen in September, are broadly expected to lead to a fundamental re-design of the development plan. How fundamental, nobody is quite sure. The basic question is whether the university’s architecture firm will be asked to modify existing drawings (which the university has already payed several million dollars to create over the years), or go back to the drawing board. This process is the result of a student petition and AMS policy that opposed the existing development plan. Both were brought to the Board of Governors’ attention in May.

If you missed the free burgers, don’t fret, you still have a chance to pitch in. Workshops taking place this week are:

• July 5 – SUB Concourse

• 11 am – 4 pm: Open House Drop In

• July 6 - SUB Room 42T (Where the arcade used to be, next to the Delly)
• 11 am – 12 pm: Mini-workshop on the Vision
• 1 – 2 pm: Mini-workshop on Mapping the Square
• 3 – 4 pm: Mini-workshop on connecting to the SUB