Comments on: Dorm-Oriented Development (The Future of Urban Shopping Centers?) http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2009/07/16/dorm-oriented-development-the-future-of-urban-shopping-centers/ Championing Urban Life In The Cream City Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:04:53 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jeff Jordan http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2009/07/16/dorm-oriented-development-the-future-of-urban-shopping-centers/comment-page-1/#comment-26037 Jeff Jordan Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:30:42 +0000 http://urbanmilwaukee.com/?p=2468#comment-26037 I will concede the representation of the success of Kenilworh Square. I think the student who commented before me, said it all. Small numbers of mature students, building a community in a truly urban environment can be a formula for success. I would bet that police calls for problems in this area are few. The turnover is slower because the students will stay for a couple of years in the same place. I note with interest the writer sites the advantages of being away from campus and the need for transportation. These two points seem to be counter to those who opposed putting students downtown. Stating they would not be part of the campus and campus life. This writer seems to have no problem. We will have to wait and see about how Riverview and Cambridge work out for the students, the neighborhoods and the University. I will concede the representation of the success of Kenilworh Square. I think the student who commented before me, said it all. Small numbers of mature students, building a community in a truly urban environment can be a formula for success. I would bet that police calls for problems in this area are few. The turnover is slower because the students will stay for a couple of years in the same place.
I note with interest the writer sites the advantages of being away from campus and the need for transportation. These two points seem to be counter to those who opposed putting students downtown. Stating they would not be part of the campus and campus life. This writer seems to have no problem.
We will have to wait and see about how Riverview and Cambridge work out for the students, the neighborhoods and the University.

]]> By: Mike Doyle http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2009/07/16/dorm-oriented-development-the-future-of-urban-shopping-centers/comment-page-1/#comment-26008 Mike Doyle Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:24:29 +0000 http://urbanmilwaukee.com/?p=2468#comment-26008 The successful model of what you term here "Dorm-Oriented Development" (I love that!) has been part of the revitalizing force in Chicago's Loop and South Loop for the past 10 years. The thousands of students who now live in several wisely urbane (mixed-use, to-the-curb, transit-friendly) dorm buildings and towers developed by the Art Institute and Columbia College, especially, scattered along State Street and Wabash Avenue have helped turn downtown Chicago into a late-night pedestrian zone--and have helped attract restaurants and retailers, and helped to keep them open later and on the weekend. The DODs were actually the base that gave downtown Chicago (south of River North, that is) condo developments and redevelopments an edge--together they develop a sort of critical mass. Now, after working hours Monday-Friday, on an evening walk through the Loop you don't just encounter theater-headed tourists, but also lots (lots) of students and other neighborhood locals--like me. The successful model of what you term here “Dorm-Oriented Development” (I love that!) has been part of the revitalizing force in Chicago’s Loop and South Loop for the past 10 years. The thousands of students who now live in several wisely urbane (mixed-use, to-the-curb, transit-friendly) dorm buildings and towers developed by the Art Institute and Columbia College, especially, scattered along State Street and Wabash Avenue have helped turn downtown Chicago into a late-night pedestrian zone–and have helped attract restaurants and retailers, and helped to keep them open later and on the weekend.

The DODs were actually the base that gave downtown Chicago (south of River North, that is) condo developments and redevelopments an edge–together they develop a sort of critical mass. Now, after working hours Monday-Friday, on an evening walk through the Loop you don’t just encounter theater-headed tourists, but also lots (lots) of students and other neighborhood locals–like me.

