http://www.dnronline.com/article/jmu_demolition

Set to be demolished in May.

The comments section is amazing. So many people mad about a building that used to be a motel 15+ years ago being torn down.

(04-02-2015 09:35 PM)Bawlmer Duke Wrote:  The comments section is amazing. So many people mad about a building that used to be a motel 15+ years ago being torn down.

Good times were had in that motel too.

(04-02-2015 09:35 PM)Bawlmer Duke Wrote:  The comments section is amazing. So many people mad about a building that used to be a motel 15+ years ago being torn down.

If JMU wouldn't have bought it over a decade ago it would have been torn down back then...

Even when it was a motel, it housed students from the late 70's on up to when JMU purchased it.

The 2 or 3 remaining houses on South main street between Grace Street and MLK will be coming town this summer too to make way for the hotel & conference center.

(04-03-2015 08:27 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  The 2 or 3 remaining houses on South main street between Grace Street and MLK will be coming town this summer too to make way for the hotel & conference center.

Assuming you mean on the quad side of Main Street? I wonder how long it will be before the other side of main street between Grace and MLK is wiped out...

(04-03-2015 11:09 AM)Dukes86 Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 08:27 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  The 2 or 3 remaining houses on South main street between Grace Street and MLK will be coming town this summer too to make way for the hotel & conference center.

Assuming you mean on the quad side of Main Street? I wonder how long it will be before the other side of main street between Grace and MLK is wiped out...

I am led to understand that JMU has already acquired those properties..but haven't heard a squeak about what is planned opposite and facing the entry drive and front of the Madison Hotel. My guess is small retail shops and eateries?

(04-03-2015 11:15 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 11:09 AM)Dukes86 Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 08:27 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  The 2 or 3 remaining houses on South main street between Grace Street and MLK will be coming town this summer too to make way for the hotel & conference center.

Assuming you mean on the quad side of Main Street? I wonder how long it will be before the other side of main street between Grace and MLK is wiped out...

I am led to understand that JMU has already acquired those properties..but haven't heard a squeak about what is planned opposite and facing the entry drive and front of the Madison Hotel. My guess is small retail shops and eateries?

I would assume it would be bad mojo for the hotel to be facing partying frat houses in the fall and spring. The big (formerly) white stucco style house could actually be really cool if cleaned up, but in its current condition it's pretty gross. The one next to it should come down yesterday.

(04-03-2015 11:19 AM)Dukes86 Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 11:15 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 11:09 AM)Dukes86 Wrote:  

(04-03-2015 08:27 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  The 2 or 3 remaining houses on South main street between Grace Street and MLK will be coming town this summer too to make way for the hotel & conference center.

Assuming you mean on the quad side of Main Street? I wonder how long it will be before the other side of main street between Grace and MLK is wiped out...

I am led to understand that JMU has already acquired those properties..but haven't heard a squeak about what is planned opposite and facing the entry drive and front of the Madison Hotel. My guess is small retail shops and eateries?

I would assume it would be bad mojo for the hotel to be facing partying frat houses in the fall and spring. The big (formerly) white stucco style house could actually be really cool if cleaned up, but in its current condition it's pretty gross. The one next to it should come down yesterday.

Yes, JMU and it's hotel partner is not going to allow the "Animal House" look to exist. I wouldn't be surprised to see them gone by the time the hotel/conference center opens.

Of the property bordered by MLK, S Main, E Grace, & Walnut Ln (bordering the new dorm), JMU only owns one parcel facing Grace Street... at least as it's currently published by the City. Any property acquisition would likely be noted in the BOV minutes. Wouldn't be surprised to see the S Main properties start to pop up on those a couple at a time.

Probably not to much fanfare, but there is a scheduled BOV meeting next Friday. I don't expect any big announcements, but ya never know. Probably more to come out after the June 5 meeting (a little closer to Hazed action date of 6/30/15).

Stopped by campus while I was up this weekend to check things out. The old RMH/new Student Success Center is amazing. It's seriously top-notch and brought in a lot of disparate departments from Warren, Wilson, Health Center, and maybe another building or two and put them all under one room. The Bluestone addition really makes it feel like part of campus and the inside is super nice.

Was FINALLY able to stop by Duke and check that out after its reno/additions. I really, really liked it. As an art major, Duke and the Studio Center blew as housing for students who were majoring in any type of visual design. Plus, it was a terrible use of space. The new digs are a HUGE upgrade. Unfortunately, it looks like they've dropped all 3d animation classes...without those classes I wouldn't have come to JMU. Sad for me on a personal level if they've fully done away with it and I didn't just miss seeing it.

