Brainstorming about updating campus area

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billyjack
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Re: 2014-15 Schedule

Unread post by billyjack »

- URI has untapped advantages that aren't available to most schools around here, and #1 is SPACE. URI isn't landlocked like PC or Brown or even Salve... which leads me to think of possibilities like...
- in addition to students, get the general public and families interested in going...
- bulldoze the Emporium... build new commercial space (restaurants, clothing, sporting goods) that becomes a place that both students and the general public will be drawn to... that will encourage students to spend time on campus and at games and not drive back to Cranston every weekend... put these new restaurants just south of Meade... tie it into Meade and the Ryan... add a Chipotle and similar places like that which will attract people, even a Brickley's... move the International Pockets place and the Orange Leaf down to the south of Meade... add an REI or something... hell, add a Pottery Barn...
- also near Meade and Ryan, build a high-end hotel or two, and build high-end restaurants like a Siena or a Trio type place or another Spain... forget about the Holiday Inn up on Route 1, it's a total inconvenience accessing it... think of a Saturday night game... all within walking distance, families can watch the Rams, get dinner at a place that you can actually sit and which isn't rat infested, stay overnight at a Marriott, get up in morning, be near the beaches which are still nice in winter...
- think of this as a smaller Patriots Place in Foxboro...
- alums and parents of students can stay right there on campus any time of year...
- allow Rams' soccer teams to play at Meade and allow fans access to Ryan during the game for concessions and bathrooms...
- sorry for rambling...
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rodfromcranston
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Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by rodfromcranston »

Hmm...I really like Billyjack's thinking!
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Re: 2014-15 Schedule

Unread post by adam914 »

billyjack wrote:- URI has untapped advantages that aren't available to most schools around here, and #1 is SPACE. URI isn't landlocked like PC or Brown or even Salve... which leads me to think of possibilities like...
- in addition to students, get the general public and families interested in going...
- bulldoze the Emporium... build new commercial space (restaurants, clothing, sporting goods) that becomes a place that both students and the general public will be drawn to... that will encourage students to spend time on campus and at games and not drive back to Cranston every weekend... put these new restaurants just south of Meade... tie it into Meade and the Ryan... add a Chipotle and similar places like that which will attract people, even a Brickley's... move the International Pockets place and the Orange Leaf down to the south of Meade... add an REI or something... hell, add a Pottery Barn...
- also near Meade and Ryan, build a high-end hotel or two, and build high-end restaurants like a Siena or a Trio type place or another Spain... forget about the Holiday Inn up on Route 1, it's a total inconvenience accessing it... think of a Saturday night game... all within walking distance, families can watch the Rams, get dinner at a place that you can actually sit and which isn't rat infested, stay overnight at a Marriott, get up in morning, be near the beaches which are still nice in winter...
- think of this as a smaller Patriots Place in Foxboro...
- alums and parents of students can stay right there on campus any time of year...
- allow Rams' soccer teams to play at Meade and allow fans access to Ryan during the game for concessions and bathrooms...
- sorry for rambling...
Nothing rambling about this at all...some very solid ideas!
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Justns11
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Re: 2014-15 Schedule

Unread post by Justns11 »

I was thinking of Patriot place the entire time I was reading that...then saw you mentioned it at the bottom.

Great ideas Billyjack.
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Re: 2014-15 Schedule

Unread post by Blue Man »

billyjack wrote:- URI has untapped advantages that aren't available to most schools around here, and #1 is SPACE. URI isn't landlocked like PC or Brown or even Salve... which leads me to think of possibilities like...
- in addition to students, get the general public and families interested in going...
- bulldoze the Emporium... build new commercial space (restaurants, clothing, sporting goods) that becomes a place that both students and the general public will be drawn to... that will encourage students to spend time on campus and at games and not drive back to Cranston every weekend... put these new restaurants just south of Meade... tie it into Meade and the Ryan... add a Chipotle and similar places like that which will attract people, even a Brickley's... move the International Pockets place and the Orange Leaf down to the south of Meade... add an REI or something... hell, add a Pottery Barn...
- also near Meade and Ryan, build a high-end hotel or two, and build high-end restaurants like a Siena or a Trio type place or another Spain... forget about the Holiday Inn up on Route 1, it's a total inconvenience accessing it... think of a Saturday night game... all within walking distance, families can watch the Rams, get dinner at a place that you can actually sit and which isn't rat infested, stay overnight at a Marriott, get up in morning, be near the beaches which are still nice in winter...
- think of this as a smaller Patriots Place in Foxboro...
- alums and parents of students can stay right there on campus any time of year...
- allow Rams' soccer teams to play at Meade and allow fans access to Ryan during the game for concessions and bathrooms...
- sorry for rambling...
This is a rare instance of someone "thinking big" around here.