]]> By: L. Hogan http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2009/07/16/dorm-oriented-development-the-future-of-urban-shopping-centers/comment-page-1/#comment-25968 L. Hogan Fri, 17 Jul 2009 03:28:58 +0000 http://urbanmilwaukee.com/?p=2468#comment-25968 I live in Kenilworth Square, and I think what really makes the development work is that it isn't a traditional dorm. It's more like apartments where the university is the landlord, and its designed for juniors, seniors, grad students and older students. My friends are surprised that my "single dorm room" is 12'x10' with a 12'+ high ceiling, and that I have a spacious bathroom and decent sized kitchen that I only have to share with one other person. One major perk of the Kenilworth location is its proximity to three bus routes that go to UWM as well as downtown, Bayshore and the 3rd Ward. Also, Kenilworth is located relatively far (about one mile) from the main campus. I actually like this, as it makes me feel more like a member of the community living in the city, and not just a student shut up in a dorm room on a campus island. If a development like Kenilworth was on the Kenwood campus, I don't think it would be as successful in a more student occupied area. It also seems like Kenilworth residents take advantage of the benefits of Milwaukee more than Riverview or Sandburg residents, who rely on the university and their dorm friends for entertainment and their day to day needs. For example, Riverview/Sandburg residents are required to have a meal plan, but a meal plan isn't even an option for Kenilworth residents so we are more likely to go out to eat, order a pizza from Toppers, or buy groceries from Whole Foods or Pick and Save to cook in our own kitchens. Riverview students are more likely to use the university shuttle whereas people in Kenilworth are more independent and more likely to take the bus, walk or ride bikes to campus. There is definitely a bike culture among Kenilworth residents and it is easy to live without a car. Riverview is more of a traditional dorm for freshman and it has more of the traditional, isolated feel. I'm not sure, but this isolation could be intentional on the part of the university either to provide a more secure setting for the younger students or to isolate them from the people in the community who might complain. I know that visitors have to be signed in to Riverview after a certain time, but at Kenilworth, residents are responsible for their guests and don't sign them in. The CAs don't babysit us in Kenilworth like they do in Riverview. I would bet that we are behaviorally more mature and less annoying than Riverview people to people in the community. Because I'm 19, my parents wanted me to live in university housing so I chose to live in Kenilworth rather than a traditional dorm and I love my decision. I feel like an independent person and not just a student! I guess what I'm trying to communicate through this story is that the success of the Kenilworth development is in part due to its location in a more urban, pedestrian-friendly area where students and people of the general population mix, and the more independent type of people who live in Kenilworth. I live in Kenilworth Square, and I think what really makes the development work is that it isn’t a traditional dorm. It’s more like apartments where the university is the landlord, and its designed for juniors, seniors, grad students and older students. My friends are surprised that my “single dorm room” is 12′x10′ with a 12′+ high ceiling, and that I have a spacious bathroom and decent sized kitchen that I only have to share with one other person. One major perk of the Kenilworth location is its proximity to three bus routes that go to UWM as well as downtown, Bayshore and the 3rd Ward. Also, Kenilworth is located relatively far (about one mile) from the main campus. I actually like this, as it makes me feel more like a member of the community living in the city, and not just a student shut up in a dorm room on a campus island. If a development like Kenilworth was on the Kenwood campus, I don’t think it would be as successful in a more student occupied area. It also seems like Kenilworth residents take advantage of the benefits of Milwaukee more than Riverview or Sandburg residents, who rely on the university and their dorm friends for entertainment and their day to day needs. For example, Riverview/Sandburg residents are required to have a meal plan, but a meal plan isn’t even an option for Kenilworth residents so we are more likely to go out to eat, order a pizza from Toppers, or buy groceries from Whole Foods or Pick and Save to cook in our own kitchens. Riverview students are more likely to use the university shuttle whereas people in Kenilworth are more independent and more likely to take the bus, walk or ride bikes to campus. There is definitely a bike culture among Kenilworth residents and it is easy to live without a car.

Riverview is more of a traditional dorm for freshman and it has more of the traditional, isolated feel. I’m not sure, but this isolation could be intentional on the part of the university either to provide a more secure setting for the younger students or to isolate them from the people in the community who might complain. I know that visitors have to be signed in to Riverview after a certain time, but at Kenilworth, residents are responsible for their guests and don’t sign them in. The CAs don’t babysit us in Kenilworth like they do in Riverview. I would bet that we are behaviorally more mature and less annoying than Riverview people to people in the community. Because I’m 19, my parents wanted me to live in university housing so I chose to live in Kenilworth rather than a traditional dorm and I love my decision. I feel like an independent person and not just a student! I guess what I’m trying to communicate through this story is that the success of the Kenilworth development is in part due to its location in a more urban, pedestrian-friendly area where students and people of the general population mix, and the more independent type of people who live in Kenilworth.

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