Brainstorming about updating campus area

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 10 years ago

my answers to your questions in bold

Why is the URI bookstore only open Monday thru Friday from 9am to 5pm...? that's the time that most classes take place
What do students do if they need supplies or books on weekends or weeknights...? CVS like 90% of students do already, much much cheaper than the bookstore
Why is the bookstore hidden in the basement...? not the basement it's on the first floor of the union, same level as eye doctor, hair salon, ronzios, dunkin, and the mail room
Where can I get legit URI gear on campus...? bookstore, adidas store in the union, ram zone in ryan center, apparel store in the emporium (next to bagels)

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 10 years ago

I haven't been in the union in a while, where is the Adidas store?

And again, people keep talking about the Emporium being a key place for URI to redevelop. They don't own it and they can't force the current owner to sell or renovate.

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 10 years ago

it's right across from the hair salon next to ram computers, it's actually the ram gift shop but it has a lot of adidas products

billyjack · Unread post by **billyjack** » 10 years ago

twisted3829 wrote:my answers to your questions in bold

Why is the URI bookstore only open Monday thru Friday from 9am to 5pm...? that's the time that most classes take place
What do students do if they need supplies or books on weekends or weeknights...? CVS like 90% of students do already, much much cheaper than the bookstore
Why is the bookstore hidden in the basement...? not the basement it's on the first floor of the union, same level as eye doctor, hair salon, ronzios, dunkin, and the mail room
Where can I get legit URI gear on campus...? bookstore, adidas store in the union, ram zone in ryan center, apparel store in the emporium (next to bagels)

Thanks twisted.

With the Emporium... is there any incentive for the owners to improve the place...? It seems that right now there isn't. However, if the Ryan Center area was developed with stores (doesn't even have to be that much yet) that would provide competition to the Emporium, then I would think that the owners would have to improve it.

I was going to sketch something out, but haven't had the time.

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 10 years ago

the inside of the stores and shops isn't really that bad, in my opinion it the exterior that needs at least paint and maybe some modifications. and the parking lot/entrances need some help

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 10 years ago

I had forgotten about Williams College which has a beautiful campus in Williamstown, MA. The town center which is all of two short blocks on Spring Street is right in the middle of the Williams College campus surrounded on all sides by the school.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... own_MA.jpg

Williams also has a hotel on the edge of its campus:

http://www.newenglandinnsandresorts.com ... g2006d.jpg

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

Ah! There's the hotel! I was wonderimg from where the pimps and drig dealers would operate.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 10 years ago

Last week there was a story in the Cigar about adding a 300-500 bed apartment complex between Wiley and Garrahy Hall that the university is hoping to have ready for fall of 2017.

http://rhodycigar.com/2014/10/09/propos ... -be-built/

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 10 years ago

Do it!

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 10 years ago

RhowdyRam02 wrote:Last week there was a story in the Cigar about adding a 300-500 bed apartment complex between Wiley and Garrahy Hall that the university is hoping to have ready for fall of 2017.

http://rhodycigar.com/2014/10/09/propos ... -be-built/

I like the idea of apartments where students would be able to cook their own meals and not be mandated to be on the expensive meal plan. It might entice students that have tight budgets back to campus. It is important that the school's housing options be varied as the student body has different needs and desires when it comes to housing.

twisted3829 · Unread post by **twisted3829** » 10 years ago

that's how garrahy and Wiley are now, they are more apartment style than dorm style and they are mainly for the athletes and the upperclassmen

Maineiac66 · Unread post by **Maineiac66** » 10 years ago

I would agree that having apartments would be an excellent idea. However, at some point they need to revisit the subject of allowing some form of alcohol consumption on campus. I can remember that for some brief time in the mid 60's that the administration looked the other way and parties were held in fraternity houses with no major issues.

I had graduated by the time they had the beer hall in the Union, but I think that coincided with the brief period where the drinking age was lowered to 18. I can't remember reading that the world came to an end.

OBRAM · Unread post by **OBRAM** » 10 years ago

Going to the Pub in the Union, drinking frosted mugs of dark gansett and walking home to the dorm. One beer never hurt anyone. Then someone started to steal the mugs and they went to plastic cups. I did have to sneak in since you needed to be 21 with a falsified ID since I was only 18-19.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 9 years ago

This seems as good a place as any to put this with all the talk of The Emporium in here. According to my friend both UMelt and The Burger Shack are now closed.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 9 years ago

As in closed forever?

