Looks like they have started demolishing Blue Ridge Hall.

Brian

(05-16-2018 12:48 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  They need to fix the cameras, because I just looked at them and I don't see the Union Bank and Trust Center anywhere! Come on, JMU!!!!

(05-16-2018 02:26 PM)ParentofJMUMRDs Wrote:  Looks like they have started demolishing Blue Ridge Hall.

Brian

Look like? DEFINITELY have! Can only see it on the Sensera cam for those interested.

(05-16-2018 02:26 PM)ParentofJMUMRDs Wrote:  Looks like they have started demolishing Blue Ridge Hall.

Brian

Anyone know if that building was done on the cheap (on purpose)? A modern version of a temporary building? 20 years seems like such a short lifespan. Or was it just in the way?

I have often wondered what the building was used for?

Brian

(05-16-2018 05:48 PM)ParentofJMUMRDs Wrote:  I have often wondered what the building was used for?

Brian

it was a dorm.

(05-16-2018 05:49 PM)Jay M. Youix Wrote:  

(05-16-2018 05:48 PM)ParentofJMUMRDs Wrote:  I have often wondered what the building was used for?

Brian

it was a dorm.

It was many things over its life. A dorm, faculty offices, etc. It was built on the cheap as a response to a need created by larger than expected freshmen classes two decades ago during the last years of the Carrier administration. The use/acquition of the Howard Johnson Motel was contemporanious. The useful life of “Blue Ridge Hall” had expired some time ago.

Could have been worse. These tempos along the Mall in DC lasted 50 years from WWI till the Nixon administration. They were supposed to have a 15 year lifespan.

(05-16-2018 05:13 PM)olddawg Wrote:  

(05-16-2018 02:26 PM)ParentofJMUMRDs Wrote:  Looks like they have started demolishing Blue Ridge Hall.

Brian

Anyone know if that building was done on the cheap (on purpose)? A modern version of a temporary building? 20 years seems like such a short lifespan. Or was it just in the way?

If I recall correctly, it was pre-fabricated construction. They brought in sections that were pre-built and just connected them together. Entire building was put up in about a week.

(05-16-2018 07:42 PM)Top Dawg Wrote:  

(05-16-2018 05:13 PM)olddawg Wrote:  

(05-16-2018 02:26 PM)ParentofJMUMRDs Wrote:  Looks like they have started demolishing Blue Ridge Hall.

Brian

Anyone know if that building was done on the cheap (on purpose)? A modern version of a temporary building? 20 years seems like such a short lifespan. Or was it just in the way?

If I recall correctly, it was pre-fabricated construction. They brought in sections that were pre-built and just connected them together. Entire building was put up in about a week.

That sounds right. And I seem to recall Bill Neff (the local developer) built it, and then leased it back to JMU because JMU didn't have the $$ to do it. Then somewhere along the line title was transferred to JMU.

Ugly ass building. It won't be missed. That entire area is going to be so sweet when the new arena is completed.

On a related note, front page story in the DNR yesterday about JMU potentially selling 50+ acres down South Main (between S. Main and 81), land acquired at one time for the new arena. The speculation is the land will be sold to the City of Harrisonburg for the city's second High School. Asking price is $5 million.

(05-16-2018 12:48 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  They need to fix the cameras, because I just looked at them and I don't see the Union Bank and Trust Center anywhere! Come on, JMU!!!!

When you're struggling to figure out how many suites you're going to have, you can't exactly just drop an arena in via a helicopter. It doesn't work that way!

Did you guys see the stunning announcement today in the DNR?

Quote:5/18/18 - JMU Announces Unprecedented Amenities for UBaTC

Jeff Bourne announced today that JMU would actually be constructing over 75 suites in the Union Bank and Trust Center. "I would like to congratulate our team in the Duke Club Office" said Bourne. "They have worked around the clock, and we are excited to announce that we have secured contracts for all of the suites in the new facility". Previous renderings have included a conspicuous gold wall along one of the sidelines of the facility. The announcement took some fans by surprise.

JMU broke ground for the Union Bank and Trust Center in April. Harrisonburg residents have noticed activity at the construction site has ramped up over the last week with the demolition of two buildings. Asst. AD for Athletic Communications Kevin Warner said that community members will see changes to the landscape as workers prepare the site for construction. "Yeah we gotta move a lotta dirt and dig a big hole so we can build all these sweet suites!" said Warner.

Online community members have been confused over the last week about the number of suites slated for construction, but today's announcement cleared all of that. The DNR attempted to contact HartFoundation, and Dukeman2 for comment. HartFoundation issued the following statement: "I cannot understand why JMU needs this many suites for such a small time venue. Does HCLR still work here? Why?" Dukeman2 ignored our request for comment and instead offered some inane statistic about former peer Appalachian State University, then proceeded to talk about Old Dominion University with regard to JMU's athletic spending.

