City Council hears details of DePauw campus projects

Friday, February 22, 2019

While DePauw University wants the City of Greencastle to close College Avenue between Hanna and Olive streets, that’s only one piece of an ambitious project that will radically change the south end of the campus over the next five years.

“A lot of dominoes are part of this, not just the closing of College Street,” Mayor Bill Dory said Thursday night before introducing Warren Whitesell, associate vice president of facilities management at DePauw, who guided city officials through a two-hour look at how the project might unfold.

Whitesell was joined for his appearance before a work session of the City Council -- where no decisions and no promises were made -- by engineer Jennifer Lash of Cripe Engineering, Indianapolis, the firm that has undertaken the DePauw capital projects plan. No additional property is being acquired by the university for these projects.

“The foremost thing people will see,” Whitesell began, will be a new 150-bed, first-year student dormitory to be built at the southwest corner of Locust and Olive streets, a site currently occupied by a parking lot for Humbert Hall.

It is to be the first phase of a project that will then see Hogate Hall (at Locust and Howard streets) razed and replaced by another new dorm. Following the Hogate demolition, Humbert Hall and Bishop Roberts Hall will see the same fate. After they are taken down and replaced, Longden Hall will meet its demise.

The project will take five buildings in which first-year students currently reside and replace them with four four-story structures, resulting in a first-year dormitory capacity of 650 students that exceeds the current 560-580 limit.

“There’s a host of things this is doing for us,” Whitesell said, noting the DPU project will “create a more cohesive and connected campus community.”

In building facilities that are attractive and sustainable, Whitesell said DePauw hopes to provide an “experience of distinction” for its first-year students.

The five-year project also includes the extension of Burkhart Walk, the pedestrian corridor that currently runs north and south between Seminary and Hanna street. DePauw is asking the city to close the portion of College Avenue between Hanna and Olive to accommodate that extension. That closure would eliminate 22 parking spaces along South College.

As usual with any DePauw facilities project, parking was one issue on city officials’ minds. Whitesell tried to alleviate those fears by noting that once the entire project is complete, the campus will see an overall net gain in parking spaces. It’s getting there, however, that has city officials concerned.

After all, when construction begins this summer on the first dorm (due to be completed in time for classes in fall 2020), it will eliminate the 42 spaces in the Humbert Hall lot.

To help compensate for that loss, DePauw plans to expand the parking lot south of Hogate Hall that borders the old Delta Chi house property on South Locust.

Once all construction is complete, College Street Hall (the old Lambda Chi house at College and Olive) is scheduled to be demolished and turned into a parking lot to serve the Performing Arts Center and the Lilly Center. Its current 31 spots will become 116 when the building is taken down.

Whitesell said the “grand scheme” has been to remove College Street Hall as part of the fifth and final phase of the project, allowing it to serve as “emergency swing space” for student housing while the other dorms are under construction.

However, to allay public fears over exacerbating campus parking problems, Councilman Gary Lemon was blunt about the proposed DPU timetable.

“The College Street Hall parking lot needs to be the first thing, not the last thing,” he stressed.

Councilman Dave Murray agreed.

“You need to find a way to bring College Street Hall down first,” he said, alluding to a need to provide additional parking in the area during construction.

Council President Adam Cohen said he would like to see “some type of assurance” that additional off-street parking spaces are indeed coming. “Otherwise,” he said, “all that PAC (Performing Arts Center) stuff is still in the neighborhood.”

Whitesell indicated DePauw may guide some students to the athletic field parking lots, calling it a “cell phone concept” with student parking west of Jackson Street, several blocks from their housing.

“That’s been proposed to us before,” Cohen responded, adding simply, “it’s not going to happen.”

Lemon agreed.

“I know my students,” the DePauw economics professor said. “If this were IU, they’d be happy to park within a half-mile. But at DePauw, half a block is too far.”

DePauw also plans to widen Olive Street as part of the project to allow for parking along both sides of the street and to accommodate buses like the ones that bring the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and other entertainment acts or sport teams to town. To do so, it will extend the street south into what is now sidewalk and green space on DPU property.

What some city officials would like to see the university do with Olive Street is to extend the street west to connect with South Jackson Street, cutting through the adjacent parking lot where there are already islands and curbing or by following the maintenance access road near its physical plant.

“I would like to see the maintenance road made into a full-fledged street to take Olive all the way out to Jackson,” Councilman Steve Fields said, later adding that he was concerned about people living along South College Avenue, south of Olive, and how it might be difficult for them to navigate the drive toward the downtown if and when College is closed.

“I like the idea of taking Olive all the way over to Jackson,” Councilman Murray agreed.

“And DePauw would be paying for the new road?” City Attorney Laurie Hardwick asked.

“That’s not in the plan right now,” Whitesell responded.

