Quote:
Originally Posted by Trevor3
MUN should be working closer with the city and developers to encourage more student housing within the vicinity of the university. Something I've noticed in my current apartment hunt in Fredericton is that there is an effort to increase off-campus housing options. There are a multitude of apartment buildings within walking distance of STU, UNB and NBCC, whereas MUN is surrounded by single family homes that are getting chopped up for an additional basement apartment here and there. MUN is going the right way by increasing residence space, and can open more after the current science building is knocked down in about 10 years or so, but there is an economic opportunity for developers to put up more apartment complexes near campus that is not being realized by anybody.
If more students could get accomodations near campus, there would be far less need for driving from apartments in new construction neighbourhoods like Airport Heights and Kenmount Terrace (2 places a lot of my friends lived when I was out there) to get to class. And in turn, less demand for parking and fewer tie ups on Prince Philip and Columbus in the morning.
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I agree, city planning is blind to the fact that more residential density is needed in this area in particular. The area contains many of the city's largest employers (MUN, HSC, Government, etc.), hence, the demand is right there in that area - within walking distance. There are in fact, underused and empty spaces that could and should be developed for this, and older non heritage development that should be replaced; the Nimby factor is the big problem, thwarting the logical development of the city. Also, allowing more development in this area, relatively close to downtown, would take pressure off the more controversial development aspect of the downtown heritage areas.