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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Dec 12, 2022 18:49:40 GMT -5
The new residence hall closest to College St. is buttoned up for the winter: outside walls are done, windows appear to be installed; a roof is in place. This does not mean that the finished cladding and brickwork has been done, or the roof is finished with shingles, or metal.
The second residence hall has most of the first floor framing done.
The Jesuit residence, from the PPAC cam, appears to have the concrete foundation poured. The contractor for the City View residence halls may also be building the Jesuit residence.
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Post by matunuck on Dec 12, 2022 18:54:22 GMT -5
Any update on the release of our strategic plan?
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Dec 13, 2022 8:20:33 GMT -5
Any update on the release of our strategic plan? Nope, and none on the campus master plan either. If I had known that VR was on the plane to SD, I might have bid for the two seats, and demanded some answers! |
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Post by longsuffering on Dec 13, 2022 11:39:19 GMT -5
Any update on the release of our strategic plan? Nope, and none on the campus master plan either. If I had known that VR was on the plane to SD, I might have bid for the two seats, and demanded some answers! Speculators on the football thread are tossing out ideas for graduate programs. Any thoughts among TPTB of utilizing the Prior Center to offer a masters in the arts of some sort? |
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Post by mm67 on Dec 13, 2022 12:05:46 GMT -5
longsuffering, Actually, a Bachelor of Fine Arts(BFA) is the terminal degree in the field. The BFA is an extremely intensive four year program. My niece earned a BFA in Playwriting from one of the California state universities. Presently, she is a college teacher, English/Theater Dep't.
Obviously, the Prior would present a fine facility to offer the four year BFA degree. It would greatly enhance HC's academics to offer this highly prestigious bachelor's degree. Would need to expand the faculty in various areas of the fine arts. I do expect HC will in fact eventually offer a topnotch BFA. Obviously, the BFA is totally unrelated to any fifth year athletic eligibility designs. Peace.
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Post by newfieguy74 on Dec 13, 2022 12:36:42 GMT -5
longsuffering, Actually, a Bachelor of Fine Arts(BFA) is the terminal degree in the field. The BFA is an extremely intensive four year program. My niece earned a BFA in Playwriting from one of the California state universities. Presently, she is a college teacher, English/Theater Dep't. Obviously, the Prior would present a fine facility to offer the four year BFA degree. It would greatly enhance HC's academics to offer this highly prestigious bachelor's degree. Would need to expand the faculty in various areas of the fine arts. I do expect HC will in fact eventually offer a topnotch BFA. Obviously, the BFA is totally unrelated to any fifth year athletic eligibility designs. Peace. Many colleges have robust MFA programs. |
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Dec 13, 2022 14:04:17 GMT -5
I do not know whether the College may reinstate graduate programs at some future date. I think that if such does occur, it will be post-2030.
I will tease that for reasons to be determined, a developer associated with the college has very recently bought* several properties west of College St. on the upper part of the hill, and said properties are not contiguous to the property that HC currently owns west of College St. between Boyden and Southbridge St. I suspect these purchases are related to a longer-term horizon. The buyer paid a very significant premium, IMO.
*The purchaser has sued the seller for breach.
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Post by HC92 on Dec 14, 2022 22:55:54 GMT -5
I do not know whether the College may reinstate graduate programs at some future date. I think that if such does occur, it will be post-2030. I will tease that for reasons to be determined, a developer associated with the college has very recently bought* several properties west of College St. on the upper part of the hill, and said properties are not contiguous to the property that HC currently owns west of College St. between Boyden and Southbridge St. I suspect these purchases are related to a longer-term horizon. The buyer paid a very significant premium, IMO. *The purchaser has sued the seller for breach. What does “a developer associated with the College” mean and is that better or worse than the College making the purchase itself? |
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Post by longsuffering on Dec 15, 2022 1:30:11 GMT -5
I interpreted PP to infer the Developer paid a premium because he already had a premium "build to suit" tenant or future purchaser in hand. Associated with the college I thought meant having other business relationships or transactions with HC.
