Webster University Should Cross Lockwood
Webster University crossing Lockwood is a big, unresolved issue for the proposed Eden master plan and the proposed Webster U master plan. The controversy began in December 2009, when a deal was announced for Webster U to buy 5.25 acres of Eden property - that includes the Luhr Library, White House and Wehrli Center - for $5.3 million. But 2 ½ years later, the deal is evidently still not done and Webster U hasn’t crossed Lockwood, despite this property being definitely included as part of Webster U’s proposed master plan.
A group of residents known as Residents FOR Webster Groves opposes it, arguing that if there’s ANY Webster U expansion across Lockwood, the entire Webster Groves community will be changed for the worse… forever!
But many in our community are smarter than to blindly accept such unsubstantiated negative conjecture and scare tactics. Instead, they believe that Webster University SHOULD cross Lockwood, backed by 5 credible, factual arguments:
History – Beginning in 1969, Webster U already crossed Lockwood when the joint Eden-Webster library was housed in the Luhr Library. This was Webster U’s main library for the next 34 YEARS, until 2003, when Webster U’s new Emerson Library opened. Based on researching archives, there wasn’t a single resident complaint reported for 34 years by the Webster-Kirkwood Times, The Journal, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Webster Groves Historical Society concerning Webster U students crossing Lockwood, car traffic, parking and late night noise - powerful evidence that our entire community wasn’t changed for the worse then and, thus, it's a very credible predictor that it won’t change now.
Adaptability –Webster U listened to community input and dialed back original plans for the property: Luhr Library changed from a new science building to an IT Center; Wehrli Center changed from a presidential residence to the Alumni Affairs Office; and the White House is to be torn down to create greater green space.
Partnership – The 40 year + Webster-Eden Partnership enters a new era, with Eden providing the space for Webster U to expand and Webster U helping Eden sell underutilized land and buildings, a critical component of Eden’s proposed master plan and financial health.
Heritage – Positions Webster U for continued growth and expansion in its 2ndcentury beginning in 2015.
Legal – Webster U has a binding right of first refusal for any part of the Eden campus.
For these 5 credible, factual arguments, Webster U should cross Lockwood.
Dave Buck
Webster Groves
Hugh West
6:25 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
Interesting arguments, Mr. Buck, but for nothing. You know that there is a handful of privileged citizens with little to do but make noise and defend their large estates who dictate the future for the entire city.
Doug Nissing
12:31 am on Monday, September 10, 2012
Hugh -- don't know you, would like to. Would love to have you introduce me to the "large estate" that I have that is dictating the future for the entire city. My father moved to the area in 1951 from a farm north of Marthasville, Missouri. He did okay by himself. But -- I certainly don't feel like his accomplishments provide us any kind of power to dictate any thing other than join with like minded concerned citizens who are, because of their investments, are attempting to preserve the community which has been a part of their lives -- in the case of my father for over six decades.
Dave Buck
4:09 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
Hugh, we have never met but I hope I get the privilege someday. I would love to discuss your views on Webster University and Eden Seminary and their importance to Webster Groves; I support Webster University, too, but why do you think Webster University qualifies as a "world-class university; and your belief that my arguments, while interesting, are "but for nothing" because you think a small group of highly-influential, privileged residents and power brokers dictate and control everything major that goes on in our community. Please call me. I would really like the opportunity to talk with you, as we are not that far apart. Thank you.
Dave Buck
952-0910
Maggie Sowash
10:55 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
Dave, you can't compare apples to oranges. Use of the Luhr Library by Webster U. (WU) students with sporadic activity is much different than having full-blown classrooms on the Eden campus and masses of students crossing Lockwood on a regular basis throughout the day. A major concern for such use is that eventually crosswalks/stoplights would be necessary for student safety. That will change the character of the community AND slow down traffic on Lockwood which is a major thoroughfare. Where will the impeded traffic go? In a rush to save time because of the pedestrians, drivers will speed through nearby residential neighborhoods which will become major detours. The safety of our streets for our own children will be at risk and our property values will be reduced.
