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SycamoreStateofMind

SycamoreStateofMind

The Odum Level
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https://twitter.com/tribstar/status/730165248385130496

A population boom probably not coming to Terre Haute anytime soon but it would appear a student population boom is imminent.

This is the third most recent announcement of housing accommodation moving to downtown Terre Haute. Quite an amazing turnaround for a downtown area that sat stagnant for so many years. Dr. Bradley among others deserves an unbelievable amount of credit for this staggering turnaround.

As for reasons this is happening now?! A bit curious to say the least. Obviously our student population continues to rise, but not at an overly fast rate. EIU in Charleston continues to fail and perhaps ISU could see increased enrollment as a residual effect? Perhaps just not much room for growth at other in-state schools? Maybe, ISU lagged behind others growth for so long our time has finally come.

Whatever it is let me hope for two things. Let me hope that our local businesses leaders, economic development folks and city/county government work to create as many professional opportunities for students in this community upon graduation. Not all of them will stay but lets create options for them in our own community.

Second, let's make sure that the Hulman Center rennovation be part of this momentum. What a shame it would be to see all of these projects moving forward and the Hulman Center project either stall out or not be fully funded and chopped down to the bones - they've had a tendency to do that with construction projects that relate to athletic facilities.

Pretty exciting times for downtown Terre Haute if you ask me. Our downtown area that was once a ghost town has got new life and I'm awful proud of my hometown.
 

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SycamoreStateofMind said:
https://twitter.com/tribstar/status/730165248385130496

As for reasons this is happening now?! A bit curious to say the least. Obviously our student population continues to rise, but not at an overly fast rate. EIU in Charleston continues to fail and perhaps ISU could see increased enrollment as a residual effect?
Click to expand...

With regards to this. If we were smart, we would be taking the proximity "in-state tuition waiver" they used to offer to students from counties directly adjacent to Vigo, and start offering it to the entire state of Illinois. With several colleges like EIU, SIU, Chicago State, and many others being hit hard by the budget crisis over there, there becomes a really good opportunity to poach students. Both transfer and new students alike. Our close proximity to the state would just be another selling point.

I'm not saying this is what will happen and that's why they're building all of the new housing. But I think this is what should happen.
 
TheHouseThatBirdBuilt said:
With regards to this. If we were smart, we would be taking the proximity "in-state tuition waiver" they used to offer to students from counties directly adjacent to Vigo, and start offering it to the entire state of Illinois. With several colleges like EIU, SIU, Chicago State, and many others being hit hard by the budget crisis over there, there becomes a really good opportunity to poach students. Both transfer and new students alike. Our close proximity to the state would just be another selling point.

I'm not saying this is what will happen and that's why they're building all of the new housing. But I think this is what should happen.
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Provided they're quality students. That is the one thing ISU needs to gravitate towards -- upping the academic profile of it's typical student.
 
TheHouseThatBirdBuilt said:
With regards to this. If we were smart, we would be taking the proximity "in-state tuition waiver" they used to offer to students from counties directly adjacent to Vigo, and start offering it to the entire state of Illinois. With several colleges like EIU, SIU, Chicago State, and many others being hit hard by the budget crisis over there, there becomes a really good opportunity to poach students. Both transfer and new students alike. Our close proximity to the state would just be another selling point.

I'm not saying this is what will happen and that's why they're building all of the new housing. But I think this is what should happen.
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Great idea. I know both University of Iowa and Western Michigan University became great collegiate destinations for Chicagoland college students when they gave very short duration (3 to 5 months, I believe) residency requirements to be categorized/charged as in-state students. Huge, Illinois student enrollments at each University, in part, due to that fact.

Also agree with Jason's observation immediately above.
 
SycamoreStateofMind said:
https://twitter.com/tribstar/status/730165248385130496

A population boom probably not coming to Terre Haute anytime soon but it would appear a student population boom is imminent.

This is the third most recent announcement of housing accommodation moving to downtown Terre Haute. Quite an amazing turnaround for a downtown area that sat stagnant for so many years. Dr. Bradley among others deserves an unbelievable amount of credit for this staggering turnaround.

As for reasons this is happening now?! A bit curious to say the least. Obviously our student population continues to rise, but not at an overly fast rate. EIU in Charleston continues to fail and perhaps ISU could see increased enrollment as a residual effect? Perhaps just not much room for growth at other in-state schools? Maybe, ISU lagged behind others growth for so long our time has finally come.

Whatever it is let me hope for two things. Let me hope that our local businesses leaders, economic development folks and city/county government work to create as many professional opportunities for students in this community upon graduation. Not all of them will stay but lets create options for them in our own community.

