November 16, 2009

Welcome to “College Town, UTA”

UT Arlington, a commuter school? Not much anymore. District 5 City Council member Lana Wolff says a number of students may still drive to the sprawling campus of 28,000, but this is “certainly not the UTA of yesterday.”

Wolff and university officials are banking on UT Arlington becoming a vital partner with the City of Arlington to create a Downtown/University District that’s an intellectual, cultural and economic hub that balances the traditional college town with new business growth.

The launch of UT Arlington’s community outreach initiative, “College Town, UTA,” is a first step in that direction. The vision aligns with plans to revitalize a downtown that blends existing performing and visual art venues, historic neighborhoods, libraries, parks, retailers and restaurants with the school’s vast research center, popular planetarium and soon-to-be constructed special events center and mixed-use retail/residential structure.

The $73 million, 190,000 square-foot special event center will sit between South Center and South Pecan streets on West Second Stree and host Maverick basketball and volleyball as well as convocations, commencements, concerts, speakers, conferences and other events. It is expected to open in the spring of 2012 with a seating capacity of 6,500.

Construction of a $67 million mixed-use residence hall will follow. The project includes 1,800 parking spaces on four levels to support the events center and living space for about 450 students. The building will include retail and office space at the ground level, a University police satellite office and a plaza.
With a population well over 300,000, Arlington isn’t the typical college town anymore. But as UTA Communications and Community Relations Associate Vice President Amy Schultz points out, “A college town is more than just geography.”

“What we want Arlington residents to know about us is that we’ve got a cool re-emerging downtown with a big university supporting that effort,” she said.
“This is a huge treasure,” said Wolff. “Those who live at the edge of a college campus love going on campus. It’s well-manicured, safe and has good educational and cultural opportunities. It’s just a magnet for people who want to live around a university.”

Part of the “College Town, UTA” initiative is providing people with information to make them feel included, said Schultz. Newsletters will be mailed twice a year and feature specific campus projects, programs and dates for events like the Maverick Speaker Series. The web site provides information on UT Arlington topics of interest to neighbors, including construction updates, public events, resources, discounts, partnership opportunities and children’s programming.

“I like what I see so far,” said Brandon Conner, whose home is within walking distance of the university. “It finally feels like the neighborhood will be taken into account with what they are trying to do.”

That’s the idea, said Schultz. “We want residents to feel that we’re an accessible, open place,” she said. “That we have the welcome mat out for them.”