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Illustration by Cody Angell
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Arizona Daily Wildcat
Wednesday Apr. 17, 2002
If the University of Arizona is the "ying," then University Boulevard would definitely be the "yang." As change sweeps its way across the UA campus, plans for altering its sidekick street are well underway.
What defines a university is often what surrounds it. East University Boulevard brings community, commerce, charity, Chinese food, clothes, coffee and more to the UA students, faculty and staff. While Arizona State University has its Mill Avenue, we at the UA cherish our University Boulevard.
But time brings change. In 1930, Louise Foucar Marshall, then a UA professor, invested in property outside the main gates of the university. The 72-year-old Marshall Foundation owns most of the land along University between Park and Euclid avenues. Eventually, the foundation will tear would like to rebuild the buildings between Tyndall and Park avenues on the north side of the street.
While the non-profit foundation is responsible for maintaining the mix of businesses on University, it also donates 5 percent of its net revenue to local charities and UA. In other words, the more its businesses boom, the more money UA students will see in their pockets.
When the Marshall Foundation finally does rebuild that section of University Boulevard, locally-owned businesses such as University Drug and 88 Express could be displaced or close altogether. Likewise, with the inevitability of higher rent, some business owners fear the local "mom and pop" businesses will be replaced by corporate entities who can still afford the cost of change.
If the historical boulevard is to be renovated as an attraction point for incoming students, then it seems fair that students' concerns and visions for its new look be considered. It is our hangout. It is our choice for lunch. It is where we like to spend Friday afternoons having drink and relaxing on outside patios. It is how we spend our extra money.
Thus, it is fair to listen to the students. We deserve a chance to speak out.
Keep locally owned businesses on University Boulevard
Locally-owned businesses seem to be the victims more often than not. Nowadays, locally owned is not trendy and seems to be on its way out.
Regardless of the immediate lack of interest by some people, independent, locally-owned businesses provide a cultural sense of place that helps define a community. While students undoubtedly frequent Starbuck's and Domino's, Cafe Paraiso and No Anchovies capture a more dedicated following and provide something that can't be found near any and every college campus across the nation.
The storefronts along University Boulevard must be renovated, and the proposed plans are appropriately returning to the original architecture from the 1920s. However, going to such great lengths to establish a cultural sense of place with the architecture of these buildings without doing the same with the businesses inside accomplishes very little.
Rather than creating "Anytown, USA," like Arizona State University has done with Mill Avenue in Tempe, why not set the standard one notch higher?
Kendrick Wilson is a political science freshman. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
It's all about the students
Life on campus is pretty limited. You've got your student union, an assortment of snack stands, the bookstore and yup, that's pretty much it.
So for those who dwell on campus, University Boulevard is the area to shop, eat and socialize. Between Park and Tyndall avenues, the restaurants are yummy, but their appearances, to say the least, are unimpressive. The architecture is simply bland. If the area were more aesthetically appealing, there would be more business for the Marshall Foundation, as well as an attraction point for incoming students to UA. By the recent budget cuts and the state recession, money is a huge problem for everyone these days - so it makes sense to revitalize our University Boulevard. Yet, the last thing University Boulevard needs is a cold, mall-like, futuristic structure like the new student union. There is nothing cozy, unique or inviting about it. Mom and pop local shops should be renovated, but we could do without the large corporations that are pricey and not really for the students. Perhaps the Marshall Foundation could accept as much student input in the planning as possible so they still are providing a service to us students. After all, that is what this should be about.
Mariam Durrani is a systems engineering junior. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
Whatever brings in the dough
So the question is: What will bring in more money? Since more business on University Boulevard will translate into more financial aid for UA students, it's something we need to care about, especially at a time like this.
If a corporate store or restaurant will rake in more dough than the local business on University Boulevard, it would probably be wise for us to support renovation. It might not seem right, but if mom and pop can't compete with Uncle Corporate next door, that's just capitalism running its course.
