An extensive renovation and expansion project planned for Ozark and Vol Walker Halls on the University of Arkansas campus this summer will result in the need for a temporary road to service the two-year construction.
The best route for that temporary gravel road, according to university associate vice chancellor for facilities Mike Johnson, includes a section that will cut through the historic Old Main lawn.
“We looked at a number of alternatives, but they took more trees, crossed more senior walks, they had more impact,” said Johnson. “Looking at all of it, and safety is first, last and always, what we’ve come up with is the idea that works best for everything.”
The plan is to remove a section of the rock wall along Arkansas Avenue, and begin the service road at the intersection of Lafayette Street. From there, it will run up along the southern side of Old Main lawn, between Ozark Hall and Old Main, turn north between Vol Walker Hall and Mullins library, before becoming a one-way-exit point onto Maple Street through the parking lot between the Agriculture building and the Human Environmental Sciences building.
Some residents have expressed concern over the potential for degradation of the historic lawn, but Johnson assured attendees at the City Council Street Committee meeting Tuesday night that the historic grounds would be preserved and restored once the construction is complete.
“When we are finished, we will restore the wall, we will take up the road, we will go back and re-sod and replant,” he said.
Johnson said that the university has also been in talks with the City of Fayetteville about potentially removing about 15 on-street parking spaces along Lafayette Street from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. for the first year of the construction project, but that no decision on the issue has been reached.
“It’s just discussions at this point,” Johnson said.
Preservationist Paula Marinoni, who lives in the neighborhood and who organized a protest of the project on May 22, seemed satisfied with the university’s efforts to restore the historic grounds, but still remains opposed to the project for other reasons.
“The alumni, I think, will be shocked and appalled when they see this,” Marinoni told us on Tuesday. “That area is an asset to this city, the university, and the state of Arkansas, and the lack of appreciation of this particular asset; the fact they think they can treat it like a tinker-toy, really misses the mark.”
Marinoni also expressed concern over the routing of the construction vehicles through the Lafayette neighborhood, as well as wear-and-tear on the Lafayette bridge.
“The trucks will be running into the night, and they’ll restart at 5 a.m., so that means no sleep,” she said. “On the old bridge, Don (Marr) said they inspected it, and the weight limit is still adequate, but Robert Scoggin from the Arkansas Highway Department said the wear-and-tear on the bridge could be a concern.”
University officials, however, maintain that the Lafayette access plan is the most feasible option.
“We value this campus as much or more than anyone here, or anyone around,” said Johnson. “There are no real perfect solutions. We think this is probably the most elegant. It does minimal damage, it’s temporary damage, and we will restore it to even a better condition once we’re finished.”
Dotted line indicates service road
Could the Pi Phi gate not have waited a year or two?
Seems like a lot of trouble brought on by poor planning, U of A.
I second that Burger Boy. There was a great road behind Old Main that could have worked really well with a little bit of PLANNING.
I wonder what the “solution” will be in the future when they do more construction projects in the campus core. Will they keep putting a damned construction road across Old Main lawn? Stupid, and short-sighted.
looks to me like an entry and an exit could be sought after on maple…
What a lousy solution, there are better and shorter routes to be had around the greenhouses near Mullins.
those of you demanding PLANNING from the “U of Pay” have high expectations.
Exhibit A: the AGR house (now an empty lot after this fraternity was forced to vacate during the semester).
Exhibit B: the Softball Field that became Parking that will become the Football Operations Building – all in a span of 5 years.
I am currently a student at the U of A, and I’m wondering how easy it’s going to be to recruit new students when we parade all of our freshman past a gravel road in the middle of our campus. I know I would run to one of the other SEC schools/Texas schools if I saw a gravel road across campus that was going to remain for 2+ years…I love the U of A and Fay, but this is a terrible idea.
There basically is a road that runs through campus already at Old Main circle! Why can’t they use it? The brick path runs in front of Old Main and Ozark hall and there is a huge sidewalk with plenty of grass between old main and ozark to do work. Seems to me like that plan wouldn’t ruin the elegance of Old Main’s lawn and brick wall.. Plus future Grads and Engaged students ALWAYS take photos in front of Old Main and putting a gravel road right and construction right in front will deprive those students of a very cherished memory to be had on campus.
Beyond stupid.