This idea is sensible, rational, and productive.

Because it involves change and forethought, and benefits URI and not PC, the state will never let it happen.

That said, if we can get some corrupt politicians on our side on capitol hill, it would happen next year.
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URI_IEP
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Re: 2014-15 Schedule

Unread post by URI_IEP »

Blue Man wrote:
billyjack wrote:- URI has untapped advantages that aren't available to most schools around here, and #1 is SPACE. URI isn't landlocked like PC or Brown or even Salve... which leads me to think of possibilities like...
- in addition to students, get the general public and families interested in going...
- bulldoze the Emporium... build new commercial space (restaurants, clothing, sporting goods) that becomes a place that both students and the general public will be drawn to... that will encourage students to spend time on campus and at games and not drive back to Cranston every weekend... put these new restaurants just south of Meade... tie it into Meade and the Ryan... add a Chipotle and similar places like that which will attract people, even a Brickley's... move the International Pockets place and the Orange Leaf down to the south of Meade... add an REI or something... hell, add a Pottery Barn...
- also near Meade and Ryan, build a high-end hotel or two, and build high-end restaurants like a Siena or a Trio type place or another Spain... forget about the Holiday Inn up on Route 1, it's a total inconvenience accessing it... think of a Saturday night game... all within walking distance, families can watch the Rams, get dinner at a place that you can actually sit and which isn't rat infested, stay overnight at a Marriott, get up in morning, be near the beaches which are still nice in winter...
- think of this as a smaller Patriots Place in Foxboro...
- alums and parents of students can stay right there on campus any time of year...
- allow Rams' soccer teams to play at Meade and allow fans access to Ryan during the game for concessions and bathrooms...
- sorry for rambling...
This is a rare instance of someone "thinking big" around here.

This idea is sensible, rational, and productive.

Because it involves change and forethought, and benefits URI and not PC, the state will never let it happen.

That said, if we can get some corrupt politicians on our side on capitol hill, it would happen next year.
In this economy an "if we build it they will come" business plan usually doesn't fly. You'd have to show that there was a huge demand for those types of facilities in order to justify it.
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billyjack
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Re: 2014-15 Schedule

Unread post by billyjack »

Thanks guys, glad you liked my post. I have other ideas that may or may not be do-able. Maybe at some point I'll get a chance to post them.

With the "Patriots Place" ("Rams Place") idea, maybe in "Phase 1" an alumni group can approach Marriott for a nice partnership, and leave the State House out of it. The hotel could be built against the south end zone, so many of the rooms could face the field, and "luxury suites" for the Meade could be built into the hotel, like in Toronto with the Skydome- Rogers Centre. Ground level, facing south, attached to the hotel, Ryan and Meade, put can't-miss commercial stuff (1) Chipotle, (2) Starbucks, (3) Panera, (4) Brickley's, (5) a post office, (6) clothing store with URI gear, maybe give "Alex and Ani" a rent-free unit. No mickey mouse stores unless high-end local. No "Motel 6" stuff. Fountains. Plenty of parking. These are off the top of my head, there probably are other better stores and ideas. I would discourage putting bars at this point. Keep it safe without additional drunks. No casinos or nonsense like that. Possibilities are endless.

"Phase 2" would put a second hotel near the Boss Rink. Quieter area for older alums. Add more and better bleachers for the baseball field. More coffee houses, so the Dunkin Donuts goes there. And TLC coffee house. Add a Qdoba. Tie this in with the rink. Possibly a small Belmont Market. No movie theaters, no convenience stores, nothing to attract bored teenagers.

There are always ways to work around roadblocks. Partnerships, private alumni groups, private alumni millionaire types. Anything is possible. You really could start this conversation with alumni groups immediately.

Gotta go...
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RF1
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Re: 2014-15 Schedule

Unread post by RF1 »

billyjack wrote:Thanks guys, glad you liked my post. I have other ideas that may or may not be do-able. Maybe at some point I'll get a chance to post them.

