Comments on: Annapolis to Reconsider Major Student Housing Incentive http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2007/324/ Helping imagine a great college town for a great university Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:30:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Robert Catlin http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2007/324/comment-page-1/#comment-11176 Robert Catlin Mon, 05 Mar 2007 03:54:35 +0000 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2007/324/#comment-11176 With respect to Eric's recent comment, I don't really know why. I suspect it has something to do with University Town Center. I know it has become a larger headache than they expected. With respect to Eric’s recent comment, I don’t really know why. I suspect it has something to do with University Town Center. I know it has become a larger headache than they expected.

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]]> By: Robert Catlin http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2007/324/comment-page-1/#comment-11175 Robert Catlin Mon, 05 Mar 2007 03:50:29 +0000 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2007/324/#comment-11175 Thanks for your blog. While I seldom reverse positions because of information that is presented to me late in the game (because I have, I believe, already adequately considered the pros and cons before forming my position) all information and opinions are appreciated and certainly work to mold my final position on an issue. This issue teaches me that I should become more proactive in the blog and raise issues more often to generate feedback rather than just adding information to others' subjects. Thanks for your blog. While I seldom reverse positions because of information that is presented to me late in the game (because I have, I believe, already adequately considered the pros and cons before forming my position) all information and opinions are appreciated and certainly work to mold my final position on an issue.

This issue teaches me that I should become more proactive in the blog and raise issues more often to generate feedback rather than just adding information to others’ subjects.

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]]> By: Eric Fidler http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2007/324/comment-page-1/#comment-11173 Eric Fidler Mon, 05 Mar 2007 03:38:46 +0000 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2007/324/#comment-11173 Why do Hyattsville and Riverdale Park want out of the waiver zone? Doesn't the school impact fee go directly to the county anyway? Why do Hyattsville and Riverdale Park want out of the waiver zone? Doesn’t the school impact fee go directly to the county anyway?

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]]> By: David Daddio http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2007/324/comment-page-1/#comment-11172 David Daddio Mon, 05 Mar 2007 03:28:46 +0000 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2007/324/#comment-11172 Your continued openess in highly appreciated. I am also surprised that the diamondback didn't pick this up, but I can see that it is a relatively complex issue and rather difficult to explain/understand without some background in urban planning. Indeed, when I mentioned the waiver in a Diamondback column last semester, the copy editor reworded my sentence to read that the waiver disallowed housing outside the zone. There is certainly a fine line between distant locations and raw need for student housing. Had University Town Center and the Courtyards not been built, I'm not sure where we would be today. That is the kind of mindset I work on here. It's impossible to have the raw numbers, but my gut feeling is that a larger and larger percentage of students are and will be moving to the area as the school transitions from a commuter school. One time I estimated that roughly 15,000-20,000 undergrads and grads are still commuting from outside the area immediately surrounding campus. This trend will only intensify once CP becomes a more desirable and lively place to be. A particularly controversial (necessarily controversial in my view) column about this issue will appear in the Diamondback this week. Your continued openess in highly appreciated. I am also surprised that the diamondback didn’t pick this up, but I can see that it is a relatively complex issue and rather difficult to explain/understand without some background in urban planning. Indeed, when I mentioned the waiver in a Diamondback column last semester, the copy editor reworded my sentence to read that the waiver disallowed housing outside the zone.

There is certainly a fine line between distant locations and raw need for student housing. Had University Town Center and the Courtyards not been built, I’m not sure where we would be today. That is the kind of mindset I work on here. It’s impossible to have the raw numbers, but my gut feeling is that a larger and larger percentage of students are and will be moving to the area as the school transitions from a commuter school. One time I estimated that roughly 15,000-20,000 undergrads and grads are still commuting from outside the area immediately surrounding campus. This trend will only intensify once CP becomes a more desirable and lively place to be.

A particularly controversial (necessarily controversial in my view) column about this issue will appear in the Diamondback this week.

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]]> By: Robert Catlin http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2007/324/comment-page-1/#comment-11171 Robert Catlin Mon, 05 Mar 2007 03:00:54 +0000 http://rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/2007/324/#comment-11171 Thanks David for the quick response. With respect to the process, the City Council discussed this item both last year and this year in public session. Our Student Liasons were present on these occasions, I believe. I suspect that Diamondback reporters were there, too. The item showed up on our printed agendas prior to our meetings. While we handle our matters in a way that are usually far more open than the way that the University handles things that impact the City, we do have room for improvement. Certainly their was no attempt to slip anything past anyone. I am always open to discussing my reasons for the way I vote, especially with people who may disagree with me. I have no problem discussing upcoming and pending matters coming before the City Council either. While at least a few people are watching us, I often find it surprising that some of the items we tackle generate little or no comment or controversy. On the House side of the General Assembly, the bill's sponsor represents Hyattsville/Riverdale Park, not College Park. I like the bill because it will not incentivize developers to build projects in isolated locations like where University Courtyards is situated. I can't control the fact that Hyattsville and other local officials may be wary of student housing projects. The bill does allow for student housing in some other locations on a case by case basis. Like David I am frustrated and surprised that more student housing projects have not come forward. My preference would be to look for ways to bring more student housing to College Park within our fee waiver zone. West Lakeland is also part of the zone, too. The next student housing project should begin construction there later this year or in 2008. Thanks David for the quick response. With respect to the process, the City Council discussed this item both last year and this year in public session. Our Student Liasons were present on these occasions, I believe. I suspect that Diamondback reporters were there, too. The item showed up on our printed agendas prior to our meetings. While we handle our matters in a way that are usually far more open than the way that the University handles things that impact the City, we do have room for improvement. Certainly their was no attempt to slip anything past anyone. I am always open to discussing my reasons for the way I vote, especially with people who may disagree with me. I have no problem discussing upcoming and pending matters coming before the City Council either. While at least a few people are watching us, I often find it surprising that some of the items we tackle generate little or no comment or controversy.

On the House side of the General Assembly, the bill’s sponsor represents Hyattsville/Riverdale Park, not College Park. I like the bill because it will not incentivize developers to build projects in isolated locations like where University Courtyards is situated. I can’t control the fact that Hyattsville and other local officials may be wary of student housing projects. The bill does allow for student housing in some other locations on a case by case basis.

Like David I am frustrated and surprised that more student housing projects have not come forward. My preference would be to look for ways to bring more student housing to College Park within our fee waiver zone. West Lakeland is also part of the zone, too. The next student housing project should begin construction there later this year or in 2008.

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