Back around 2002, when UW Oshkosh Chancellor Rick Wells first floated the idea of a "Living, Learning and Serving Community" (LLSC) as a possibility for riverfront development, the conventional wisdom was that the idea was dead on arrival. City leaders did not appear to take the idea seriously, choosing instead to take us on a prolonged and painful excursion into the depths of the Five Rivers Resort proposal.
Now the learning community idea has resurfaced, according to a university press release reprinted on the Oshblog. The campus also released a memorandum of understanding between UWO and private developers along with this announcement.
During the recent campaign, I expressed support for the idea of a living, learning community in Eye on Oshkosh and Oshkosh Northwestern interviews and other places. My support is based on my understanding of the LLSC as a mixed-use development that could integrate residential units, retail and other businesses, entertainment and educational options in a unique manner that could have positive consequences for the local economy.
Of course, it is much too early to say if I will support the LLSC envisioned in the press releases linked above. The developers will have to make a strong case as to why their LLSC project can succeed in Oshkosh, while requests for public support must be scrutinized closely.
And needless to say, any attempts to shroud negotiations with the developer(s) under a veil of unnecessary secrecy will doom the project.
Finally, take a look at Dr. Michael Burayidi's op-ed, "Waterfront proposal on right track but city must not give away too much."
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5 comments:
Tony
Do you know if Michael Burayidi's analysis is correct, that Akcess will have the ability to subdivide, for profit, parts of the property it acquires for $1?
Yes, Michael's analysis is correct. The Council approved the Master Developer agreement on January 9, 2007. At that meeting, Fred Rikkers of Akcess told the Council that under the agreement, Akcess would initially own the land, but they could parcel sections off to sell to specific developers of the sites.
As I said in the blog post, a "living, learning, and service community" (LLSC) is simply a mixed use development that integrates residential units, retail and other businesses, entertainment and education options. It's the "education options" that set a LLSC apart from traditional developments; the residents of the LLSC are typically engaged with the university in some way.
A LLSC is (or should be) a walkable neighborhood. The mix of developments it features should meet the needs of residents to the point where they would not have to drive an automobile to get everything. On the other hand, the LLSC is not meant to be exclusive for the residents who live in it; the developments supporting the residential areas are (or should be) designed to appeal to the entire city.
I'm sure we'll learn a lot more later this month when the Akcess group gives us a status report on their ideas for the waterfront.
It basically sounds like and extension of the University Campus but for the staff. Providing housing, entertainment venues for university staff with all the conveniences within a 2 block area.
What is the general cost for these condos?
Would the university "police" this "learning living community"?
Tim,
Information related to all of the issues you raised should be available by the end of this month. Right now I do not have any more information than what was linked in the blog post. Thanks for posting. --Tony
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