With the "Patriots Place" ("Rams Place") idea, maybe in "Phase 1" an alumni group can approach Marriott for a nice partnership, and leave the State House out of it. The hotel could be built against the south end zone, so many of the rooms could face the field, and "luxury suites" for the Meade could be built into the hotel, like in Toronto with the Skydome- Rogers Centre. Ground level, facing south, attached to the hotel, Ryan and Meade, put can't-miss commercial stuff (1) Chipotle, (2) Starbucks, (3) Panera, (4) Brickley's, (5) a post office, (6) clothing store with URI gear, maybe give "Alex and Ani" a rent-free unit. No mickey mouse stores unless high-end local. No "Motel 6" stuff. Fountains. Plenty of parking. These are off the top of my head, there probably are other better stores and ideas. I would discourage putting bars at this point. Keep it safe without additional drunks. No casinos or nonsense like that. Possibilities are endless.

"Phase 2" would put a second hotel near the Boss Rink. Quieter area for older alums. Add more and better bleachers for the baseball field. More coffee houses, so the Dunkin Donuts goes there. And TLC coffee house. Add a Qdoba. Tie this in with the rink. Possibly a small Belmont Market. No movie theaters, no convenience stores, nothing to attract bored teenagers.

There are always ways to work around roadblocks. Partnerships, private alumni groups, private alumni millionaire types. Anything is possible. You really could start this conversation with alumni groups immediately.

Gotta go...
Good list of items. Some of your ideas have been posted here by others before.

The availability of plentiful land as you note gives URI many options.

Some of my pie in the sky thoughts for Kingston village and the URI campus mirror yours.

Extension of Route 4/138 so that a limited access 4 lane highway connects Kingston/URI to Route 95 to the west in Hopkinton, Route 95 to the north in EG, and the Newport Bridge to the east. Ideally this highway would skirt the northern edge of campus with an exit interchange

Place a research/office/bio-tech park on the northern fringe of the campus by the new highway exit. Try to tie the companies there to research at URI.

Build a golf course and hotel/conference center on campus with restaurant/banquet facilities

Rework Kingston Village so that it has shops and restaurants along it giving it more of a quaint New England college town feel. Dump the strip mall-ish emporium that only locals know exists. Rte 138 traffic won't be nearly as bad with a new highway bypass. Make it attractive enough that you don't have to drive all the way to Wakefield.

Extend the South County Bike path from the Kingston Station along the Amtrak tracks right to the URI campus

Build a new football stadium out near the Amtrak line and new highway exit. Locate a train station there for games as is the case with Gillette. Surroud the stadium with parking lots and tail gating areas which would inlcude free standing restrooms outside the stadium


Most of these are unfortunately just fantasy as they will likely never come to fruition.
Last edited by RF1 6 years ago, edited 1 time in total.
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Obadiah
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Re: 2014-15 Schedule

Unread post by Obadiah »

Some great ideas by RF1 and billyjack. One modification, I would concentrate all the re-development in one place – the Emporium area – rather than two or three areas.

Here’s an idea focused only on the need for a more vibrant campus center.

- First entice a large development company much like the company currently doing over Garden City Center to key the investment.

- Build a huge parking garage on Bills Road extending from the Fine Arts parking lot to beyond the current fire station which will have to be re-located. The garage would be free and assigned to commuters and visitors to the University. This garage would be very linear, accommodate about 2000 cars and have a decorative front with retail space on ground level on the side facing Bills Road.

- Drill a new north-south road to connect Bills Road to Briar Lane, maybe using part of Chapel Way.

- Re-align the corner of Fortin Road and Upper College Road and connect Fortin to Old North Road.

- Design both the new road and Fortin Road wide enough to accommodate metered street parking on both sides of streets.

- Along both streets build connected buildings of a unified design close to the street with commercial space on ground floor and second and third floors devoted to offices and rental units, furnished and unfurnished.

- The ground level commercial space should stress diversity of use, both time use and consumer use. In other words, design the area so it is lively all through the day. And while you cater to the tastes/finances of students, provide some appeal to attract faculty, staff and outsiders to the area. For example, the food scene would go from convenience, fast food to white table cloth dining and everything in between. Same with retail.

- Behind the new commercial buildings build lots for free parking.

- Position the new buildings to allow the University to construct a new academic/administration building on Upper College Road (across from Washburn and East Halls) with parking in the rear, separated from the new development by decorative fencing.

