2008 Woodie Awards
We'll cross that bridge if we want to
The Jambar Editorial
Issue date: 6/5/08 Section: Opinion
As college students, we're smart enough to cross a bridge.
Cafaro and Lyden residents and Youngstown Early College students cross a bridge over U.S. 422 every day, yet Hunter Morrison lists crossing that bridge as a reason Park Place should not be built. Morrison is the director of campus planning and community development at Youngstown State University.
While The Jambar doesn't yet know enough information about the proposed Park Place apartments to take a side, we remain open to the idea and want to learn more about the project. Considering YSU's desire to get away from it's commuter status and the city's goal for growth, we are disappointed that they appear to be so quick to close the door on what could be a promising student housing prospect for the area.
We have been waiting for someone to come in and develop Youngstown. They have arrived, and instead of communicating with them, the university is retreating.
YSU cites safety concerns and an inconsistency with the campus master plan. These are flimsy excuses. Who cares that the sidewalk there is narrower than those at other campus locations? We are quite capable of walking on a snow-covered sidewalk or — God forbid — on the street. The university has been talking about how we need to go downtown. What's wrong with reaching out to the city in other directions?
Place Properties has shown a willingness to work with the university's concerns, and they said the location of the property is not covered by the campus master plan. The western boundary of the master plan is the eastern side of Fifth Avenue. The proposed development will be located on the western side of Fifth Avenue, just outside of the area detailed in the plan.
This development will not disrupt any of YSU's publicly stated plans, and as long as Place Properties continues to cooperate with the university, YSU should act as a "good neighbor" in welcoming them into the community, as they have referred to other existing establishments.
To encourage students to live on campus, the university must offer them viable options. Every housing option doesn't have to be controlled by YSU.
Cafaro and Lyden residents and Youngstown Early College students cross a bridge over U.S. 422 every day, yet Hunter Morrison lists crossing that bridge as a reason Park Place should not be built. Morrison is the director of campus planning and community development at Youngstown State University.
While The Jambar doesn't yet know enough information about the proposed Park Place apartments to take a side, we remain open to the idea and want to learn more about the project. Considering YSU's desire to get away from it's commuter status and the city's goal for growth, we are disappointed that they appear to be so quick to close the door on what could be a promising student housing prospect for the area.
We have been waiting for someone to come in and develop Youngstown. They have arrived, and instead of communicating with them, the university is retreating.
YSU cites safety concerns and an inconsistency with the campus master plan. These are flimsy excuses. Who cares that the sidewalk there is narrower than those at other campus locations? We are quite capable of walking on a snow-covered sidewalk or — God forbid — on the street. The university has been talking about how we need to go downtown. What's wrong with reaching out to the city in other directions?
Place Properties has shown a willingness to work with the university's concerns, and they said the location of the property is not covered by the campus master plan. The western boundary of the master plan is the eastern side of Fifth Avenue. The proposed development will be located on the western side of Fifth Avenue, just outside of the area detailed in the plan.
This development will not disrupt any of YSU's publicly stated plans, and as long as Place Properties continues to cooperate with the university, YSU should act as a "good neighbor" in welcoming them into the community, as they have referred to other existing establishments.
To encourage students to live on campus, the university must offer them viable options. Every housing option doesn't have to be controlled by YSU.
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