In his January address to the Faculty Senate, UR President Joel Seligman highlighted the success of the Brooks Landing project, which brought new student apartments, a hotel and office spaces to the west side of the Genesee River (19th Ward). According to Seligman, the approach used at Brooks Landing will serve as a model for developing the Mt. Hope Corridor next to the Medical Center. What would you like to see become part of this new type of College Town?

Nels Youngborg ’05 moved back home to California after graduation and became a general partner with CNA Specialists, a company that specializes in home inspections for publicly subsidized properties. Nels currently attends graduate school at the University of Texas San Antonio, works as an architectural historian for Portico LCC, and continues his role as a general partner for CNA Specialists.

“I would like to see the University establish a center for sustainable living at the Brooks Landing Project. The Mt. Hope Corridor has an amazing opportunity to create a development plan that preserves the history, enhances the culture and improves the environment of the area. The center could host education sessions, provide a meeting space for community and University associations, facilitate interaction between locals and city officials, display sustainable living concepts ad designs, manage community projects, and provide internships and jobs for students. The University could also enlist the help of a local group or association to run the center.”

Jackie Borchardt ’07 covers local and state education news for the Star-Tribune newspaper in Casper, Wyo. She is a former editor of the Campus Times and SA senator, majored in English and Spanish, studied abroad in Madrid and proudly belonged to the Greek community. These days, Jackie enjoys mountain sports, traveling and a good elk steak but misses the days of tunnels, Wegmans and the Genesee (the river and the beer.)

“The new ‘college town’ needs a real grocery store. There used to be a Wegmans on the corner of Mt. Hope and Elmwood and that was the closest place for residents in the 19th Ward and campus community to buy groceries. When that closed, people had to take the bus to shop. Emphasizing the focus on community building, it would be great if the store was locally-owned and operated, or if Wegmans might consider scaling down a store to fit the needs of that community. Housing and campus extensions seem to be a good fit too — as long as people can get to and from them easily and frequently.”

Jennifer Erbland ’05 grew up in Fairport, N.Y. After graduating, she moved to Chicago to begin working with the Litigation team at Jones Day law firm. Life in the Windy City has been nothing short of adventurous and in her free time, Jennifer plays the harp, rows (crew) and travels to visit family and friends.

I think it would be beneficial for the UR student body to have additional — and affordable! — social outlets such as coffee shops, restaurants, music venues. A centrally located supermarket would also be helpful to those living on campus without a car.

Dan Rowen ’04 majored in brain and cognitive science and was a member of UR Concerts. He currently lives in Brooklyn and treats psychiatric patients under a neuro-psychiatrist in Manhattan through Neurofeedback.

“I am glad that the University worked to create a college town across the bridge/river in the 19th Ward, and feel that the walk across that bridge is less scary now. I also think that was a good way to expand campus since it’s easily walkable from River Campus, which otherwise is out of places to expand into. Using Mt. Hope Corridor as another expansion sounds good on paper, but it is far less accessible to most undergraduate students. It is near the Medical Center and graduate housing, but the walk to Wegmans used to be something that we did not bother doing once it got cold out. It would be nice to have a decent supermarket in the new development since the loss of Wegmans there makes the next closest supermarket to campus the Tops by Golden Dynasty. Anyway, maybe what would get students to walk all the way there in the snow is an actual pub that accepts Declining. Either way, I hope the University tries to be environmentally responsible with the development and makes efforts to be ‘green’ in the process.”

Alex Pearlman ’07 earned his BA in political science. After many years of dedicated service to the undergraduate community, Alex was elected President of the Students’ Association. After graduation, Alex moved to New Orleans to teach Geometry as a Teach For America corps member.

“For the Mt. Hope Corridor to become a new college town, I think it needs to include places to house, feed and entertain UR graduates and undergraduates. In my senior year, the university administration (in consultation with students, etc.) approved the development of the new apartment-style housing across the river. That, in conjunction with the other new enterprises already planned for Brooks Landing, gives strong incentives for students to leave campus boundaries. Mt. Hope needs its own version of high quality housing for students, maybe some new restaurants and definitely some better retail opportunities. Regardless of how plans do unfold, the success of a college town along Mt. Hope hinders on the University’s commitment to providing efficient transportation to and from each of the campuses. So long as students feel that the college town is easily accessible, they will venture out.”

David Weiner ’04 worked as a paralegal for an evil corporate law firm in New York City after graduation. He quickly realized while working for “the Man” that his real passion was in higher education. He returned to UR as a Counselor in the Admissions Office from 2006 to 2009. Currently, he works as a College Counselor and History teacher at the Boys’ Latin School of Maryland. He’s also finishing up a Master’s in European history in absentia at UR.

“As for a new type of college town, I feel it’s important to have good restaurants, sports bars, a dance club or two, and above all, places that make one feel like they’re at UR. For example, the administration might try to make the Elmwood Inn or the Distillery ‘UR bars’ with UR regalia, pennants and other paraphernalia. In terms of food, undergraduates already have the option of using their declining at Quiznos and some of the other establishments. It would be nice, though, to use that money at a nice upscale restaurant in the Mt. Hope corridor. A nice restaurant off campus would allow freshmen and sophomores who do not have cars take significant others out for a nice meal. As for dance clubs, there used to be one called H2O a ways down Mt. Hope right next to Thai Taste restaurant. Adding a nightclub close to the CVS on Mt. Hope and Elmwood might help create an additional nightlife district akin to Alexander St., St. Paul, and the Park Ave. area. That would benefit UR, but also the city of Rochester. As a result, President Seligman would achieve two of his primary objectives: a college town and closer connections with the City.”