- At re-aligned corner of Fortin and Upper College Roads, design road to be only two lanes with no parking for some 50 yards in, then begin the wide part of Fortin to accommodate metered street parking. At this point , build a decorative arch similar to the ones in San Diego that signal entrance to that city’s various neighborhoods. Call the new Kingston center – East Village.

- Free parking in this new concept would be plentiful – in the new garage and in large lots behind the buildings. By having metered parking on the street it gives those people who are in a hurry and need convenience an option. Also, this idea follows the observation by the great urbanologist, Jane Jacobs, that parked cars along a street gives a friendly feeling, especially at night, it also provides the hustle and bustle that the sleepy Kingston does not have right now.
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Re: 2014-15 Schedule

Unread post by rodfromcranston »

The main problem I see to all these nice ideas is,
Rt. 138. It's just two lanes No way the State makes it a four lane road.
It would cost millions and a lot of historic homes in Kingston Village would be
destroyed.
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RF1
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Re: 2014-15 Schedule

Unread post by RF1 »

rodfromcranston wrote:The main problem I see to all these nice ideas is,
Rt. 138. It's just two lanes No way the State makes it a four lane road.
It would cost millions and a lot of historic homes in Kingston Village would be
destroyed.

The ideal limited access highway I envision would bypass rte 138 going along the northern edge of campus. It is the once planned road that was supposed to keep going from where rte 138 meets route in NK (road with abrupt end after off ramps).

It is fantasy ans its cost and opposition from residents would never make it a reality.
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theblueram
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Re: 2014-15 Schedule

Unread post by theblueram »

Just bring the Pub back. It would be a start.

Edit:
On second thought, maybe we should build an indoor Six Flags on campus so we can ride roller coasters before and after games. :shock:
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rambone 78
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Re: 2014-15 Schedule

Unread post by rambone 78 »

All awesome ideas, but unless some billionaire steps up and funds it out of his own pocket, it's fantasy in it's purest form.
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Re: 2014-15 Schedule

Unread post by Rhody74 »

I-695 was proposed 30 years ago to connect 95 near exit 3 and Aquidneck Island and would have passed north of URI. It was dropped due to cost and huge opposition from ALL South County. Never going to happen.
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Re: 2014-15 Schedule

Unread post by Obadiah »

rod, my idea stays away from the historic Kingston Village for the reasons you stated and the plain fact that all these ideas will have opposition from local SK groups. They like things nice and sleepy in Kingston and are status quo types.

Turning the Emporium area into a lifestyle center as I described would cost about $250 million without the garage. That edifice could be built in a private-public partnership. If its financing doesn't spell mother, possibly charging non-commuters use of facility a small fee may help boost the return.
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theblueram
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by theblueram »

So I just saw a report that URI is proposing to build a 57 million dollar hotel and retail center on campus.
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RF1
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by RF1 »

theblueram wrote:So I just saw a report that URI is proposing to build a 57 million dollar hotel and retail center on campus.

Many schools such as UConn, UMass, and Mt Holyoke have hotels right on their campus affiliated with the schools.
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Re: 2014-15 Schedule

Unread post by RF1 »

Rhody74 wrote:I-695 was proposed 30 years ago to connect 95 near exit 3 and Aquidneck Island and would have passed north of URI. It was dropped due to cost and huge opposition from ALL South County. Never going to happen.

It will eventually happen. I however agree that it will not be any time soon though. The changing dynamic of South county with more people moving to the area will necessitate it in the future. The new residents will add more traffic to route 138 causing gridlock. They will not like the traffic and they will want quick routes out of the area to their jobs and other destinations. Eventually a bypass will be built. It is just a matter of time.
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Re: 2014-15 Schedule

Unread post by ATPTourFan »

RF1 wrote:
rodfromcranston wrote:The main problem I see to all these nice ideas is,
Rt. 138. It's just two lanes No way the State makes it a four lane road.
It would cost millions and a lot of historic homes in Kingston Village would be
destroyed.

The ideal limited access highway I envision would bypass rte 138 going along the northern edge of campus. It is the once planned road that was supposed to keep going from where rte 138 meets route in NK (road with abrupt end after off ramps).