As an alum I understand the need for the road and realize that it is a temporary one. The construction planned for Ozark Hall and Vol Walker will be well worth the inconvenience and temporary sight of the road. When recruits see why the road is there they will understand, especially if they will be in one of the additions. As far as the comment made that it will cause permanent damage to some trees- got news for you- those trees are going to die some day anyway. That is what trees do. Any damage can and will be repaired and trees replanted. The idea of using Maple exclusively with all it’s many crosswalks would put more pedestrians at risk. There will be many spots for photo ops on the lawn including in front of Old Main- be creative. The gate is being paid for by private donations- the university is doing the right thing by not delaying it and possibly losing those donations.
nice try, U of Pay.
to paraphrase “thats what trees do, they EFFIN die!” … so why did everyone cry about them after the ice storm?
Get real, this is the University of Arkan$a$! Instead of trying to save money by having heavy equipment share the same walkways currently used by students and faculty, they’re building a decadent gravel road. Appallingly, they will spend even more money restoring the campus after construction is complete!
like they’re supposed to, since … you know… they charge students AND the state $$$$$$$$$$ for it.
all we’re asking for is proper planning.
seems like it’s too much for the boneheads at the “U of Pay”.
Hey Dan, which I highly doubt is your real name, surely you wouldn’t be one of the people involved in making the decision to build this road with you being a UA alum and all. U mad?
I’ve heard that only two trees will be removed for the construction of this temporary road. They are both dogwoods that received fairly extensive damage during the ice storm.
I’ve also heard that the portion of the retaining wall along Maple that will be removed for the construction entrance is being meticulously labled and numbered, so that it will be reconstructed exactly as it sits today.
The planning process for this construction on campus is EXTREMELY extensive. But this is true for any construction process.
I’m sure the path of the temporary drive was chosen because it is the most efficient route to the construction and future temporary equipment storage areas at Ozark Hall and Vol Walker.
Besides the potential liability of having construction going on near any pedestrian area (which is a terrrrrrible idea), most of the sidewalks (including the brick walk) on campus were not constructed to support the heavy equipment necessary during the construction process. Not to mention that there are also utility corridoors that run underground throughout campus that must be protected.
It looks like this plan will ensure that a proper and safe buffer exists between existing trees, existing utilities,pedestrians, and construction.
What’s the big deal?
The big deal is that they are starting this construction road just weeks after they tore up the existing “service road” behind Old Main to install a decorative gate.
The planning may be EXTREMELY extensive, but in this instance, it appears to have been conducted by idiots.
You should go put in your application at Facilities Management.
Sounds like you know your stuff!
Oh, you know a simple prole like me couldn’t possibly do such important and complicated work.
I would never have thought to put a construction drive through Old Main Lawn, for example.
To stop work on the gate area and pave over it would likely take less time and cost less than building this stupid road across the lawn. There’s so little accountability in the public sector that its really no surprise. Its not their money so why be smart about it?
So will this beautiful solution have a chain-link fence surrounding it to protect pedestrians?
Does the University plan on never doing heavy construction in the campus core again after these projects? If another project comes up, will they just build another construction road across the lawn? Can we look forward to this being something that is on the lawn 2 out of every 10 years into the future?
There’s evidence of planning here, but its very poor, short-sighted planning. What is it about this Pi Phi gate that requires such immediacy as to justiy defacing the front yard of the University for (at least) 2 years? Anybody got an explanation for that?
For a body that likes to wax poetic about the 1925 Master Plan, they sure have a flair for “anonymous box” 1960s architecture and lackadaisical planning. But hey, at least they’re arranging these abominations into quadrangles now! (sort of)
They could easily simply route the trucks from Dickson right through the central hallway of the Engineering building and out onto campus drive.
I love that building.
Thoughts from somebody who lives on Lafayette and has walked across Old Main Lawn hundreds of times
http://www.ozarkecho.com/?p=1337
The UofA’s instincts are never for preservation but for megabucks. That little gem on campus, Carnal Hall, wouldn’t be there if alums and citizens hadn’t pressured for it to be preserved and restored. And maybe 9 years ago there was a move to do away almost entirely with the Old Main lawn in favor of an enormous parking deck on it’s SE corner. I would bet there are already some plans afoot for using this project and the damage it will do as a rationale for carving away from the wonderful arboretum. Please, someone tell the Dali Lhama –I’ll bet he enjoyed a walk amg the trees during his stay at Carnal Hall.
The Greek Theater used to have a beautiful view off into the hills south of town. Now when you are in the Greek Theater looking at the stage, you see a big ugly parking garage.
I’d like to know exactly what the planning at U of A is striving for. They don’t seem to accomplish much of value. Seems about as good as no planning at all in my view. Just build buildings wherever and in whatever style is trendy at any given moment. “Git er dun”, even if it means building a gravel road across Old Main lawn.
