The University presented the South Lawn Project to the Charlottesville Planning Commission at City Hall yesterday. David Neuman, University architect, and Edward Ayers, dean of the College of Arts & Sciences, spoke on the progress of the project to members of the Commission, as well as city councilmen.
The purpose of the project is primarily to increase the overall area that will be used by College students, Ayers said.
Ayers said there is currently a 300,000 square foot space deficit for a school of the universities size.
"This is catching up for growth that has already happened," he said.
Ashley Cooper, the neighborhood planner for the city, discussed the recommendations made by the Department of Neighborhood Development Services.
The bulk of the recommendations that Cooper was referring to concerned adequate pedestrian crossings and access ways.
"I want to look at it from the pedestrians' point of view," Cooper said.
She said that in order to prevent students from dangerously crossing the street, signaled crosswalks should be implemented at the intersection of JPA and Emmet Street.
"The major feature that we need to figure out...is the pedestrian crossing at the JPA intersection," said Cooper.
Michael Farruggio, planning commission member, emphasized that the north side of JPA needs improvements in regards to pedestrian access as well, such as a sidewalk stretching from Hospital Dr. to the intersection of JPA and Emmet street.
Adding a sidewalk at that location "is a very very critical element," said Farruggio.
Neuman said most of the north side would have a sidewalk; the intersection of JPA and Emmet, however, was off site and outside of the plan.
Furthermore, Neuman said that an additional sidewalk was not included in the budget for the plan. Because the sidewalk is off site, it would be too expensive for the University to accommodate.
There is "a limit to how much money we can put into off site improvements," Neuman said.
He also said building a sidewalk there would require a retaining wall, which would be even more expensive.
Neuman said building that sidewalk "would be worthwhile, [but] it's just a question of who pays for it."
Neuman said the University and the city should discuss the project, separate from the South Lawn Plan.
Additionally, Farruggio said the "under bridge experience" needed to be more detailed. He said the atmosphere needed to be "airy and bright."
Gildersleeve Road resident Eugene Foster said the University has worked extremely well with the public throughout the project.
"If that continues, I think things will work out very well," Foster said.
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