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We are coming up on the planned end of phase 2 of the Transformed KSU master plan does anyone have an update on what has been completed so far? Is the website up to date?

I know the business building and Aeronautics building are currently being built but outside of that has anything been done?

https://www.kent.edu/a-transformed-ksu

Nope, not much else.

One of their ideals is to have a closer link with the community, and to further that goal, they've been bulldozing houses in the College Avenue community.

One pet peeve on my side - they've made the big plaza at the west end of the Esplanade. Now, with all the famous plazas in Europe and other places, the focus isn't on the plaza itself, but the things around it. With Kent State, they need to be told...if you have a plaza next to a vacant lot, all you have is more vacant lot. If you have a plaza next to a parking lot? You have nothing really, just empty space.

Looking at the master plan you have linked, they're about halfway done with the "Phase 1: 2018-2020" work. The former Art Building has become the "Innovation Hub - Dining Hall", that seems nice. They had 2 parking decks on their plan (East of the new Business building, West of Slinkin street, plus another pictured on their 'Phase 2' image) - I see their Phase 1 page has "Parking Deck - Canceled" - I don't know which one(s) were cancelled.

I imagine the timelines got skewed due to the pandemic.

The additional to the aeronautics building is looking great from the outside. I think it's supposed to be ready for the Fall semester.

The new business building is coming along nicely. I was in the old business building a few times last year and generally agree that it needed to be upgraded (very 60s architecture with tight halls and spaces).

The Ice Arena is being worked on right now.

I personally have my doubts that parking garages are needed, but I'll have commuting kids this semester so I'll know based on their complaints.

I've been wondering if their intention is to reopen Verder or tear it down. Tear it down is in the plan, but the housing website said it would reopen in Fall 24.

For the plaza, I think it would be nice to have some activities there. For example, the outdoor skating rink that they put downtown might work nicely there.

(08-09-2023 08:00 AM)Slinkin Street Flash Wrote:  Nope, not much else.

One of their ideals is to have a closer link with the community, and to further that goal, they've been bulldozing houses in the College Avenue community.

One pet peeve on my side - they've made the big plaza at the west end of the Esplanade. Now, with all the famous plazas in Europe and other places, the focus isn't on the plaza itself, but the things around it. With Kent State, they need to be told...if you have a plaza next to a vacant lot, all you have is more vacant lot. If you have a plaza next to a parking lot? You have nothing really, just empty space.

To be fair, and the probably isn't the intent, but stumbling home along the plaza/esplande after a bar crawl sounds safer than stumbling up 59.

(08-17-2023 01:20 PM)AlphaFlash Wrote:  

(08-09-2023 08:00 AM)Slinkin Street Flash Wrote:  Nope, not much else.

One of their ideals is to have a closer link with the community, and to further that goal, they've been bulldozing houses in the College Avenue community.

One pet peeve on my side - they've made the big plaza at the west end of the Esplanade. Now, with all the famous plazas in Europe and other places, the focus isn't on the plaza itself, but the things around it. With Kent State, they need to be told...if you have a plaza next to a vacant lot, all you have is more vacant lot. If you have a plaza next to a parking lot? You have nothing really, just empty space.

To be fair, and the probably isn't the intent, but stumbling home along the plaza/esplande after a bar crawl sounds safer than stumbling up 59.

There's still plenty of that too.

(08-18-2023 08:11 PM)bopol Wrote:  

(08-17-2023 01:20 PM)AlphaFlash Wrote:  

(08-09-2023 08:00 AM)Slinkin Street Flash Wrote:  Nope, not much else.

One of their ideals is to have a closer link with the community, and to further that goal, they've been bulldozing houses in the College Avenue community.

One pet peeve on my side - they've made the big plaza at the west end of the Esplanade. Now, with all the famous plazas in Europe and other places, the focus isn't on the plaza itself, but the things around it. With Kent State, they need to be told...if you have a plaza next to a vacant lot, all you have is more vacant lot. If you have a plaza next to a parking lot? You have nothing really, just empty space.

To be fair, and the probably isn't the intent, but stumbling home along the plaza/esplande after a bar crawl sounds safer than stumbling up 59.

There's still plenty of that too.

Having the Esplanade back in the 70's would have made my trek back from the Town House & Blind Owl much easier.

The esplanade seems like the perfect place to do a wizard of Oz spoof promo video.