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 9 years ago

That's the way he made it sound. Said both businesses had paper covering all their windows and UMelt had a sign up telling people to visit their Providence location. UMelt still lists a Kingston location on their website but when you click on it to order online it says page not found. The Burger Shack website seems fully operational, so not sure what their deal is.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 9 years ago

So to follow up, UMelt and Burger Shack were indeed closed forever, and a new place, Mia's Kitchen opened last week using both vacated businesses.

http://rhodycigar.com/2015/02/12/new-em ... next-week/

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 9 years ago

The Good Five Cent Cigar had an article today investigating towing improprieties at The Emporium

http://rhodycigar.com/2015/03/12/towing ... questions/

The Emporium could be a real asset to the campus area, but between the owner doing a poor job of maintaining the property and aggression to even the customers and workers of the businesses it's really not living up to its' potential. I know the University has thought about purchasing the area in the past, and it seems like that would be a great thing. If they can't agree to a reasonable purchase price then they should look to develop their own plaza to compete with the Emporium.

Taylor Swift · Unread post by **Taylor Swift** » 9 years ago

When I drive by the Emporium it just looks so tired and rundown. They did a horrible job plowing it this year, so the fact that they have the audacity to troll people and tow their cars like that baffles me.

Burger Shack is no longer there (which kind of shocks me) and has been replaced by "Mia's Kitchen" which offers a healthier alternative to calzones and pizza.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 9 years ago

OMG, I'm not even half way through this and I'm furious. I know this happens too and that story about the couple eating at Bagelz with people to vouch for their patronage wasn't "enough" to release her car at no charge? I would be on the phone with the police immediately.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 9 years ago

The one that really got me was the girl that was working at Bagelz that brought her time card with her showing that she was working when her car was towed and being told it was a forgery.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 9 years ago

So at the end of the piece it says that the local police (I wonder if they mean just URI police or SK police or both) say they can do nothing.

If I was working and had my car towed I would report my car stolen to SK Police and tell them a red tow truck was seen taking my car out of the lot.

Taylor Swift · Unread post by **Taylor Swift** » 9 years ago

In this case it would be SK police since not on URI property. Just absolutely ridiculous. Sounds like typical back room RI handshaking to me.

adam914 · Unread post by **adam914** » 9 years ago

Wow this is still happening? I used to work at the pizza place across the street from there (I think its a Dunkin Donuts now maybe?) and used to get towed all the time while working. My boss would always get my car released for me, but it didnt make it any less annoying.

Taylor Swift · Unread post by **Taylor Swift** » 9 years ago

That whole Emporium needs major updates. I remember when I lived on campus as a Freshman & Sophomore, the food choices were so boring on weekends. You can only order DP Dough so many times....

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 9 years ago

Why weren't you going to Albie's?

Taylor Swift · Unread post by **Taylor Swift** » 9 years ago

Albie's isn't open late at night. I think they closed at 11.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 8 years ago

URI was supposedly expecting bids on the hotel project by this time last year. The fact that there's been no information leads me to believe the hotel idea is on life support at best, which is a shame. I might not have agreed with every detail but I certainly felt overall it was a great idea. At least ATP's mother in law doesn't have to worry about the pimps and drug dealers.

Unread post by **SGreenwell** » 8 years ago

RhowdyRam02 wrote:URI was supposedly expecting bids on the hotel project by this time last year. The fact that there's been no information leads me to believe the hotel idea is on life support at best, which is a shame. I might not have agreed with every detail but I certainly felt overall it was a great idea. At least ATP's mother in law doesn't have to worry about the pimps and drug dealers.

The last I knew, around January or February, the hotel thing was still alive. However, it's URI, so stuff like that seemingly takes forever. I'll try to ask the person I got the info from about it next time I see them.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 8 years ago

This is from the 2015 fiscal year capital budget that was presented by Lincoln Chafee:

"URI University Inn, Admissions, and Housing and Retail – The Governor recommends expenditure of $59.2 million to develop a mixed use University Inn on the east side of Upper College Road, of which $57.0 million is from third party financing and $2.2 million is from University and College funds. The facility will be privately owned and managed on University property with the University acting as the anchor tenant. The facility will include a 100-bed hotel, 20 two-bedroom apartments, a restaurant/University Club, a retail bookstore, conference space, and University Admissions public spaces. The Governor and URI will seek approval for a long-term lease of the facility during the 2015 Legislative session. Recommended expenditures would be as follows: FY 2015 – $2.2million; FY 2016 – $29.7 million; and FY 2017– $27.4 million."

Not sure if they ever got the legislative approval.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 8 years ago

From the newest budget on the hotel:

"URI Upper College Road Multi-use Development – The Governor recommends expenditures of $500,000 from University and College funds to perform a feasibility study for creating a multi-use facility on Upper College Road. The study will consider the feasibility of a public-private partnership for developing a multi-use facility, including a hotel, apartment style housing units, a restaurant, retail bookstore and conference space."

Seems like fading but not dead. Or like SGreenwell said.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 8 years ago

There is a proposed $60 million bond in 2020 to rehabilitate East, Ranger, Washburn, Quinn, Davis and Roosevelt Halls. Good to see they don't want those important pieces of the Quad to fall into disrepair.