Insult to injury, this road is in part going to be used to attach a big ugly modernist box onto the rear of Vol Walker Hall.
Wonderful planning, all around.
Here’s why we need that road for 2 years. This thing is going in the “Historic Core” of campus:
http://planning.uark.edu/campus_planning/construction_projects/volWalkerAddition.jpg
Another view:
http://www.marlonblackwell.com/assets/images/work/public/steven-l-anderson-design-center/sadc-one.jpg
Really consistent with the historic center of campus……
thats actually a good looking building……for some other part of campus…
Is that for real? What a monstrosity.
Well….I think you might be getting off track on why the road is needed but I agree that long range planning has not been the university’s strong suit. I do think that there is a recommittment to the master plan for the central part of campus although the power struggle over the Vol Walker addition went in the architecture department head’s favor. The renderings of that addition show a building that simply does not fit in with it’s environment. It’s looks better than the original design but will detract from the feel of place for that area of campus. Whether it is ego driven or a sincere attempt to contrast old and new styles will be up to future generations.
Regardless of the merits of the Vol Walker addition the temporary road seems the best solution for that construction and the new construction/ renovation of Ozark hall.
If it were up to me all future construction in the central part of campus would be in the Collegiate Gothic style. If the 1925 master plan had been followed faithfully the UA campus would be praised nationwide as an architectural gem.
Why WOULD the planners put up a ridiculously expensive gate and shut off the best route to new construction sites? They INTEND to do away with the Old Main arboretum. Its pretty obvious. Kiss it goodbye folks.
Let me show you the ACTUAL master plan.
1. It seems Ag Park and Engineering South are no longer realities. The notion of a split campus or leaving them as research sites is the now in place. (Any info on these is appreciated).
2. North: Cannot expand campus over the sorority houses and dormitories, thus more dormitories and greek housing is the only possibility. Too many expensive properties and commercial districts between Ag Park and campus (Harps, Strip Mall across from it, big property developers own apartments).
3. South: Fayetteville High School hates money and logic. The only expansions can be for the Business School (none soon, since it has 2 brand new buildings) especially after the parking deck and housing was added. Everything else will be hard competition with Fayetteville High School and will split up the campus (remember there is the graveyard there as well).
4. West: Expensive properties to the northwest. Impossible to purchase. Everything west of RRS and Track will only be used for athletics and thus, parking. See the AGR house situation, where this property was vacated and demolished with incredible haste (bear in mind, it took 2 months whereas the Pi Phi gate will take 2 years) and this lot is now unused. Only athletics.
5. East: New campus expansion. See Nanotechnology Building, Ozark renovation, and Engineering Hall renovation (scheduled soon) for evidence. More accessible $$$ on properties. Historic district can be bought out now that only high-rollers can afford the parking and WAC (U of A) situations. New buildings will be laid out on the Old Main Lawn. Top of Dickson Street will be bought out and used as a de facto Student Union with basic services, new U of A Bookstore (eventually), and restaurants (and perhaps a dining hall). Eventually expand until West Ave.
Benefits: WAC, Fayetteville Public Library, Trail and Wilson Park will be on the edge of the new campus.
Gebus, dude, while I hope you’re completely wrong, this makes a lot of sense from the POV of the idiots holding the power.
The U is always looking to purchase adjacent land. I imagine that another target area being the land east of the new parking garage all the way to Wilson Park.
There will never be anything new built on Old Main Lawn…well at least for another 25 years.
You are projecting 10000 times of the reality, none of that will ever happen. Everyone knows that the U of A will cap enrollment around 25,000 undergrads (this is a stated university plan). The U of A will never be UT or Ohio State, they will not grow too much larger than they are right now (<5000 away from 25000 currently).
Hey everyone, I’m organizing a sit in, we’re going to climb the trees and chain ourselves to them, while folks on the ground picket and demonstrate with banners and signs. The news will be there, You’ll probably get arrested but it’ll make national news and make the U of A look bad. Who’s with me?
all legit protests start via facebook bill.
then I guess it’s not a legit protest
Looks like UA caved to public pressure and is going to go another way. It still impacts the area of Old Main Lawn, but its not nearly as egregious:
http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2011/06/09/breaking-old-main-lawn-is-saved
No matter what, this is going to eff with people bike/foot commuting from the east. And before you say, “Just go around!”– when you’re already traveling slow, “just go around” makes a bigger difference.
I was hoping one positive to come out of this was that there would be some ADA accessible ramp put in on that side. Currently, the only way to get a wheelchair or bike (other than carrying it) up that side of campus is the Ella’s driveway.