It is fantasy ans its cost and opposition from residents would never make it a reality.
For those abandoned highway plan buffs out there, read more about this proposed highway. RI has all sorts of strange interchanges built during a time before the final interstate configuration was known.

http://www.bostonroads.com/roads/I-895_RI/

As the 1980s dawned, the RIDOT submitted the following substitute plans for the I-895 corridor, which were comprised mostly of a rebuilt and relocated RI 138:

ABANDONED The existing two-lane RI 138 was to be upgraded to a four-lane highway from I-95 in Wyoming east to the area of RI 2 in West Kingston.


ABANDONED From the vicinity of RI 2 east to US 1 in North Kingstown, RI 138 was to be relocated onto a new alignment as a four-lane highway. There was to be a new four-lane arterial connecting the University of Rhode Island campus in Kingstown with the new RI 138.


COMPLETED The existing RI 138 Expressway was to be upgraded from a controlled-access "super-2" to a four-lane freeway from US 1 east to the Jamestown-Verrazano Bridge.


COMPLETED A new four-lane Jamestown-Verrazano Bridge was to be built over the West Passage of Narragansett Bay. The proposed multi-span concrete box girder bridge was to replace an obsolete two-lane cantilever bridge.


COMPLETED RI 138 was to be built on new alignment as a four-lane freeway through Conanciut Island (Jamestown). A four-lane arterial upgrade on existing alignment (Eldred Road and East Shore Road) was studied but was found to have deleterious effects on Jamestown.


ABANDONED A new RI 138 four-lane arterial was to be extended north of Admiral Kalbfus Road along either Burma Road or closer to the existing RI 138.
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Re: 2014-15 Schedule

Unread post by Rhody74 »

RF1 wrote:
Rhody74 wrote:I-695 was proposed 30 years ago to connect 95 near exit 3 and Aquidneck Island and would have passed north of URI. It was dropped due to cost and huge opposition from ALL South County. Never going to happen.

It will eventually happen. I however agree that it will not be any time soon though. The changing dynamic of South county with more people moving to the area will necessitate it in the future. The new residents will add more traffic to route 138 causing gridlock. They will not like the traffic and they will want quick routes out of the area to their jobs and other destinations. Eventually a bypass will be built. It is just a matter of time.
ATP beat me to it (and corrected the proposed route number). Ain't gonna happen. There's no political will and no money. The reason people live in South County is because they *like* the country roads. And while the population is growing, most towns have zoning laws that will prevent the population explosion that hit Warwick and Cranston post WW-II.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by RoadyJay »

Well, this is interesting

http://tinyurl.com/k88rwxr


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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by ATPTourFan »

I like it.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by RF1 »

A central retail spot near the existing village of Kingston makes the most sense. Make the intersection of Rte138 and Upper College Road across from Kingston Congregational the focus. Build a small green at that intersection and put retail along Upper College Road leading to the old gates. Add more retail to Route 138 to create a true New England college town. The village would basically be along that "T" intersection and frame the main entrance to the campus.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by ATPTourFan »

The traffic situation at that intersection is already strained as it is. This alone may be enough to prevent anything beyond the proposed hotel/retail in the existing emporium area west to upper college road.
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Re: 2014-15 Schedule

Unread post by SGreenwell »

Rhody74 wrote:
RF1 wrote:
Rhody74 wrote:I-695 was proposed 30 years ago to connect 95 near exit 3 and Aquidneck Island and would have passed north of URI. It was dropped due to cost and huge opposition from ALL South County. Never going to happen.

It will eventually happen. I however agree that it will not be any time soon though. The changing dynamic of South county with more people moving to the area will necessitate it in the future. The new residents will add more traffic to route 138 causing gridlock. They will not like the traffic and they will want quick routes out of the area to their jobs and other destinations. Eventually a bypass will be built. It is just a matter of time.
ATP beat me to it (and corrected the proposed route number). Ain't gonna happen. There's no political will and no money. The reason people live in South County is because they *like* the country roads. And while the population is growing, most towns have zoning laws that will prevent the population explosion that hit Warwick and Cranston post WW-II.
To echo some of this - It's pretty anti-development in South County right now. In Narragansett, pretty much any subdivision or development is bitterly opposed, whether it's the Break Hotel and Iggy's in an area that's already pretty built up, or projects that have plenty of land. I don't think the climate is any better in South Kingstown. Obviously there is an election this year, but in 2010 and 2012, the South County districts also skewed harder left than many others in the state, and it would take a lot of lobbying to get DOT to shift focus to expanding an existing roadway from their current catch-up efforts on bridge and road rehab.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by TruePoint »

I think you can pitch thoughtful, well-planned development to educated, affluent and left-leaning communities. Those communities tend to oppose sprawl and big-box blight, but there are ways to develop that are sensitive to that (and, in my opinion, those are the kinds of projects we should be focusing on anyways).
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by hrstrat57 »

I live in the area. Be happy to get my grocery store back......
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by Maineiac66 »

I do like the idea of a hotel on campus. When coming from out of state the choices are limited and involve a 10-15 minute drive to campus. It's an issue attending social events at the Faculty Club or Alumni Center and then driving back to the hotel. With over 15,000 folks on campus, the market has to be there.

