Sylvia Bradshaw
Staff Writer
More than 50 students, faculty and members of the community surrounding the University of Houston met Wednesday to see the presentation of the new campus master plan. In the College of Architecture's Lecture Hall, they heard proposals for a new and improved university campus.
The plan included more parking, new on-campus housing and aesthetic improvements to set UH apart from the surrounding community.
"The visual and aesthetic appearance of our school is as important as our own personal appearance," Director of Architectural Services Ron Shoup said. "It is especially important to college recruitment and will add to the physical and mental well-being of our student body."
According to Shoup, the proposed changes are a part of an ongoing evolutionary process which began in the 1930s. "Our plans for improvement are usually updated every 15 years," Shoup said.
"Let me say that these plans are not in concrete, so observations and opinions are most welcome. That's why we have held these meetings," Shoup said. The multi-visual presentation included "before" and "after" architectural sketches of the university campus along with various aerial photographs.
"We are Houston's university," Shoup said. "Pictures showing the campus with the Houston skyline in the background are appropriate visual aids in selling our campus to the outside world."
Randall Little, sophomore architecture major, voiced concerns about the suggested time constraints of the plan.
"You've painted a good picture for the next 15 to 20 years," Little said. "But that doesn't help us now. I've been here two years, and all I've heard is parking, but I haven't seen anything," Little said.
Randy Harris, UH vice president, while addressing Little's frustration pointed out that the president of the university plans to set priorities when actual construction begins.
"We can't say exactly when new parking structures will be built," Harris said. "Attention is being given to that problem from the chancellor on down."
"We have quantity parking; there are an adequate number of spaces available now," said Shoup. "The problem is quality parking. No one wants to park in the outlying lots and have to travel across campus to get to work or classes."
"The presentation today says a lot about additional housing," said Little. "But what about those of us who commute everyday? We're concerned about finding good parking and then returning home."
Thomas Whitaker, University Oaks Civic Club president, came to the meeting concerned about the quality the university plans. "I feel this is a livable plan for us in University Oaks," said Whitaker. "I have met with committees from the city of Houston as well as the university, and I am familiar with most of the proposed structural changes. I want to make sure the quality of our community is maintained."
Whitaker said that the members of his civic club are residents of the 224 single-dwelling homes that comprise the University Oaks neighborhood. The University Oaks neighborhood is bordered by Wheeler Avenue, Mac Gregor Way and Cullen.
"We are a community of professional-level people who are or who have had a continuing and very close relationship with this university," said Whitaker.
A former chair of the UH Electrical Engineering Department and UH instructor for 40 years, Whitaker is now retired and very active in the community.
"I wanted to come to the meeting today because we intend to maintain a community that is a good place to raise a family, and I want the university faculty to know this," said Whitaker. "After listening to these proposals today, I'm satisfied that we will be able to."
When asked when this plan will be submitted to the Board of Regents for approval, Shoup said that no definite date has been set although they expect to present it sometime during the summer.
"We also plan to produce a document or pamphlet showing our ideas that can be distributed to students, faculty and alumni," said Shoup. "We all play a part in making this plan work. Many alumni could contribute funds that would be used to plant trees. We want to grab everyone in some way. We want to make this the most comfortable place in the country."