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October 3 1977.

the other press page _

page 7

 

 

 

... these just prett

The downtown site could

possi be constructed quic-
er and cheaper for a number
of reasons. First, the down-
town site would require 60,000
less square feet because the
college‘s music and drama
department would share the
use of the performing arts
centre.

All future expansion space
for the college could be built
immediately, at present costs,
and leased until the time that
they are needed. “

At the downtown site, less
campus space would be need-
ed for ‘on campus’ services,
such as food services, pubs,
lighting and security. As the
college will be integrated with
the city these services will be
the responsibility of the city.
Which means lighting and
police service will be supplied
by New Westminster, with
commercial establishments
springing up near the campus
to meet the other needs.

The McBride Avenue site
would have to be self-suppor-
ting in all the amenities that
are offered at the city site. It is
presently planned to build a
theatre directly into the Mc-
Bride building, with the poss-
ibility of a pub to be studied.

The next major problem the
college faces is parking facili-
ties. The downtown site will
provide 600 underground
stalls, to service the approxi-

mately 8,000 students they
expect to attend the college.

However, BCDC feels as the
superior public transit system
which services the downtown,
as compared to the service
that presently services the
McBride area, make the nece-
ssity of more free parkin
space unwarrented. There will
be provisions for extra park-

ing, but they will be pay

‘facilities.

The McBride site has alloca-
ted approximately 10 acres of
land for the building of 1200
parking stalls. No inquiries
have Bech made into B.C.
Hydro’‘s willingness to reroute

-buses to service a new campus

at the McBride site.

A #wery important aspect of
the move is whether the
college can maintain a unique
image should it make the
downtown move; and will the
intimacy of college and busin-
ess create a desirable atmos-
phere.

- The GBA report says, ‘‘The

downtown site will increase
the college‘s visability in the
community, increase the pub-
lic‘s awareness of its pres-
ence, its operations, its staff
and students, thereby expos-

‘ing it to a more informed and

therefore more appreciative
public. ‘‘

The report also went on to

‘say that GBA felt the college’

atmosphere would be enri-
ched by the downtown setting
and the pedestrian and college
malls that are to be built.
Another major ppparseiey ct
the downtown site, according
to the report, is the chance for
students to get practical expe-
rience working in the surrou-
nding business community.
The report also says that
conflict between the commer-
cial community and that of the
college will not be great,
because they are both inter-
dependant of each other. The

education milieu will depend
on the increased services of a
healthy commercial commun-
ity, while the shop owners will
be depending on the majority
of their income from the
college community.

One thing is certain, though,
if Douglas College decides to
locate on the McBride site
(killing the redevelopment
plan for the city centre) the
ity will hold Douglas

     

 
   

 

College responsible for this
setback and not look favorably
on the college in the future.
Although no formal release
aas been made as to how
much it will cost to build a
campus on either of these
sites, the GBA report states
that the cost of a downtown
site would not exceed the cost
of the McBride site, and
possibly be less because of the
shared facilities with the city.

The funding for the project is
also in limbo for the moment.
However, a few weeks ago
Brahm Wiesman released a
report recommending $23 mi-
llion be spent by the govern-
ment on relocating Douglas
College to downtown New
Westminster. The report has
not been accepted as govern-
ment policy, but rumor has it
that the education department
is very warm towards its
recommendations.

  

The greatest inadequacy of
the Royal Avenue site is the
limited area available for rec-
re’.tion purposes. No land will
p< available for the construc-

:on of any type of fields or
.cacks. There will be the
vossibility of a gym facility for
such sports as gymnastics,
basketball, etc. with possibly
tennis courts and a jogging
track being built on the roof of
the college building.

‘Above BCDC architect’s interpetation of revamped ‘downtown core.
Below: Sketch plan of proposed McBride site for new campus.

The nearest other facility will
be thé YMCA, on 6th near
Royal. The YMCA offers a 25
meter pool, 2 gymnasiums
and seven recreation rooms.

The McBride site, on the
other hand, has the land
available to construct on the
site a 440 metre track enclos-
ing a soccer field. A separate
rugger or football field, and 8
tennis courts. Within a reaso-
nable travelling distance is the
Canada Games pool, curling
rink, and all the facilities of the
Queens Park area.

A diagram drawn up by GBA
consultants shows the appro-
ximate walking time from bodk
sites to the amenities. It is, at
best, a 15-20 minute walk to
all the facilities from the Royal
Avenue site, while only 5
minutes for the McBride site.

Approximately 150-175 stud-
ents would be directly affected
by this longer Gavellinr time

  
   
   

analysis |

pictures

to the facilities, said the GBA
-eport.

While in the Arts Department
‘pproximately 300 music and

.tama students would be aff-

cted, if the McBride site is
hosen, by the distance they
vould be from the proposed
.ew performing arts centre.

However, if the campus loc-
«es on the McBride site, the
vilege plans to construct its
“wn theatre, and therefore

 

‘Do you favour
the MacBride site?

would not be dependant on
the downtown performing arts
centre.

Student housing, the most
important aspect of the move,
was not studied at all by GBA
consultants. And only through
questioning of the project

irector Bob McIntyre did the

)ther Press find out anything

-ertaining to student housing.

The redevelopment plan

-oposes no low-cost housing,

» rental units to be construc-
d in the project, no dormito-

.es to be built and no student

ousing.

At present, the area to be
‘evamped offers low-cost
iwusing not only to students,

* but to those on fixed incomes

us well.

Should this redevelopment
scheme go ae these
areas will be gone, leaving no
living accomodations within
the reach of the students
strapped financial resources,
ot to mention those who are
in old-age pension and wel-
rare,

‘

[he only alternative to the
‘udent would be to move to
.€ out-lying areas such as
urrey, Richmond, Coquitlam
ut if you live in these areas

hy commute to New West-
“anster to attend college
«when there is a campus in
your own community.

‘that leaves only students
with parents who can afford
ie dwellings in the develop-
ment, and the mature student
who has managed to earn a
nundred thousand dollars, the
ypportunity to live in the
community where he attends
college.

While, on one hand, the
levelopers are saying they
vant Douglas College down-
own to relieve it of their
mmunity segregated image,
n the other hand, once they
‘t the college located down-
‘wn they wish to create an
‘test atmosphere having on-
those who are uent
living in the immediate vicini-
ry to supprot the complex, and
project the proper image.

What is happening to the
‘community’’ in community
college? What is happening to
the idea to give those, oe
iffluent the opportunity for a
uigher education.