I would be cautious regarding a student apartment complex. There is a privately owned complex right outside the UMaine campus in Orono and it has been the source of several police calls for mass parties and the like. I would suspect the same issues to arise at URI.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by TruePoint »

Maineiac66 wrote:I do like the idea of a hotel on campus. When coming from out of state the choices are limited and involve a 10-15 minute drive to campus. It's an issue attending social events at the Faculty Club or Alumni Center and then driving back to the hotel. With over 15,000 folks on campus, the market has to be there.

I would be cautious regarding a student apartment complex. There is a privately owned complex right outside the UMaine campus in Orono and it has been the source of several police calls for mass parties and the like. I would suspect the same issues to arise at URI.
There are going to be police calls about massive parties for as long as there are uptight old people within shouting distance of college kids, because kids are always going to throw big parties. It doesn't matter whether the housing is owned by the school or anyone else.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by Taylor Swift »

I think all of this is a fantastic idea AND very necessary to add in a hotel. I know some families end up renting a house for the weekend of graduation. I think a hotel would be a much better option. The Holiday Inn is a dump, the Hampton Inn is decent, Village Inn and Atlantic House in Narragansett = dumps.

The Emporium is starting to look very dated and tired. The area definitely needs a face lift. Unfortunately the folks in South County (the old Swamp Yankees) are not open to any commercial development down at this end of the state.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by RhowdyRam02 »

I like a lot of what people have proposed. With the lack of state funding it is crucial to look to private sources to fund necessary projects like a campus hotel. Just two quick thoughts. A lot of people look at The Emporium as a place that needs to be improved, but unfortunately that is privately owned, so there's nothing URI can do there unless they buy the property or the current owner agrees. There have been rumblings that the university was interested in buying The Emporium, but I'm not sure if that's close to happening or if that's even a recent thought or something older that they've already given up on. Also I know someone mentioned not having developments that would attract bored teenagers, I couldn't disagree more. For any retail establishment to be successful it will have to draw most of it's money from college kids, not people coming to campus 20 times a year tops. And what are most students living on campus? Bored teenagers.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by OBRAM »

I like the Patriot Place Idea, but have a New Meade Stadium , across from the ryan Center , tear down the Sherman Building and all the dumpy Maintenance buildings, move them down Plains road out of site. This however, is for Upper College road, and replace the U Club. Also tear down the Emporium, make it like a small Garden City Plaza

URI has space, ever been to the U. of Montana in Missoula. They don't have space, seems ironic. they have a river on one side and city of Missoula on two sides, and Sentinel Mountain on the other side.

I don't think a hotel would increase traffic, it would decrease it during the school year. People who are going to campus events would stay on Campus instead of driving to other location for Hotel. In the Summer, the tourist could add traffic, but during the summer there isn't a traffic problem in Kingston.

URI connector North was disliked by South Kingston people who felt people would drive up South Road, into the campus to get on the connector to drive north.
I think I connector road to run parallel with the Train tracks, and hook up with Rt 4, about 6 miles north would be feasible, but still opposed.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by twisted3829 »

Emporium definitely need improving or at least a face lift (new paint, new signs, new parking lots) the interior of the shops are in good condition the exterior look old
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by Taylor Swift »

I've always wondered about the north side of Flagg Rd where there's all that land. It would be great if URI could build some kind of research park being that all the science buildings are over that way now.

I agree with OBRAM, I think something like Garden City (on a small scale) would be great. There's nowhere to buy clothes around here except Marshall's. There's enough money on this campus where a J Crew, Old Navy, Nike Store, H&M etc.. would do VERY well. Salt Pond Shopping center opened a small Sports Authority about a year ago, and it seems to be doing well. Just as long as they don't add in Yankee Candle or Hallmark I think we'll be good.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by Seawrightspostgame »

Traffic is a nightmare for the most part at the peak times in URI and around it. If you are not familiar with the roads there, then it is worse.
Some type of solution must be done in order to help any further development.