Second, let's make sure that the Hulman Center rennovation be part of this momentum. What a shame it would be to see all of these projects moving forward and the Hulman Center project either stall out or not be fully funded and chopped down to the bones - they've had a tendency to do that with construction projects that relate to athletic facilities.

Pretty exciting times for downtown Terre Haute if you ask me. Our downtown area that was once a ghost town has got new life and I'm awful proud of my hometown.
Click to expand...

Great stuff. Also still mind blogging to me that the 500 Wabash building remains empty. With the influx in students/housing in the area it makes perfect sense for a brothers/kilroys/bdubs type chain to come in and make some serious bank. Not to mention on game days the options are limited for people like myself. They have to be asking too much for rent one would assume??
 
Charleston has spent 22 years that I can remember trying to run students off. They succeeded about 2-4 years ago. I dont know how Terre Haute residents really feel about students but all people here do is complain about students. Yes, there is some inconvenience but, because of them 1,700 people have jobs AT the university. that doesnt even take into consideration jobs that are because of the university which are probably 1/4 of the rest of them. Maybe the issue is that the school is big compared to the town but I would take a little hassle driving through town for 32/52 weeks per year to see people I know thrive. I just dont get it.
 

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niklz62 said:
Charleston has spent 22 years that I can remember trying to run students off. They succeeded about 2-4 years ago. I dont know how Terre Haute residents really feel about students but all people here do is complain about students. Yes, there is some inconvenience but, because of them 1,700 people have jobs AT the university. that doesnt even take into consideration jobs that are because of the university which are probably 1/4 of the rest of them. Maybe the issue is that the school is big compared to the town but I would take a little hassle driving through town for 32/52 weeks per year to see people I know thrive. I just dont get it.
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Town/Gown relationships have been an issue since gowns first began roaming about towns... it's not new, it's not going away -- shoot, in a lot of ways, it's not much different than folks in Fla, Az, other 'snowbird' destinations carping about snowbirds! It's no different than areas that derive so much business from tourists bitching about tourists!

Agree with Boda's point -- recruit Ill HEAVY but recruit the best kids
 
With my position in Illinois, I have heard that Eastern is expecting a possible 30% decrease in enrollment because of the state's budget issues. Faculty from various state universities and other union members will be canvassing the Charleston area on the 16th and other dates to drum up more support. This could devastate the town. So, yes, it is possible that some of their students will look at ISU, and not the one in Bloomington-Normal.
 
SIU and WIU are also expecting enrollment decreases, so hopefully they go after those students as well.
 
SycamoreStateofMind said:
https://twitter.com/tribstar/status/730165248385130496

A population boom probably not coming to Terre Haute anytime soon but it would appear a student population boom is imminent.

This is the third most recent announcement of housing accommodation moving to downtown Terre Haute. Quite an amazing turnaround for a downtown area that sat stagnant for so many years. Dr. Bradley among others deserves an unbelievable amount of credit for this staggering turnaround.
Click to expand...

Well, they (Dr. Bradley's vision) wanted to get to 17,000 by 2017 I thought. Considering every year they have to put kids up in hotels they need that space I think.

Wondering if the announcement of this will stop the one happening over where the Boys Club sits?
 
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Jason Svoboda said:
Well, they (Dr. Bradley's vision) wanted to get to 17,000 by 2017 I thought. Considering every year they have to put kids up in hotels they need that space I think.

Wondering if the announcement of this will stop the one happening over where the Boys Club sits?
Click to expand...

They are moving forward but soil tests came back with some issues - not sure how this will effect the future of the project.
 

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SycamoreStateofMind said:
https://twitter.com/tribstar/status/730165248385130496

A population boom probably not coming to Terre Haute anytime soon but it would appear a student population boom is imminent.

This is the third most recent announcement of housing accommodation moving to downtown Terre Haute. Quite an amazing turnaround for a downtown area that sat stagnant for so many years. Dr. Bradley among others deserves an unbelievable amount of credit for this staggering turnaround.

As for reasons this is happening now?! A bit curious to say the least. Obviously our student population continues to rise, but not at an overly fast rate. EIU in Charleston continues to fail and perhaps ISU could see increased enrollment as a residual effect? Perhaps just not much room for growth at other in-state schools? Maybe, ISU lagged behind others growth for so long our time has finally come.

Whatever it is let me hope for two things. Let me hope that our local businesses leaders, economic development folks and city/county government work to create as many professional opportunities for students in this community upon graduation. Not all of them will stay but lets create options for them in our own community.

Second, let's make sure that the Hulman Center rennovation be part of this momentum. What a shame it would be to see all of these projects moving forward and the Hulman Center project either stall out or not be fully funded and chopped down to the bones - they've had a tendency to do that with construction projects that relate to athletic facilities.