Council President Cohen, who resides on Park Street in the area in question and knows he can already cut through to Jackson Street, wasn’t optimistic about the extension idea.

“Realistically, I don’t see that happening,” he said, worried that allowing another access onto an already dangerous and congested area of South Jackson would be imprudent.

Mayor Dory noted that there is already a route through the DePauw parking lot that can be followed from Olive to Jackson.

Lash noted that the project will extend and expand Olive over to South Indiana Street, which is now a two-way street that can provide a northbound route in that area.

She also noted that the preliminary utility work, particularly along South Locust Street where new heating and chiller lines will be run under the street, will be done first and likely begin at the end of April.

The request to close College Avenue, meanwhile, will require action at two City Council meetings, one with a public hearing and first reading on vacating the roadway and a second meeting to adopt the street vacation. That could possibly start at the March meeting (7 p.m. Thursday, March 14) if the project can be legally advertised in time. Second reading could then occur in April.

“The only thing we’re asking you for is permission,” Whitesell said, indicating that all the utilities work and road construction would be at DePauw’s cost.

Councilman Lemon asked what the city might gain from all of it.

“I’m John Q. Public and I know it’s good for DePauw,” he said. “What’s in it for the city?”

Besides a net increase in off-street parking in the campus area, Whitesell said a new storm sewer put in by DePauw will assist the city with remedying flooding issues in the Hanna, College and Indiana street area and improve stormwater management.

The proposed storm sewer work is “a significant investment” by DePauw, the mayor agreed.

“I don’t see any detriment,” Whitesell added in reference to the overall project.

Lemon noted that when the city closed the section of College Avenue between Hanna and Seminary streets back in the 1990s, it was accompanied by a $100,000 donation by DePauw to the city.

“The public says, ‘Where’s my money?’” Lemon said. “‘You’re buying land from me.’

“I’m Jerry Maguire,” he added to chuckles at the notion of a “Show-me-the-money”chant. “I don’t want to hear ‘It’s coming’ or the ‘Check’s in the mail.’”

City Attorney Hardwick reminded the Council that the city is not selling the land but vacating the property, which would be divided among property owners along either side (DePauw in both cases).

Mayor Dory said he has sent a letter to DePauw President Mark McCoy asking for “a significant contribution” toward the new pumper fire truck the city will get this fall and the future purchase of a new aerial truck. Usually, he noted, things like that have to go before the DPU Board of Trustees.

Cohen said he would like to see a figure disclosed before the City Council is asked to vote on the street closure.

“Oh, it’s got to come before,” Lemon stressed, suggesting the potential donation number be made known if possible by March 1.

“Just for clarity,” Mayor Dory noted, other businesses and citizens have asked for street closings or alley vacations in the past. And none of them has ever been asked to donate money because of it.

“That we do nothing to hurt city residents trumps everything else for me,” Councilman Cohen said.

No action was taken on the subject at the work session Thursday. Whether or not the matter will be on the Council’s March agenda depends on complying with the proper legal advertising deadlines.

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  • With DePauw employees sitting on the City Counsel, any decision on these matters involves a conflict of interest by those employees. The ethical thing to do is abstain from discussing and voting on these matters by the councilmen that are employed by the University.

    -- Posted by rawinger on Sat, Feb 23, 2019, at 8:09 AM
  • Sorry, don’t agree with you RAWINGER. When they ran and were elected, it was known they had an affiliation with DPU. Abstaining is a chicken way out, especially in an election year. They need to represent the people that elected them. That’s why they are there.

    While we are talking about safety on Jackson Street, PLEASE consider put a sign on stop signs at intersection of Jackson and Hanna, indicating cross traffic on Jackson does not stop. It is not a 4 way stop. I have seen several near accidents by visitors making their way towards the athletic fields that think it’s a 4 way stop, probably because the previous intersections on Hanna were 4 way. A simple and inexpensive solution. Thanks!

    -- Posted by 3m50 on Sat, Feb 23, 2019, at 8:58 AM
  • A 4-way stop at Hanna and Jackson is badly needed because the 20 mph limit on Jackson is unrealistic. This would slow down traffic and make it safer for pedestrians to cross Jackson. We have 4-way stops all over town at intersections with much less traffic. City officials have avoided making it a 4-way stop for years, saying no one would get used to it and keep running the new stop sign. Just put in the signs and pavement markings, change the limit to 30 and get on with it.

    -- Posted by Ben Dover on Sat, Feb 23, 2019, at 9:39 AM
  • I don’t like the idea of the city council holding DePauw hostage over this issue. The council is going to wait and see how much the university gives the city before voting on the street closing issue. Doesn’t do much for town gown relations that had been improving. I haven’t seen the council hold out on deciding tax abatements for factories based upon them making a donation to the city. If you are going to bargain, bargain that the street closure comes after all new construction and parking lots are done. This would ensure adequate parking throughout.