It is too bad URI doesnt have more of a college town vibe around the school like most of its peers. It certainly has the advantage over the other schools in RI with space.

I have always thought that the surrounding community hinders URI by not backing things that would clearly help(such as roads at the least).

I think it is a weird situation when you consider the local community being a summer seasonal deal, where URI students show up and rent all the housing in the absence of the main show in the winter. I think the local community should be more flexible in helping URI be competitive with development projects.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by Seawrightspostgame »

I wonder if they will physically replace the bookstore with this hotel?

If not, they could build this whole new building along with the floor level bookstore somewhere else, then utilize the current bookstore for the return of the PUB.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by SGreenwell »

Seawrightspostgame wrote:Traffic is a nightmare for the most part at the peak times in URI and around it. If you are not familiar with the roads there, then it is worse.
Some type of solution must be done in order to help any further development.

It is too bad URI doesnt have more of a college town vibe around the school like most of its peers. It certainly has the advantage over the other schools in RI with space.

I have always thought that the surrounding community hinders URI by not backing things that would clearly help(such as roads at the least).

I think it is a weird situation when you consider the local community being a summer seasonal deal, where URI students show up and rent all the housing in the absence of the main show in the winter. I think the local community should be more flexible in helping URI be competitive with development projects.
There's the argument to be made that without URI students, some of whom are willing to pay an inflated rent because parents are loans are providing some of it, the rentals would probably be filled anyway with tenants who do not put as much of a strain on local services, or the houses might be sold to homeowners instead of treated as investments. Most communities are lukewarm on developments for families, since it means more strain on the local school system, but Narragansett's is currently on the downswing because the community is so dominated by rentals.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by Taylor Swift »

SGreenwell wrote:
Seawrightspostgame wrote:Traffic is a nightmare for the most part at the peak times in URI and around it. If you are not familiar with the roads there, then it is worse.
Some type of solution must be done in order to help any further development.

It is too bad URI doesnt have more of a college town vibe around the school like most of its peers. It certainly has the advantage over the other schools in RI with space.

I have always thought that the surrounding community hinders URI by not backing things that would clearly help(such as roads at the least).

I think it is a weird situation when you consider the local community being a summer seasonal deal, where URI students show up and rent all the housing in the absence of the main show in the winter. I think the local community should be more flexible in helping URI be competitive with development projects.
There's the argument to be made that without URI students, some of whom are willing to pay an inflated rent because parents are loans are providing some of it, the rentals would probably be filled anyway with tenants who do not put as much of a strain on local services, or the houses might be sold to homeowners instead of treated as investments. Most communities are lukewarm on developments for families, since it means more strain on the local school system, but Narragansett's is currently on the downswing because the community is so dominated by rentals.

Durkin and Ann O'Brien scoop up the majority of the houses in Eastward Look and Sand Hill Cove area once they go on the market. There's no way anyone would want to sign a yearly lease and pay $2,400/mo rent on a 4br house that hasn't been updated in 20 years and has had 20 years worth of tourists and students living in it.

I think that it's a great idea URI has built more on campus housing and hopefully this hotel soon. Although I went to URI and live in Narragansett, there is a huge void of "community" here due to the seasonal rentals.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by Iggy1979 »

What's the occupancy rates at hotels in neighboring towns. If it's low, there's no need for another hotel. URI should not be doing things that will unnecessarily hurt other businesses in town. Is it any great hardship for people to stay at a hotel on Route 1 if they're visiting URI?
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by Iggy1979 »

Seawrightspostgame wrote:Traffic is a nightmare for the most part at the peak times in URI and around it. If you are not familiar with the roads there, then it is worse.
Some type of solution must be done in order to help any further development.

It is too bad URI doesnt have more of a college town vibe around the school like most of its peers. It certainly has the advantage over the other schools in RI with space.

I have always thought that the surrounding community hinders URI by not backing things that would clearly help(such as roads at the least).

I think it is a weird situation when you consider the local community being a summer seasonal deal, where URI students show up and rent all the housing in the absence of the main show in the winter. I think the local community should be more flexible in helping URI be competitive with development projects.
I'm guessing you don't live in South County. The town-gown relationship is complicated. At best, it's good for both. At worst, you live in Narragansett and you have to put up with partying college students. I think the community is plenty supportive and flexible.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by hrstrat57 »

You all realize that state u has nothing to do with or any control over the emporium I hope?