I also heard rumors over the weekend that they're possibly tearing down the Days Inn/Outpost and putting in a 6-lane road going up to the Convo. I doubt they'd bother even thinking about doing that if the new one was going anywhere other than on University Blvd somewhere.

There's a movement to redesign two Interstate 81 interchanges at 245 and 247... a couple options on the 245 redesign call for razing Days Inn, Outpost, a couple gas stations... and i'm no traffic engineer but to me the presented options are absurd. I feel like I could come up with something better in MS Paint.

http://www.hrvampo.org/MPO-Web/DesktopDe...?tabid=167

Gotcha, that must be why the person I heard it from was rather pissed about it... Thanks for the link and info.

(04-06-2015 07:35 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  There's a movement to redesign two Interstate 81 interchanges at 245 and 247... a couple options on the 245 redesign call for razing Days Inn, Outpost, a couple gas stations... and i'm no traffic engineer but to me the presented options are absurd. I feel like I could come up with something better in MS Paint.

http://www.hrvampo.org/MPO-Web/DesktopDe...?tabid=167

Regarding Exit 247: First is seems like a total waste to do the option they are considering. However, the option they looked at, referred to as Single Point Urbadn Exchange, works really well down here in Charlotte. We have at least three of those and they really move traffic. However, it would take the building of a completely new and very wide bridge over 81. The option they show as a Diverging Diamond is a piece of crap. We have two of those and they are a stupid engineering design that cause less experienced drivers nothing but a headache and are very accident prone. I see no reason for the option to link Market Street with Reservoir Street.

I'm sure their concern about the Single Point design is due to the expense of a new bridge and what it will do to traffic during construction, but that is the long term best solution for that exit.

As for Exit 245 - Port Republic Rd. - That is going to be a tough one, and no matter the improvement, someone is not going to be happy. Is that really that bad of an intersection except for events? Its been many years since I lived there and had to travel across that bridge for a daily commute so I have little perspective.

(04-06-2015 10:11 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 07:35 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  There's a movement to redesign two Interstate 81 interchanges at 245 and 247... a couple options on the 245 redesign call for razing Days Inn, Outpost, a couple gas stations... and i'm no traffic engineer but to me the presented options are absurd. I feel like I could come up with something better in MS Paint.

http://www.hrvampo.org/MPO-Web/DesktopDe...?tabid=167

Regarding Exit 247: First is seems like a total waste to do the option they are considering. However, the option they looked at, referred to as Single Point Urbadn Exchange, works really well down here in Charlotte. We have at least three of those and they really move traffic. However, it would take the building of a completely new and very wide bridge over 81. The option they show as a Diverging Diamond is a piece of crap. We have two of those and they are a stupid engineering design that cause less experienced drivers nothing but a headache and are very accident prone. I see no reason for the option to link Market Street with Reservoir Street.

I'm sure their concern about the Single Point design is due to the expense of a new bridge and what it will do to traffic during construction, but that is the long term best solution for that exit.

As for Exit 245 - Port Republic Rd. - That is going to be a tough one, and no matter the improvement, someone is not going to be happy. Is that really that bad of an intersection except for events? Its been many years since I lived there and had to travel across that bridge for a daily commute so I have little perspective.

YES!!!! I refuse to drive Port for any reason if it can be helped. from the top of the hill at 865 to JMU takes 15-20 minutes at times, there were times when I rode the bus I would get off at the top of the hill and walk the rest of the way AND BEAT THE BUS TO CLASS in Showker. All those lights in such a short span + the sheer volume makes it horrible.

(04-06-2015 10:31 AM)CISDuke2014 Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 10:11 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 07:35 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  There's a movement to redesign two Interstate 81 interchanges at 245 and 247... a couple options on the 245 redesign call for razing Days Inn, Outpost, a couple gas stations... and i'm no traffic engineer but to me the presented options are absurd. I feel like I could come up with something better in MS Paint.

http://www.hrvampo.org/MPO-Web/DesktopDe...?tabid=167

Regarding Exit 247: First is seems like a total waste to do the option they are considering. However, the option they looked at, referred to as Single Point Urbadn Exchange, works really well down here in Charlotte. We have at least three of those and they really move traffic. However, it would take the building of a completely new and very wide bridge over 81. The option they show as a Diverging Diamond is a piece of crap. We have two of those and they are a stupid engineering design that cause less experienced drivers nothing but a headache and are very accident prone. I see no reason for the option to link Market Street with Reservoir Street.