Why it's better to support a middleman than to cut out that layer that needs to earn a profit, IDK. My only thought would be it is somehow less of a gentrification of the neighborhood if HC buys or leases properties from the Developer rather than directly from long term residents.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Dec 15, 2022 7:30:31 GMT -5
I do not know whether the College may reinstate graduate programs at some future date. I think that if such does occur, it will be post-2030. I will tease that for reasons to be determined, a developer associated with the college has very recently bought* several properties west of College St. on the upper part of the hill, and said properties are not contiguous to the property that HC currently owns west of College St. between Boyden and Southbridge St. I suspect these purchases are related to a longer-term horizon. The buyer paid a very significant premium, IMO. *The purchaser has sued the seller for breach. What does “a developer associated with the College” mean and is that better or worse than the College making the purchase itself? The new Jesuit residence is co-owned by the developer and the College. The developer bought the land, three parcels. Very likely that said developer will build the new off-campus student residence next to Polar Park. The advantage to the College is that this will reduce borrowing costs, as the College undertakes the reconstruction of the Easy St. dorms and Brooks. Several years ago, the cost estimate for rebuilding the older residence halls and construction of new residence halls was $300 million of thereabouts. The two new residence halls on City View St. are costing $20-25 million. The disadvantage to the College of having a developer build and own new residence halls is that the student board charges go to the developers bank account, not the Colleges., And fully amortized dorms are a cash cow for a college / university. IIRC, the College built Figge with cash-on-hand, so no debt to be paid down. Where a developer builds, owns, and operates a residence hall, what typically happens is that the college/university becomes the owner after 20-25 years. After the property is fully depreciated.. --------------- I will add that a privately built, off campus residence hall near Polar Park might never be owned by the College. The college, circa 2050, might build a new residence hall on College Hill, and the Polar Park property would be converted by the developer to condos or rentals. |
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Post by HC92 on Dec 15, 2022 8:06:41 GMT -5
Thanks, PP.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Dec 15, 2022 16:54:11 GMT -5
 This is a very recent drone view showing the first building, condos, of the site next to Polar Park, being developed by the co-owner of the Jesuit residence. |
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Dec 15, 2022 20:13:38 GMT -5
Impressive
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Jan 5, 2023 6:37:35 GMT -5
Framing for the first (and only true) floor of the Jesuit residence is rising. The new student residence hall closest to College St. is all framed in and buttoned up, allowing interior work to be done without worrying about the weather. The second of the City View St. residence halls is now up to the second floor, with the third floor and roof remaining. With the advent of spring, the contractor can begin installing the exterior cladding and brickwork. The mild winter to date in Worcester is a boon to the construction schedule, and it appears that all three new buildings will be ready for occupancy by summer's end. If the Jesuits can be moved by July, that would allow a month for converting Ciampi Hall into student residences, recognizing that further work in Ciampi might be done in the summer of 2024.
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Post by longsuffering on Jan 5, 2023 7:07:00 GMT -5
This is a very recent drone view showing the first building, condos, of the site next to Polar Park, being developed by the co-owner of the Jesuit residence. The Polar Park facade makes it look like a factory. No complaints from me. It blends into the area and saves a buck or two. |
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Jan 29, 2023 13:07:42 GMT -5
  ^^^ A bit dated, as the underlayment of the roof is mostly done. The contractor (Fontaine) is the same contractor who built the Joyce Contemplative Center in West Boylston. Probably the same contractor is being used for the new Jesuit residence.  ^^^ The house at image left is privately owned (surviving heirs of a family trust, the trustor having died some years ago.) |
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Post by hchoops on Jan 29, 2023 13:28:42 GMT -5
Are these 3 all the same building ?
What is/are the location(s) ?
Are they above the Jo ?
