SOUTH CAMPUS UPDATE


The South Campus Task Force met Tuesday January 19, 1999 at the University
Center in the Signal Mountain room.  Pursuant to facilitating
communications and attempting to enable everyone to be informed, the
following summary of the meeting is provided.

· Update on Property - Thirty-one (31) parcels including, twenty-three (23)
owners comprise the remaining land to be purchased by the U.C. Foundation.
No property owner was interested in making property a gift to UTC.
Twenty-eight (28) parcels have been recommended to the U.C. Foundation for
appraisal. The appraisals are expected to be completed sometime in March.
The next step will be to approach the owners regarding possible purchase.
As a reminder, the property must first be acquired by the U.C. Foundation.
Second, the university (UTC) must take steps through the UT System for two
appraisals required by the state Building Commission to be completed before
acquiring the property for expansion.

· Parking - Randy Whitson gave examples of parking at other campuses, i.e.
Vanderbilt that supports multiple functions at different times of the day,
such as fast food restaurants and distance learning classrooms. 

Tom Dugan of CARTA has written the Chancellor regarding parking. Mr. Dugan
would like to see any expansion/development of UTC not to include
additional parking but initiate some form of a transit system. Follow up
with Mr. Duggan will take place. 

· Two Way Traffic - McCallie Ave and M.L King Blvd-Juliette Thornton
reported on the two-way traffic study recently conducted by consultants for
the city. The M.L King Task Force recently sent a letter to the Mayor which
spells out the Task Force's recommendation to convert streets, McCallie and
M. L King Boulevard, to two way traffic from Georgia Avenue to Central
Avenue and retain parking on M. L King Blvd. The Mayor has taken the
recommendation under advisement according to Mrs. Thornton.  As with all
items, it will have to be approved on the third reading by the City Council
before any action can be taken. Mrs. Thornton briefly discussed how traffic
moving into downtown (McCallie) in one direction and moving out of downtown
(MLK Blvd.) in another direction has impacted the district. The Task Force
recommendation takes into consideration  (1) improving the economic impact
on the MLK business district; (2) safety/reducing speed; (3) improving the
neighborhood and considering UTC's expansion. (Chancellor Stacy has also
sent a letter to the Mayor recommending McCallie Avenue become two-way again.)

· Partnering with the Chattanooga Institute- Councilman David Crockett
attended the meeting and complimented the group effort that UTC is
undertaking with campus expansion plans. Crockett said one thing that has
worked well for the city's growth in recent years is bringing in experts.
Approximately 300 persons from the American Institute of Architects, Green
Building Council, and the Urban Land Institute will be in Chattanooga for a
conference October 13-17. Crockett believes the South Campus expansion
could serve as a "real working project" on issues such as parking,
streetscape, use of the abandoned railroad right of way etc. for the group,
which would include "the best thinkers and best practitioners in the
country." Volunteers were called for who would be willing to serve on a
committee that would describe the site location and conditions as well as
formulate questions for the conference work group.  (This partnership would
not delay planning initiatives underway with the RM Plan Group and Urban
Collage Inc. Information gained from the conference group would be
instructive as the university's expansion evolves).

· Single Student Housing- Currently the approval of an architect is being
considered by the State Building Commission.  An early appointment is
essential to occupancy in the Fall of 2001.

· Community Outreach Services- Tim Summerlin and Galan Janeksela were
present regarding the HUD proposal for the community outreach facility. The
proposal will be resubmitted for grant funding. The outreach initiative
includes the following: 

Political Science Dept., Athletics Dept., School of Social and Community
Services, School of Business, College of Education, College of Engineering,
Center of Excellence for Computer Applications, Financial Aid And Student
Affairs, School of Nursing, Center for Applied Social Research, Biological
and Environmental Sciences. 

Richard Brown reported that the Community Development Office of the city
has been requested to allow an architectural study to be made of the
buildings in the 600 block of M.L.K. (gray buildings) and the Solar Energy
Building (TVA).  The purpose of the study is to determine the feasibility
of these facilities for the proposed outreach services.  The M.L King
Community Development Corporation owns the Solar Energy Building (TVA).

· Greeks- Fraternity and other specialty housing adjacent to the abandoned
railroad right of way was briefly discussed. Other areas under
consideration for fraternities/sororities include property next to the
Challenger Center.

· Partnering with M. L King District and Community- continuing to plan the
university's expansion across McCallie Avenue our working partnership will
involve a planning meeting Tuesday February 9, 1999 at the Central City
Complex. Twenty-five invitations have been sent to people most affected by
the expansion. A representative from Urban Collage will help us in the
planning session.  An open invitation to the community to attend a meeting
Tuesday March 23, 1999 at the Central City Complex is another important
initiative as we continue our partnership. 

· South Campus Means…

Persons attending were asked to give impressions of what  "South Campus"
means to them. Everyone was reminded of the two guiding principles.  

1. A campus should be a complete microcosm of the community with a wide
variety of activities, uses and people with a focus on higher education and
learning.

2.   The special identity of our city should be matched by the special
identity of its university.

They also were asked to think about the various ideas that have been
suggested (refer to summary of first meeting) as well as the ultimate
impact short term and long range relative to the university, M. L King
District and the City of Chattanooga. Based on the preceding each person
was requested to identify and write keywords that would describe what South
Campus means by UTC moving across McCallie. This information will be used
as a basis to describe "South Campus" functionally leading ultimately to a
qualitative description.  If you would like to make a contribution in this
regard please submit your "keywords" via e-mail to [log in to unmask] 

Please contact any Co-Chair or Task Force member if you have questions or
ideas.
Co-Chairs: Juliette Thornton - 755-0022; Richard Brown - 755-4525; John
Schaerer - 667-1211 or 785-2245

Next Meeting- Thursday March 11, 1999 @ 3:00 in the Chickamauga Room of the
University Center.