I'm sure their concern about the Single Point design is due to the expense of a new bridge and what it will do to traffic during construction, but that is the long term best solution for that exit.

As for Exit 245 - Port Republic Rd. - That is going to be a tough one, and no matter the improvement, someone is not going to be happy. Is that really that bad of an intersection except for events? Its been many years since I lived there and had to travel across that bridge for a daily commute so I have little perspective.

YES!!!! I refuse to drive Port for any reason if it can be helped. from the top of the hill at 865 to JMU takes 15-20 minutes at times, there were times when I rode the bus I would get off at the top of the hill and walk the rest of the way AND BEAT THE BUS TO CLASS in Showker. All those lights in such a short span + the sheer volume makes it horrible.

I don't see how changing the intersection will help the problem as you describe. Most of the lights will still be there no matter what they do. The problem is that it needs a massive overhaul and I don't see the money, necessary to make the corrections, being available. The things they are planning does not eliminate lights, as it almost looks like more of them. Those alternatives just make the area appear to be more organized without accomplishing much.

(04-06-2015 11:05 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 10:31 AM)CISDuke2014 Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 10:11 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(04-06-2015 07:35 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  There's a movement to redesign two Interstate 81 interchanges at 245 and 247... a couple options on the 245 redesign call for razing Days Inn, Outpost, a couple gas stations... and i'm no traffic engineer but to me the presented options are absurd. I feel like I could come up with something better in MS Paint.

http://www.hrvampo.org/MPO-Web/DesktopDe...?tabid=167

Regarding Exit 247: First is seems like a total waste to do the option they are considering. However, the option they looked at, referred to as Single Point Urbadn Exchange, works really well down here in Charlotte. We have at least three of those and they really move traffic. However, it would take the building of a completely new and very wide bridge over 81. The option they show as a Diverging Diamond is a piece of crap. We have two of those and they are a stupid engineering design that cause less experienced drivers nothing but a headache and are very accident prone. I see no reason for the option to link Market Street with Reservoir Street.

I'm sure their concern about the Single Point design is due to the expense of a new bridge and what it will do to traffic during construction, but that is the long term best solution for that exit.

As for Exit 245 - Port Republic Rd. - That is going to be a tough one, and no matter the improvement, someone is not going to be happy. Is that really that bad of an intersection except for events? Its been many years since I lived there and had to travel across that bridge for a daily commute so I have little perspective.

YES!!!! I refuse to drive Port for any reason if it can be helped. from the top of the hill at 865 to JMU takes 15-20 minutes at times, there were times when I rode the bus I would get off at the top of the hill and walk the rest of the way AND BEAT THE BUS TO CLASS in Showker. All those lights in such a short span + the sheer volume makes it horrible.

I don't see how changing the intersection will help the problem as you describe. Most of the lights will still be there no matter what they do. The problem is that it needs a massive overhaul and I don't see the money, necessary to make the corrections, being available. The things they are planning does not eliminate lights, as it almost looks like more of them. Those alternatives just make the area appear to be more organized without accomplishing much.

Give the Exit 245 diagram another look. If I am interpreting it correctly, the Xs are the existing exits/on-ramps that will no longer exist. Without the ramps, there will obviously be no need for the traffic lights that currently exist there. I think they are proposing to remove the two sets of traffic lights that are closest to I-81, as well as the light in front of the Outpost Bookstore, and replacing them with an enlarged intersection in front of the JMU entrance and a relocated/enlarged intersection to the east of the current Outpost/Days Inn intersection. I think there will be 2 traffic lights instead of 4.

Yeah, it would cost a small fortune, but these projects always do. I agree with CIS - this is a horrendously bad stretch of road. Fixing it will cause much pain and suffering, but the sooner the better.

I find port rd to only be a disaster at 5pm on thursdays, fridays, and about 745am every weekday. Outside of that I usually pass through easily and I run that stretch almost daily. One man's opinion. There's room for improvement.

Deez there's definitely easy times and I don't live downtown or in the port area so I don't travel it on a regular basis, but it just seems to be a hangup 90% of the time I go through. However, like you said just one man's opinion. Now Reservoir where I live is a nightmare almost all the time at my intersection since there isn't a light there. THANK GOD they are finally starting the widening project this summer.