Are these all for students ?
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Jan 29, 2023 13:51:22 GMT -5
> Three photographs, two buildings
> On City View. The one with the somewhat finished roof abuts College St
> Yes
> Yes 144 beds
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Post by hchoops on Jan 29, 2023 14:03:30 GMT -5
Thanks
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Post by Crucis#1 on Jan 29, 2023 14:40:57 GMT -5
PP: Are there plans for the another phase of construction of townhouses on the south side of City View?
I have been watching construction from the Jo Cam.Thank you for the street view pictures.
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Jan 29, 2023 18:25:16 GMT -5
PP: Are there plans for the another phase of construction of townhouses on the south side of City View? I have been watching construction from the Jo Cam.Thank you for the street view pictures. The campus master plan should indicate whether there are plans for such before 2030 or so. The College seems to be sensitive to placing new residence halls on a site that directly abuts a resident neighbor. In the case of the house that is between Ciampi and the new residence hall on City View, I believe that house is rented out to students. Same for the larger house on College St. that is opposite the new residence hall. IMO, privately-owned off-campus housing properties are not a significant factor when it comes On Kendig, on the north side of the street is a house whose owner-residents recently sold the land where the new Jesuit residence is being built. They sold to a developer, and the developer and HC are now jointly building the new Jesuit residence on that property. The house on Kendig St to the immediate west of the house owned by the sellers of the land is in the process of being purchased by the aforementioned developer. Friendly ownership of those two properties would facilitate construction of a new student residence on the south side of City View, I think it likely that the next new student residence will be near the center of Worcester, near Polar Park. |
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Post by Pakachoag Phreek on Feb 9, 2023 9:09:37 GMT -5
The roof is in place on the new Jesuit residence, and it appears that window installation has begun on the second of the two new student residences on City View.
Rougeau was indirectly asked about construction progress in a recent webinar, and he intimated that construction was ahead of schedule thanks to the mild winter with little snow (by Worcester standards).
It appears that both the new residence halls and Ciampi will be ready for students by fall. A total of 200-220 new beds.
---------------
The trench was dug to a point between the two new halls, and after further thought, the conduit piping may be for an electrical line. The main 12.5 kV line for the college runs from the Hart to the west of Wheeler,
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Post by Crucis#1 on Feb 11, 2023 13:15:45 GMT -5
Phreek can you confirm, from your sources, while the new Campus Master Plan has not been released, I am hearing there will be a new student residence built between The PPAC and Figge to allow for the major changes that will occur on Easy Street. All HC operational student housing will be on campus, without a downtown Worcester component.
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Post by sader1970 on Feb 11, 2023 19:21:26 GMT -5
Crucis, I know you were on by Zoom but not sure you could see the discomfort on Michele's face because I think she didn't want to get ahead of any announcements but sure you heard how she tried to finesse the topic.
I'll take credit/blame for asking the clarifying question but thankfully I was apparently not alone as a couple of Board members told me afterwards that they were wondering the same thing and thanked me for asking the question.
I'm not exactly sure what the concern is over "The Edge" apartments are for students. I apparently got the wrong impression thinking they were run down and possible safety issues but a well known staffer told me it was just the opposite, that they are upscale apartments. I didn't delve into the issues involved but perhaps the College is paying the rent and the students' room & board payments don't cover the rent and it's a money losing proposition. All speculation on my part, so don't take any of this to the bank.
My distinct impression is that this is not the off-campus housing that some of my Classmates had where they rented apartments directly. Pretty sure these are deals working through Holy Cross.
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Post by timholycross on Feb 12, 2023 9:03:59 GMT -5
What's the going rate for modern apartments in downtown Worcester in close proximity to the train station?
How does that compare with what a student at HC pays for the room portion of room-and-board?
The reason for asking is that those that have opined that condos near Polar Park would become residences for HC students might be underestimating what it would cost a family to let their son/daughter live there.
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