Rhodymob05 · Unread post by **Rhodymob05** » 8 years ago

I was on campus a few weeks ago, improvements have started on a few buildings such as Ranger. Good to see. I know URI is also updating their Kingston and Bay campus master plans. Lots of improvements to come.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 8 years ago

Here's an article that talks about the $6.3 million renovation to Ranger Hall for the Harrington School of Communication and Media that started in November. Sounds like at least the first floor will be good to go in the fall.

http://www.independentri.com/independen ... 8fcba.html

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 8 years ago

This summer URI begins construction on a $94 million, 500 bed apartment complex across the street from Meade and Burnside. It should take about two years to complete and be about the same size as the new chemistry building.

Taylor Swift · Unread post by **Taylor Swift** » 8 years ago

RhowdyRam02 wrote:This summer URI begins construction on a $94 million, 500 bed apartment complex across the street from Meade and Burnside. It should take about two years to complete and be about the same size as the new chemistry building.

That's great news. Bring the students on campus instead of Down the Line. Isn't there going to be a hotel over in that area, too?

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 8 years ago

No, the hotel was supposed to be where the university club is, but that project doesn't seem to be progressing. Unless you're talking about the master plan that came out in 2000. They wanted a hotel/convention area/golf course in that area across from Meade/behind Heathman.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 8 years ago

A lot of good information about current and future campus construction projects can be found in this Good .05 Cigar article. Looks like the biggest project that hasn't been mentioned is a new $7.6 million welcome center where the information center currently is.

http://rhodycigar.com/2016/12/01/multip ... ay-at-uri/

ramster · Unread post by **ramster** » 8 years ago

RR2,

Glad to hear they are going to invest in the Welcome Center. For a University the size of URI that current Welcome Center is pretty weak as compared to what most schools are providing.

Rhodymob05 · Unread post by **Rhodymob05** » 8 years ago

Great news for URI, proud to be an alum.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 7 years ago

RhowdyRam02 wrote:From the newest budget on the hotel:

"URI Upper College Road Multi-use Development – The Governor recommends expenditures of $500,000 from University and College funds to perform a feasibility study for creating a multi-use facility on Upper College Road. The study will consider the feasibility of a public-private partnership for developing a multi-use facility, including a hotel, apartment style housing units, a restaurant, retail bookstore and conference space."

Seems like fading but not dead. Or like SGreenwell said.

This has been updated to:
"URI Upper College Road Multi-use Development – The Governor recommends expenditures of $1.4 million from university funds to create a multi-use facility on Upper College Road. This public-private partnership will include a hotel, apartment style housing units, a restaurant, retail bookstore, and conference space. The Governor recommends expenditures of $482,703 in FY 2017, $583,715in FY 2018, and $279,607 in FY 2019."

So still alive. ATP, please apologize to your mother in law about any future pimps and drug dealers

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 7 years ago

RhowdyRam02 wrote:There is a proposed $60 million bond in 2020 to rehabilitate East, Ranger, Washburn, Quinn, Davis and Roosevelt Halls. Good to see they don't want those important pieces of the Quad to fall into disrepair.

This doesn't appear to be on the list anymore. I didn't see any potential bonds for URI listed in the latest capital budget.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 7 years ago

RhowdyRam02 wrote:A lot of good information about current and future campus construction projects can be found in this Good .05 Cigar article. Looks like the biggest project that hasn't been mentioned is a new $7.6 million welcome center where the information center currently is.

http://rhodycigar.com/2016/12/01/multip ... ay-at-uri/

It looks like the welcome center project should be moving forward soon. The line of trees that separated the visitors center and their parking spaces and the larger visitors and staff lot have been taken down.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 7 years ago

Soon is next week. Starting next week the old University Club will serve as the Visitor's Center and construction will start on the new Welcome Center where the Visitor's Center has been.

Rhodymob05 · Unread post by **Rhodymob05** » 7 years ago

A larger welcome center should have a lasting effect on anyone visiting the campus. Much needed asset.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 7 years ago

Will they offer beer and wine at this temporary welcome center?

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 7 years ago

haha, that's one way to get more visitors to campus. I was under the impression the University Club closed a couple years ago, but I've seen mixed messages about that over the last year. It might be open as The 95 Club.

OBRAM · Unread post by **OBRAM** » 7 years ago

GreenHall_Mall.JPG

Has anyone scene the new Green Hall Mall. They had to cut down all the old trees that were I believe rotten. They planted new trees and grass and it looks fantastic.

RhowdyRam02 · Unread post by **RhowdyRam02** » 7 years ago

It was a shame that they had to get rid of those old trees, but they certainly made the best of it, like you said that area looks great.

Rhodymob05 · Unread post by **Rhodymob05** » 7 years ago

OBRAM wrote:GreenHall_Mall.JPGHas anyone scene the new Green Hall Mall. They had to cut down all the old trees that were I believe rotten. They planted new trees and grass and it looks fantastic.

Yea they had arborist lines already holding up older limbs of the tress to avoid them falling so unfortunately they had to go. Itll take about 50 years to regain a similar "allee" affect, but nothing you can do about it.