Wednesday, January 30, 2008
The Oread Inn will face more opposition tonight, this time from students. Student Senate is voting tonight on a resolution that would oppose the construction the Inn.
The Inn, which would be built at 12th and Indiana streets, would replace the building that housed the Crossing and Beat the Bookstore, which is in the process of moving to a new location.
Contributed photo
Student Senate is voting tonight on a resolution to oppose the building of the Oread Inn. The Inn, if passed, will be built at 12th and Indiana streets in the location of the Crossing and Beat the Bookstore.
Sam Schlageck, fine arts senator, wrote the bill after speaking with many students who voiced concern about the construction project.
“I didn’t want to see students forced out of the neighborhood,” Schlageck said.
Schlageck said the project would raise property values in the area surrounding the hotel, which is called the “student ghetto.” He said he thought police would be in the area more often as well.
“Students don’t go to sleep at 10 p.m. on weekends,” Schlageck said.
Tom Cox, a holdover senator, co—authored the bill. He said that he and Schlageck had been talking about the resolution for a long time.
“How many students are able to do something?” Cox said.
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Rachael Barnes, community affairs director, said that property values in the area would go up regardless of what was built in the area, so that was not a big problem. She also said the hotel would be a good place for alumni to stay.
Katie Wiley, junior-senior CLAS senator, supports the resolution. She said that in addition to the raised property values and noise complaints, the project was not a student-friendly building. She said any stores or restaurants inside the hotel would likely be priced outside students’ price range.
Wiley said another argument against the hotel was that the developers are asking the city for $10 million in funds for improvements of the surrounding area. If approved, the money would be used to improve lighting and the streets around the hotel.
The improvements around the hotel were one reason Rachael Barnes, community affairs director, supports the construction.
“I feel like it’s going to be a positive addition to the neighborhood,” Barnes said.
She said that property values in the area would go up regardless of what was built in the area, so that was not a big problem. She also said the hotel would be a good place for alumni to stay. The University of Kansas Alumni Association is one block from where the hotel would be built.
May Davis, freshman-sophomore CLAS senator, said the hotel would bring in more revenue to the Kansas Union, bring in prospective students and benefit alumni.
“You’re a student for four years,” Davis said. “You are an alumni for the rest of your life.”
She said the hotel would add to campus beauty, and the improved roads would be good for the University.
If the resolution passes tonight, Schlageck plans to take the resolution to the city commission as an official student opinion. Mike Amyx, Lawrence city commissioner, said Senate has the opportunity to comment on any item that comes before the commission.
“We will take the information they give us, add it to any information we have and take it into consideration,” Amyx said.
—Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
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Comments
Oread Inn to face opposition from Student Senate
These arguments by the students are crazy! Why wouldn't you support something that will make the campus nicer, and would bring revenue to the university??? The students may never stay at the Inn, but their parents (Who most likely pay their kids tuition.) could stay there when visiting. As far as property values, what difference should this make to the students??? Even if their rent is increased, it would only be for the three or four years they are in school. If they don't want to pay the higher rent, then live somewhere else! Do these students really want to live in a "Ghetto"??? If so, then why did they come to KU in the first place??? This Inn project would be a benefit to the very school they are attending, and I have yet to hear a viable argument from anyone not to proceed!
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