If WU were to also construct buildings, parking garages, etc. on the land, it will CERTAINLY change the character of this residential community, not to mention the loss of green space. Look at the congestion WU created on Edgar Road. Residents complain constantly about traffic back-ups there. Do we really want that on Lockwood as well? WU's needs to generate more revenue are not the same needs as this residential community. Perhaps it's time for WU to develop some off-site (miles away) facilities with shuttle services for students like the big universities do. We residents have the right to protect our investments. And, WU is in no way entitled to alter this community for their own financial gain.
Dave Buck
7:33 am on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Maggie, as always, good points and I need to clarify my own:
1. Concerning WU crossing Lockwood, I was referring only to the property in the first paragraph of of my letter. This is the only place WU crosses Lockwood in its proposed master plan.
2. Due to the efforts of your group, WU dialed back its use for this property. Luhr Library will be a temporary "swing site" as classroom buildings are constructed on its main campus, but it will eventually become an IT Center, with Wehrli Center becoming Alumni Affairs, so student use and traffic will be minimized.
3. The Eden green space is NOT part of WU master plan. I join you and many others that this cherished space remain green forever with WU or no one ever occupying it or building on it. As I have communicated to WU directly, I fully suport them crossing Lockwood per their master plan, but hope they never possess the green space.
4. And because there is always more than one right answer, I did run up the flagpole at WU the "unexpected bold stroke" of WU remaining only south of Lockwood and your idea of using other nearby off-site facilities. As you might imagine, reaction was lukewarm but the option definitely exists.
Hope this helps.
Dave Buck
Maggie Sowash
6:57 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Dave, my comments are based on the fact that Webster University was represented at the City Council meetings over the past several months regarding EDEN's Master Plan (yes, EDEN's master plan!). If WU did not have interest in more of the EDEN property to which you refer, they would not have been at the meetings. My mother always says:
"Keep them a finger and they will want the whole hand!"
Dave Buck
8:01 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Good point, Maggie. No argument. You are right. I totally agree. Webster U's eyes are bigger and beyond just their master plan.
Doug Nissing
12:25 am on Monday, September 10, 2012
Dave -- one of the arguments which you have repeatedly made, which I respect, is that years ago Eden and Webster College entered into an agreement to use the Luhr Library as a joint venture. I don't know the enrollment of the College at that time, but I fully expect that it was exponentially smaller than what the University's master plan has in store for the campus.
I used to cross Lockwood to go to the College School. It was no big deal. I crossed Lockwood to go to Plymouth Jr. High. Also no big deal. And then of course I crossed Lockwood to go to WGHS. Again, no big deal. But if the University is (in its master plan) envisioning a campus that will sustain thousand of students on top of its current increase in population density over the past thirty years, yeah, we got a problem.
Point is, past is past. Those agreements were done at a different time, when Old Orchard played host to such institutions as the Clothes Closet and waterbed stores.
The concern should be focused not on a comparison with the past, as you have so often made, but more with the sustainability of a campus with 5000 students and how the city is supposed to support the infrastructure, traffic, parking, and emergency services to support that. The fact that the University contributes nothing to the city coffers (property taxes on homes owned and rented and utility taxes are another topic entirely) is of significant concern.
Dave Buck
11:00 am on Monday, September 10, 2012
Doug - good and fair comments you have verbally shared before. I am not going to debate your valid points, but I will simply embelllish another view:
1. In 1970, Webster Groves' population was greater than it is now. I cannot speak to Webster U's or Eden's student populations from 1969-2003. But I intuitively believe they were smaller than today, making any comparison with today a relative, fair and valid comparison.
2. Webster College because Webster University in 1983 and expanded to 5 colleges, so it existed for the last 20 years of the Webster-Eden joint library.
3. There are currently 3,002 undergraduate students at the St. Louis campus of Webster U. So the incemental master plan student gain is not 5,000, but 2,000 students that gets Webster U to 5,000 students. And their master plan has been designed to accomodate this increase of 2,000 students over 10-15 years all south of Lockwood - not across Lockwood in the 5,25 acres of Eden property or the Eden space which is not part of the master plan. The university is designed to handle this increase in students within their own campus footprint, with no neighborhood exansion. City services (like fire, police, etc.) will support the school as they always have.