by Jennifer Parsons
Staff Writer
Due to everyday demands for more space, expansion at the University of La Verne looks like a promising possibility in the next decade.
The master plan that ULV has developed with a consulting firm in the last two years was approved by the city’s planning department Jan. 8, and by the La Verne City Council March 3. All voting members of the city council approved and voted to adopt the master plan.
“The city requires you to have a master plan and their approval. It lays out the general concepts for expansion but does not always incorporate the additions or changes. The city needs a general idea of the direction the campus will take in the future,” said President Stephen Morgan.
A total of 3.5 acres are incorporated into the master plan. One phase of the expansion consists of two square blocks, between D and E Street, south of Second Street until Arrow Highway and two other dirt lots. Because of certain zoning regulations, the city is limiting the expansion areas from most residential sections.
Some areas of the land incorporated into the master plan are currently owned. The University is in no hurry to purchase all of the land at once, nor can it afford to, but hopes the land will be purchased as it becomes available.
Cost for this project is unknown, depending on decisions made in the future, but the money is assumed to come from contributions from individuals, foundations, corporations and secured loans.
“The cost depends on decisions we make as we go, also on how the University decides to grow as it visits its own strategic plan and assigns priorities to different programs,” said Brian Worley, director of facilities management.
The refurbishing of the new Education Building is one phase of the master plan that has already begun, although due to the current budget cut, further construction of the building has been put on hold. It is uncertain whether or not the budget cut will affect any other areas in the master plan.
Other future ideas for expansion include moving the baseball and soccer fields into the surplus land of the Metropolitan Water District near Brackett Airport. Another possibility is to move the football field and track and have shuttle runs and a parking facility to commute to the site, less than one half mile away from campus. If the softball field is moved off First Street, a multilevel parking facility with tennis courts on top could be built in its place, according to Worley.
Although many decisions have not been made certain, it does seem that ULV will gain more space in the near future.
“Any institution needs to plan for expansion. It is a natural aspect of being a vital institution. It can’t grow and develop programs if it doesn’t have the space also due to the FTE (Full Time Equivilency) that has risen dramatically,” said Worley.
“The University has a need for additional space. We took the needs and worked with professional planners,” said Dr. Morgan.
“This plan allows for the creation of new buildings. It will certainly help to meet demands being placed on us,” said Worley.
