ASU Goes Downtown

ASU Goes Downtown
By Mel Melendez
The Arizona Republic


Central Phoenix resident Agnes Yond, 25, recently sat sipping a latte with a friend at the Arizona Center Starbucks.

It was a tranquil setting, with most of the outside tables vacant that Friday afternoon.

But it likely won't stay that way long. Arizona State University students start classes Monday at the new Downtown Phoenix campus.

"I don't think having the campus in the heart of downtown is a good thing," Yond said. "It's going to make things so crowded. I envision so many problems."

But those backing the multimillion-dollar venture say the benefits of having a top university downtown will far outweigh any negatives.

The urban campus fits in with the city's multibillion-dollar downtown redevelopment effort that includes the light-rail system, hotels, retail space, condominiums, townhouses, university buildings and down the road a University of Arizona medical school, supporters say.

"I think having the school here is a great thing," said Yond's friend, Erica Dyer, 27. "The situation down here now is pretty sad. There's nothing going on in the evening. I think that will definitely change now."

Change in the wind

The new urban campus is expected to draw new jobs, businesses and housing to downtown, increase internship opportunities for ASU students and attract more pedestrians to existing downtown businesses, city officials believe.

"This is such an incredible opportunity for our city," said Mayor Phil Gordon. "If this campus was a private venture, every other city would be chasing it right now because the economic development implications are huge."

About 5,000 students are expected Monday when ASU launches its downtown expansion. Courses will be offered at three locations: the ASU Mercado at Fifth and Van Buren streets, the 411 building at Central Avenue and Polk Street , and the Park Place building at Fillmore and Third streets.

The campus which eventually will sprawl over 20 acres from Van Buren Street on the south to Fillmore and Pierce streets on the north, and from Second and Third streets on the east to First Avenue on the west - opens with a nursing school, the College of Public Programs and the University College.

"We're very excited about the university being here," said Arizona Center business owner Jayne Buckner of Cardware and Jayne's Market Place. "That should definitely be good for business. But it's also going to make things more vibrant downtown, which benefits everybody."

Arizona voters seem to agree. In March they approved an $878.5 million bond package that included $220 million for ASU's fourth campus and related projects.

Campus in transition

Formerly an ASU annex, the Downtown Phoenix campus will have about 2,500 full-time students when classes begin. But officials hope to turn the mostly "commuter campus" into a more traditional university with permanent living quarters to serve about 15,000 students by 2015.

They're now negotiating with a Virginia-based developer to build permanent student housing for at least 700 students by fall 2008. That year, ASU Downtown Phoenix will expand the nursing college, pay for a student union and public park, and relocate the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and Channel 8 (KAET) studios from the Tempe campus. The starter light-rail line will also will be unveiled.

"In five years time, downtown Phoenix will have undergone a dramatic change for the better," said Mernoy Harrison, vice president and provost of the downtown campus. "We're thrilled to be partners with the city to help that vision come to fruition."

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