.....and yes it is a disgraceful mess.
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Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by RoadyJay »

Iggy1979 wrote:What's the occupancy rates at hotels in neighboring towns. If it's low, there's no need for another hotel. URI should not be doing things that will unnecessarily hurt other businesses in town. Is it any great hardship for people to stay at a hotel on Route 1 if they're visiting URI?
I hope that someone wouldn't build something that was not needed and didn't make money. But I guess it does happen all the time.

I'm not sure I understand your second point about URI not hurting other businesses in town. Should they remain stagnant so they don't hurt anyone else's business? Competition, free market, capitalism. All good things in my mind.


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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by Rhody74 »

An on-campus hotel would make a lot of sense. Syracuse has one that we stayed in when our daughter went there.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by SGreenwell »

Taylor Swift wrote:
SGreenwell wrote:
Seawrightspostgame wrote:Traffic is a nightmare for the most part at the peak times in URI and around it. If you are not familiar with the roads there, then it is worse.
Some type of solution must be done in order to help any further development.

It is too bad URI doesnt have more of a college town vibe around the school like most of its peers. It certainly has the advantage over the other schools in RI with space.

I have always thought that the surrounding community hinders URI by not backing things that would clearly help(such as roads at the least).

I think it is a weird situation when you consider the local community being a summer seasonal deal, where URI students show up and rent all the housing in the absence of the main show in the winter. I think the local community should be more flexible in helping URI be competitive with development projects.
There's the argument to be made that without URI students, some of whom are willing to pay an inflated rent because parents are loans are providing some of it, the rentals would probably be filled anyway with tenants who do not put as much of a strain on local services, or the houses might be sold to homeowners instead of treated as investments. Most communities are lukewarm on developments for families, since it means more strain on the local school system, but Narragansett's is currently on the downswing because the community is so dominated by rentals.

Durkin and Ann O'Brien scoop up the majority of the houses in Eastward Look and Sand Hill Cove area once they go on the market. There's no way anyone would want to sign a yearly lease and pay $2,400/mo rent on a 4br house that hasn't been updated in 20 years and has had 20 years worth of tourists and students living in it.
People wouldn't, you're right - So the idea is that those rentals would go unfilled, until either 1) the price was low enough that it attracted non-student rentals or 2) the landlords just sold the houses to people who wanted to raise a family there. I imagine the latter is more in line with what Narragansett was back way back when, whereas now, IIRC, Eastward Look has something like 5 non-rentals.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by Seawrightspostgame »

I was just getting at the fact that the economy in south county isn't like most others because of the summer season and a state university.

Usually huge universities aren't located in a place that is a summer vacation place. Name 3?

And the roads into URI aren't in the least accommodating to the university. That's all, at the least I think the area should support the school with a better road into it.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by The Dude »

Feel like URI is slowly going to loose it's scenic semi-rural charm that oh so many students find or have found appealing over the years, if it hasn't already. I mean look at developed UMass Amherst….yuck. Not a fan of the hotel idea right now, but maybe seeing a visual representation will change my mind.
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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by TruePoint »

You have to wonder about some of the locals near URI. The school has been there for over 100 years and people have been vacationing there for probably about the same amount of time. If you don't want to live in a place with college students and tourists, live somewhere else. They act so put upon by both tourists and students.
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Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by RoadyJay »

TP. Not really. I grew up in Eastward Look. My family moved there in the late 70's. Growing up it was almost exclusively families. Hardly any rentals. Really wasn't as big a vacation spot as I recall either.

By the time I was finishing high school it had shifted to mostly rentals.

When campus went dry it pushed all the partying off campus.

I embrace the college students and tourists but I felt bad for my parents who were essentially run out of town. They didn't move there with the expectation Eastward Look would turn into a war zone

It's a shame that campus went dry. It just pushed all the problems off campus. I think it takes away from a real college experience as well. The best campuses I've been to have everything contained on campus (shopping, restaurants, bars, clubs, etc).


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Re: Brainstorming about updating campus area

Unread post by TruePoint »

I can sympathize with that. But at the same time, it isn't students' fault the campus is dry. The kids are just being kids. If locals have an issue, it should be with the school, not the kids. And at this point, the culture is probably so established that even if the campus was no longer dry, it would take a long time to get all the upperclassmen back onto campus.
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