Pretty exciting times for downtown Terre Haute if you ask me. Our downtown area that was once a ghost town has got new life and I'm awful proud of my hometown.
Click to expand...

This post, with little revision, should be in the in-box of every "mover and shaker" in the Wabash Valley and that does include educational leaders of each school system in the Valley. The TribStar should run it as a guest editorial or at least a letter to the editor. This is one of most important messages I remember seeing on this board. Spread the word!

I also like the idea of recruiting the best students Illinois has to offer, from their high schools and transfers from higher education.
 
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As the years have gone by,it has amazed me that the money to be spent by students hasn't been tapped by everyone in Terre Haute. If all the new housing in the downtown doesn't cause more businesses catering solely to the student population to spring up downtown is a lost cause.

As an oldtimer the beauty of the entire campus compared to the 70's is hard to believe.More housing can only cause more students to come to ISU.
 
hans1950 said:
As the years have gone by,it has amazed me that the money to be spent by students hasn't been tapped by everyone in Terre Haute. If all the new housing in the downtown doesn't cause more businesses catering solely to the student population to spring up downtown is a lost cause.

As an oldtimer the beauty of the entire campus compared to the 70's is hard to believe.More housing can only cause more students to come to ISU.
Click to expand...

What exactly do business need to do in your estimation to better cater to students?

I'm curious where your mind is on this topic because I can site several examples (mostly of the resturant/entertainment variety) of business catering to students.

I think we need to see some other businesses gravitate toward downtown the problem is we don't have a lot of empty lots or rentable spaces right now. We seem to have the bar & resturant theme pretty well covered. As THSouth said it would be nice to see something move into the empty space of the Ellis housing - I think it will happen in due time.

Just in the last 12 months:

JFords and Wabash Valley Community Foundation rennovated & moved downtown. to the south side of downtown by the Tribune Star and Library.

The Terre Haute Brewing Co. opened on the south east side of downtown just last Saturday. Terre Haute back in the craft brewing business once again.

Former Coffee Grounds/Trader Joes has been converted into a student bar called Wabash Bar and Grille they have live music and good drink specials for students.

JGumbos built in a beautiful bar into the back of that restaurant.
 
SycamoreStateofMind said:
What exactly do business need to do in your estimation to better cater to students?

I'm curious where your mind is on this topic because I can site several examples (mostly of the resturant/entertainment variety) of business catering to students.

I think we need to see some other businesses gravitate toward downtown the problem is we don't have a lot of empty lots or rentable spaces right now. We seem to have the bar & resturant theme pretty well covered. As THSouth said it would be nice to see something move into the empty space of the Ellis housing - I think it will happen in due time.

Just in the last 12 months:

JFords and Wabash Valley Community Foundation rennovated & moved downtown. to the south side of downtown by the Tribune Star and Library.

The Terre Haute Brewing Co. opened on the south east side of downtown just last Saturday. Terre Haute back in the craft brewing business once again.

Former Coffee Grounds/Trader Joes has been converted into a student bar called Wabash Bar and Grille they have live music and good drink specials for students.

JGumbos built in a beautiful bar into the back of that restaurant.
Click to expand...

JFords --- as a student, I MAY have been able to afford a side or soup, certainly none of the entrees and depending on the bank balance, maybe an appetizer...

Most of the student population can avail themselves of the main product line of the T.H. Brewing Co. can they?

Wabash Bar & Grille... guessing it's a 'full service restaurant' as they allow minors (under 21) to pay a cover and mix with 'legal adults' (21 & over)?

What's the 'ISU presence' at S. 6th & Walnut? Google Maps calls it 'ISU' ... that's an old YMCA, no?
 

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I don't know if bars are all that todays' students want but I would think some kind of retail stores in the area that had reasonable prices would keep students close to downtown.Maybe this isn't feasible but I suppose students do something other than drink all the time...lol. Not being on campus,do most students still vacate campus on Friday like they used too? Do the bars and restaurants do enough business with what is available now? Just wondering,I'm obviously not part of the culture there.
 
It seems like there is a need for a store with a wide variety of inexpensive products--something like a Dollar General. With college students being close a small grocery seems logical too.
 
Well if you went out to Copper Bar on a Friday night or Verve on a Thursday night you would see that a lot of students enjoy going out and having a good time.

But we definitely need something else other than resturants and bars.
 
With all these new apartments, wouldn't a SUPERMARKET be a reasonable fit? Students can't afford to eat out & go drinking every night. Great Scott was always PACKED w/ students "back in the dayz" and they were @ 13th & Locust a few blocks off campus!
 
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