But would these huge chains really be able to drive the locals out of town? It seems to me that if the little guys haven't been run out of business already, they should be able to make it, renovation or not. The local coffee shop can often sell their beverages for a lower price than corporate-owned stores are willing or able to. And I know college students - I happen to be one of them. With the (lack of) legal tender in our wallets, cheaper is usually better.
In short, I don't know what would be more beneficial for business on University Boulevard, but I do know that whatever brings in more dough would be in our collective interest to support, compassionate or not.
Shane Dale is a political science junior. He can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
'Mom and pop' takeover
A corporate takeover of University Boulevard is inevitable. Big corporations can afford higher rents than mom and pop businesses, and people these days seem to prefer trendy names. My only request is that the big businesses that move in give themselves a small business, mom and pop facade. I think one of the reasons Coffee Plantation went out of business is that it was too big and hollow. Walking in there was like entering a giant, sparsely populated, coffee cave. It had a cold feel, and one could almost hear the corporate number crunching machines over the loud music. When I go to a coffee shop, I prefer something smaller and more intimate. I like comfy chairs and soft music, a claustrophobic environment and a familiar staff. All of these things are within corporate reach - they just feel the need to make everything large-scale and industrial. So when the corporations take over the drag, they should make sure to hire friendly old men and women to pose as owners. And if they need to keep the corporate names, they should put someone's name before it. For example: Frank's Old Fashioned Starbucks Coffee Shop, or Mama Jenkin's Urban Outfitters. As consumers, we can easily be fooled. It would be nice if big companies took advantage of that and stopped making us feel like we're feeding evil corporate giants with our dollars and cents.
Daniel Cucher is a creative writing senior. He can be reached at letters@wildat.arizona.edu.
Let's hear it for local flavor
I was having a hard time coming up with an opinion on this issue at first, until I realized that the reason I lacked an opinion was one in and of itself. What does that mean? It means I just don't get riled up when I hear about University Boulevard or the issues affecting it.
Most other students I asked said about the same thing: they don't really have an opinion one way or another. I think there's a reason everyone's so apathetic: University Boulevard is kind of lame. Don't get me wrong - it's nice as far as Tucson goes; but on the grand scale of college campus hangouts, it's pretty low.
I'm not saying we should let a bunch of chain stores run amuck, however. What we really need to do is find a way of extending the atmosphere from the Tyndall Avenue-to-Euclid Avenue section of University Boulevard all the way to Park Avenue.
If the renovations are able to stay true to the goal of improving the ambiance - and not just the profit margin - of University Boulevard, then they are a great idea. If, on the other hand, they are merely a way of ousting local companies to make room for big names, we'd better be careful.
The last thing we want is another Mill Avenue down in Tucson.
Caitlin Hall is a biochemistry and philosophy freshman. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
State Street wins every time
A good way to examine what we want University Boulevard to look like is to compare it to two other famous university streets. For the modernization argument, we have Mill Avenue at Arizona State University; for the one-of-a-kind style, we have State Street at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Mill Avenue has been labeled one of the hottest places in the country for a night prowling around town. It's stuck in Phoenix, but it still manages to have a quaint, "Oh, let's go to the ice cream shoppe" feel about it. Should University Boulevard go that route? We could tear the businesses out and put in an Abercrombie and Fitch and a Fat Burger, because it works for the Phoenicians.
But then there's State Street, which is like Fourth Avenue. but a part of the university. It's everything the Madison people want: music; food; dancing; the Onion!; clothes; and art, soap and perfume shops. But, it's also unique because you can't find a Kabul's eatery or the State Street Brats anywhere else.
University Boulevard should feature the best of Tucson: the mom and pop of it all. It shouldn't mimic Phoenix, because this isn't Phoenix. And that ain't so bad.
Laura Winsky is a senior majoring in Spanish and political science. She can be reached at letters@wildcat.arizona.edu.
