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WMU to unveil final designs for South Neighborhood Master Plan

https://wwmt.com/news/local/wmu-to-unvei...aster-plan

WMU website with a few more images. The renderings look amazing
https://wmich.edu/capitalprojects/southmasterplan
There appears to be an athletics/recreation building in front of UA. New practice facility???

I'll check it later (I enjoy spending time on WMU's construction project site), but I thought they announced this a long time ago? I know renderings of the new student center were online, as well as survey feedback.

This has been on WOOD TV and WZZM morning and evening news today, although they incorrectly said Elmwood Apartments will get taken down (They've been torn down all school year)

Looks good. That part of campus was really showing it's age.

But... RIP French hall :-(

Is that a new hockey rink I see in the lower left corner?

All the parking west of UA is gone including the handicap spots. Gonna impact the old geezers that show for basketball. Parking to the east of UA currently requires a $500.00 donation. They show a hotel and "welcome center". Don't see parking for those either. Maybe it will be south of the circle road?

I like the idea of a fresh view from Stadium Drive.

(11-30-2018 11:54 AM)YooperWMU Wrote:  Is that a new hockey rink I see in the lower left corner?

Wait a minute.... that sure as hell isn't Lawson...

It also looks like there might be soccer fields or something where the current Lawson lot is.

(11-30-2018 12:55 PM)Dirty Ernie Wrote:  All the parking west of UA is gone including the handicap spots. Gonna impact the old geezers that show for basketball. Parking to the east of UA currently requires a $500.00 donation. They show a hotel and "welcome center". Don't see parking for those either. Maybe it will be south of the circle road?

I like the idea of a fresh view from Stadium Drive.

It looks like there will be a parking ramp where the parking lot west of UA is located.

This is what the new student housing project could look like.
https://wmich.edu/capitalprojects/southhousing

1.) A hotel on campus? Weird.

2.) Yes it does look like there's a box-shape (rather than being flat) next to Read that's colored parking, so maybe it is a parking structure. The concept art at the very bottom of the link, right across from Read, it does look like a parking structure. But either way, I don't think that's enough for the Arena, all those new dorms, the hotel, the student center, etc...................

3.) Also boxes next to Read and the Rec Center colored athletics, so wondering if finally getting practice facility to help the basketball, volleyball, and track teams?

4.) Wonder what exactly the purpose of the Welcome Center is?

4.) Not sure if a lot of that housing is needed. Valleys, the dorms by Bernhard, and all the campus apartments provide plenty of on-campus housing. (Many of the dorms and on-campus apartments were nowhere near full capacity when I was a student 4 years ago) I'd rather nix a couple of the planned dorms and put parking or greenery.

5.) Like the green space in-between the Rec/Read and the new dorms.

6.) Wow, this section's going to look totally different!

(11-30-2018 03:53 PM)SilentStryk09 Wrote:  It also looks like there might be soccer fields or something where the current Lawson lot is.

I think that's just the parking lot, but maybe.

(11-30-2018 05:50 PM)BaldingBroncoFan Wrote:  This is what the new student housing project could look like.
https://wmich.edu/capitalprojects/southhousing

So when the planned dorms are down, the only remaining old-school dorms will be Valley I and Valley II. Weird..........

Indeed, dang it, I've actually been parking in front of French, to the west of Read Fieldhouse, for weekend football games and basketball games. Great place to park where they don't ticket on the weekends and you don't have to pay to park in those lots. Guess those days are over.

The original schedule was to replace Valley three in 2019 and Valley two and one in subsequent years, but our new president felt the older area by Elmwood Apartments would be better area to start. So the valley will fall at a later time.

Ambitious plan, looks great. However, it will probably be scaled way back when it's time to raise funds. I like the idea of bringing more private investment to campus (mixed use, hotel, more retail, etc)

(12-02-2018 07:34 AM)GRBRONCO Wrote:  Ambitious plan, looks great. However, it will probably be scaled way back when it's time to raise funds. I like the idea of bringing more private investment to campus (mixed use, hotel, more retail, etc)

The rumor is private sit-down type of restaurant in the new student center.

My guess is it'll be made cheaply. (Have heard that the new Western Heights apartments and new Sangren were made cheaply)

(12-01-2018 06:13 PM)Bronco68 Wrote:  The original schedule was to replace Valley three in 2019 and Valley two and one in subsequent years, but our new president felt the older area by Elmwood Apartments would be better area to start. So the valley will fall at a later time.

I heard that Montgomery really wanted to increase the aesthetics of the University along Stadium Drive. Make it more visually impactful to visitors and prospective students.

A hotel/conference center is long overdue.

(12-02-2018 12:48 PM)flushtheherd Wrote:  

(12-01-2018 06:13 PM)Bronco68 Wrote:  The original schedule was to replace Valley three in 2019 and Valley two and one in subsequent years, but our new president felt the older area by Elmwood Apartments would be better area to start. So the valley will fall at a later time.

I heard that Montgomery really wanted to increase the aesthetics of the University along Stadium Drive. Make it more visually impactful to visitors and prospective students.

That IS the first sight of Western for many folks approaching campus on Stadium Drive. It has been an eyesore for many decades.

(12-03-2018 09:49 AM)broncofan1 Wrote:  A hotel/conference center is long overdue.

Isn't Fetzer the conference center?

(12-04-2018 07:01 PM)Bronco14 Wrote:  

(12-03-2018 09:49 AM)broncofan1 Wrote:  A hotel/conference center is long overdue.

Isn't Fetzer the conference center?

Not big enough, and no overnight accommodations.