HomeMy WebLinkAboutUNIVERSITY CENTER PUD (UNIVERSITY MALL REDEVELOPMENT) - FINAL - 2-96A - CORRESPONDENCE - CITIZEN COMMUNICATION (5)Dan Gould
623 West Mountain Ave.
Fort Collins, CO 80521
June 10, 1996
Planning and Zoning Board
City of Fort Collins
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Dear P&Z Board Members;
Concerning the review of the redevelopment plans for the University Mall:
The redevelopment plan for this project represents an opportunity for integrated planning
of an important central Fort Collins district. CSU is beginning a South Campus Plan that
will include the area of the Centre for Advanced Technology and the Veterinary Teaching
Hospital. There will be a variety of new activities in this area including a Federal Center
and the Argus Center for the study of the human - animal bond.
It is possible that an outlying CSU parking facility will be located northwest of the
University Mall at some time as well. CSU married student housing and the University
Park Holiday Inn are also within walking distance of the University Mall. The closest
supermarket for students living in married students housing is the King Soopers in the
Mall. Some of these students walk to King Soopers along a relatively inhospitable
pedestrian route, the Bay Farm road on the CSU south campus and then access the Mall
from the west side.
It is likely that this area will become the source of many new activities and will begin to
function as a district. With this future in mind it is unfortunate that there seems to be no
provision for pedestrian and bicycle access for potential Mall customers from the west
side as the south campus area develops. The Mall could be a great pedestrian or bicycle
destination for Federal Center and Veterinary Teaching Hospital personnel and clients,
University Park Holiday Inn guests and CSU students in University housing or using
outlying parking.
Another important potential factor is the development of a Mason Street Transit Corridor.
Considering the present use pattern of upper Mason Street (Maple to Laurel) as a model
multiuse comdor, it would be practical to develop a transit corridor for mass transit,
pedestrians, and bicycle transportation. This can be the solution for coping with the future
limitations on College Avenue mobility and access as automobile congestion increases. A
transit corridor parallel to College Ave. will be necessary to facilitate access for all the
important activities along College Ave.
With the evolution of these developments, it is lamentable that the present University Mall
redevelopment plans call for a design that is so "cut off' from the surrounding area.
Is there not some means of envisioning and planning for the emerging, larger district within
which the University Mall functions?
T nks for the consideration
Dan Gould