The Union Bank and Trust Center is expected to open in August 2020.
-Staff reports

Pic from the article



I counted 76 in the rendering... but I may be off by a few.

(05-17-2018 11:26 PM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  Did you guys see the stunning announcement today in the DNR?

Quote:5/18/18 - JMU Announces Unprecedented Amenities for UBaTC

Jeff Bourne announced today that JMU would actually be constructing over 75 suites in the Union Bank and Trust Center. "I would like to congratulate our team in the Duke Club Office" said Bourne. "They have worked around the clock, and we are excited to announce that we have secured contracts for all of the suites in the new facility". Previous renderings have included a conspicuous gold wall along one of the sidelines of the facility. The announcement took some fans by surprise.

JMU broke ground for the Union Bank and Trust Center in April. Harrisonburg residents have noticed activity at the construction site has ramped up over the last week with the demolition of two buildings. Asst. AD for Athletic Communications Kevin Warner said that community members will see changes to the landscape as workers prepare the site for construction. "Yeah we gotta move a lotta dirt and dig a big hole so we can build all these sweet suites!" said Warner.

Online community members have been confused over the last week about the number of suites slated for construction, but today's announcement cleared all of that. The DNR attempted to contact HartFoundation, and Dukeman2 for comment. HartFoundation issued the following statement: "I cannot understand why JMU needs this many suites for such a small time venue. Does HCLR still work here? Why?" Dukeman2 ignored our request for comment and instead offered some inane statistic about former peer Appalachian State University, then proceeded to talk about Old Dominion University with regard to JMU's athletic spending.

The Union Bank and Trust Center is expected to open in August 2020.
-Staff reports

Pic from the article



I counted 76 in the rendering... but I may be off by a few.

Blue Ridge Hall is coming down quickly. Gonna be a lot of large and heavy trucks motoring up and down University Boulevard the next few months I imagine.

Brian

Deez I'm dying.

I didn't notice it before, but how much does the assessed value of the adjacent commercial real estate benefit from the arena being built? It seems like the restaurants would benefit from increased food traffic during major events.

Cinnamon Bear about to blow up.

(05-18-2018 02:14 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  Cinnamon Bear about to blow up.

They'll never have cinnamon buns in stock again. JMU is ruining Harrisonburg!

(05-20-2018 05:12 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  I'm really excited about the Union Bank & Trust Center, but I'm really nervous about having to put a tarp on the upper deck for basketball games. I can't envision filling out 8,500 seats in a one bid league.

This is a good topic from DoubleDDuke that has been touched on a few times as we have waited for the new arena project. The nugget regarding tarps over the upper deck is circulating around the Spring Tour stops. I agree that 8,500 is way too big for JMU’s needs. It seems that capacity should be dialed back and reallocate money to other things in the arena.

If you don’t build a church for the Christmas and Easter crowds, then you don’t build an arena for the JMU vs UVA max crowd. The Harrisonburg market is just way too small to justify an 8,500 seating capacity.

Harrisonburg is growing fairly quickly. Having an arena half the size of the JPJ is not over building. VCU went too small with theirs and for years has missed out on a lot of ticket revenue. The difference between 6500 and 8500 seats isn’t much of a cost savings as the overall square footage of the building doesn’t change nor does the infrastructure.

This building isn’t being built for basketball alone.

(05-20-2018 10:23 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  

(05-20-2018 05:12 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  I'm really excited about the Union Bank & Trust Center, but I'm really nervous about having to put a tarp on the upper deck for basketball games. I can't envision filling out 8,500 seats in a one bid league.

This is a good topic from DoubleDDuke that has been touched on a few times as we have waited for the new arena project. The nugget regarding tarps over the upper deck is circulating around the Spring Tour stops. I agree that 8,500 is way too big for JMU’s needs. It seems that capacity should be dialed back and reallocate money to other things in the arena.

If you don’t build a church for the Christmas and Easter crowds, then you don’t build an arena for the JMU vs UVA max crowd. The Harrisonburg market is just way too small to justify an 8,500 seating capacity.

This is also a multi-purpose center, not just a basketball arena. If built correctly, they'll be able to use at least 2/3 for concerts and such that can return solid revenue and be a HUGE perk for students and community members. Right now our ~7k seat Convo can only hold a little over 3k for concerts because it's set us very poorly for that. If they can fit 6k in the new arena for a concert, that means you can either cut ticket prices in half or bring an artist that costs twice as much, which takes you into tier 2 artists instead of just tier 3 (usually only large football stadiums and such get tier 1 for $1+ million).