A controversial proposed expansion of the University of Arizona’s Honors College, including a 1,000-bed dorm, is moving forward despite protests from nearby residents and concerns about the legality of the proposal.
UA officials met with area residents twice last week, offering an overview of the plan to build a six-story building that would span an entire city block between East Drachman and Mabel streets and North Fremont and Santa Rita avenues, north of East Speedway.
The land where the dorm is proposed is owned by American Campus Communities and is outside the official campus boundaries. ACC, based near Austin, Texas, is one of the nation’s largest developers of student housing communities .
A two-hour meeting Monday on campus had more than 80 people attend, mostly nearby residents who were visibly upset and often alluded to previous disputes with the university expanding into their neighborhoods.
University officials said a second meeting held the following night was less confrontational.
Peter Dourlein, the campus architect for the university, said those attending the second meeting offered suggestions on ways to change the project’s physical dimensions that could help alleviate some of their concerns.
In addition to the 1,000-bed dorm building, plans include multi-story buildings for classrooms, office space, a recreation center and a four-story parking garage to be built on the adjacent block between North Park and Fremont avenues.
The university is also considering demolishing several buildings along Park between Drachman and Adams streets, and putting in surface lots to offer additional parking.
The neighborhood now consists of homes, apartments catering to students, university parking lots and vacant land.
Currently, many UA students who are part of the Honors College live in residence halls close to Euclid Avenue and Sixth Street. The UA said there are more than 4,000 students enrolled in the Honors College.
Many frustrated residents said they are weighing their options, legal and political, and were concerned there was little information coming from the university about the proposal.
Some said they hoped the university’s presumed new president, Dr. Robert Robbins, will weigh in on the proposal and work with the neighborhoods.
On Monday night, former City Councilwoman Molly McKasson said she hoped the Tucson City Council would find a way to stop the project, which does not have to abide by city zoning codes, including when it comes to building heights, density and parking requirements.
As of now, the university does not have a formal agreement with the ACC for the project, currently known as a memorandum of understanding.
Councilman Steve Kozachik, who is also a university employee, said the UA has worked hard in the past to establish good rapport with the surrounding neighborhoods and that he hopes the school works with residents over their concerns.
On Friday, Dourlein confirmed he and other university officials are continuing to meet with ACC to discuss plans for the project. He expects that the university will hold more public meetings in about two weeks.