    I tire of those who constantly complain about properties taken off of the tax base by the university. Few talk about the number employed by the university who are all paying local and state income tax and most are also paying property taxes as most are homeowners.

    Don’t make this issue bigger than it is. It’s about closing 1 block that is not a thoroughfare. How many of you even remember when the entire length of south college was open? It has little effect on any city residents, but has a great effect upon the aesthetics and safety of the campus.

    These are trying times for colleges. DePauw is trying to make it easier to attract students, which is in everyone’s best interest. If DePauw goes away we would see a significant drop in population, tax base, and income level as most employees would have no reason to remain in the area. It is in the best interest of DePauw and therefore Greencastle that this be approved.

    -- Posted by 3m50 on Sat, Feb 23, 2019, at 4:08 PM
  • A growing city will always have growing pains.

    -- Posted by kubotafan on Sat, Feb 23, 2019, at 6:19 PM
  • Ah, a rather provocative post from 3m50. If DPU is not going to be around, then there's even less reason to close the street.

    The City is prudent to wait to learn of the amount of the donation DPU can produce. Not only did DPU provide a donation for the last street vacating, but DPU customarily pays the city a fee for Fire Protection in lieu of property tax.

    Factory tax abatements come with performance requirements. No, they are not asked to offer a donation. The local government offers an inducement for the jobs to be brought to the area. If the jobs are not created, the factory typically is required to pay the taxes which were offered to be abated.

    Many DPU employees live in other jurisdictions where they pay their property taxes. Any residence property taxes in the city would hardly offset the cost to the city to provide fire and police protection to the large number of student residents and the large buildings on campus.

    The delay is a requirement of posting the notices and the hearings. Still, if DPU is struggling, then, what's the hurry?

    And, I don't doubt it is true. Our population under 18 has fallen throughout the US and online college degrees are a great option.

    -- Posted by letspulltogether on Sun, Feb 24, 2019, at 12:11 PM
  • Yes sassy lass if the university closed there would be no point in closing College. But, it certainly is not in the best interest of the city for that to happen. If closing a one block section of a non thoroughfare helps DePauw, then the city would be very short sighted not to approve it.

    Yes, the last time a university street was closed DePauw made a substantial donation to the purchase of an aerial fire truck, but if my memory is correct that was offered to the city, not demanded by the city in return for the street closure.

    The university has a history of giving back generously to the community. There is no reason to believe that won’t continue. It’s called trust between the two. That’s what makes communiversity work.

    -- Posted by 3m50 on Sun, Feb 24, 2019, at 1:35 PM
  • I am going to go back to my question on the other thread. Is closing this street going to hurt the residents of the city. If not I see no reason to deny them the request. All the other stuff is kind of fluff. The article was great but at least for me, it is not about DePauw giving money to the fire department or not. It is simply about is this going to hurt the citizens of the town or help them. Yes, the fire truck came up and so did the building of new dorms. But in the end, this is simply a request to close a street.

    A few quick clarifications, again not related to closing College Street.

    DePauw has given money before for fire trucks. But it does not pay a fee in lew of taxes for fire protection. (That I am aware of.) Please remember our full-time fire department while very important to DePauw is also very critical to many industries here in town and on the outskirts of town. Having a full-time fire department along with a full-time and fully staffed police department make this a better place for everyone. We would have those if DePauw was here or not. But they are expensive

    I think the delay question on the public hearing was more a procedural one. We are required to post a legal notice and everyone wanted to make sure that we had time to do. I would encourage anyone with thoughts to come to the public hearing.

    Again if people have direct thoughts on how this might hurt the city please let me know 765.721.3168. To date, the only people that have talked to me live on COllege and they do not seem to care.

    One last point if we close the street DePauw will be taking over some of the city lines under the street and saving us money we can use in other parts of the city.

    I do plan on voting on this issue. I do not plan on abstaining unless I am told I am in conflict with some state law.

    -- Posted by Adam Cohen on Sun, Feb 24, 2019, at 10:46 PM
  • So now you decide you are going to vote and not abstain, doesn't have anything to do with this being your election year, right?

    -- Posted by Falcon9 on Mon, Feb 25, 2019, at 8:52 AM
  • The easiest thing for an elected official to do in an election year on a potentially controversial subject would be to abstain from voting. For example, remember Obama voting 'present' all the time in the Illinois Senate?

    -- Posted by gustave&zelma on Mon, Feb 25, 2019, at 11:49 PM
  • Thank you for putting signs on the stop signs on Hanna at intersection of Jackson, indicating through traffic does not stop.

    Quickly done & greatly appreciated!

    -- Posted by 3m50 on Wed, Feb 27, 2019, at 2:54 PM
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