Maple Street Apartments
From CarlWiki
Maple Street Apartments is the working name for a new residence hall planned to be constructed southeast of Watson Hall. The building was originally expected to be ready for student housing in Fall Term 2007, but it has been delayed due to concerns raised by nearby Northfield residents.
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Planned design
Plans for the Maple Street Apartments are still being revised as of Summer 2006, but the current plan calls for the building to house a total of 57 students in 13 suites of 3-5 students each. At least four of the suites are to be handicap accessible. Each suite will have its own living room, bathroom and kitchenette. The facility is also expected to include a full kitchen, a large community room, study rooms, a game room and a laundry room. It is also planned to have the building connected directly to Watson Hall through a tunnel. It will also be air-conditioned.
Construction progress
Summer 2006
- Watson House, the Faculty Club Annex and the garage for Chaney House were demolished to make way for the new building.
- Project put on indefinite hold due to concerns by area residents (see "Controversy" section below).
Summer 2007
- Construction was originally expected to be completed this summer.
Controversies
Several students and alumni expressed reservations about the building's potential effect on the Japanese Garden, as the initial plans called for nearly all the cedar trees that serve as a natural blind between the garden and the surrounding buildings to be cut down. Revised plans, created after discussion with the Japanese Garden's architect, called for nearly all of these cedar trees to be preserved and the building's location to be moved further south.
Though there were appeared to be no community opposition to the project at a meeting the college held with Northfield residents in January, 2006, a similar meeting in June produced strongly negative comments. The architects revised the plans in an attempt to address these concerns, but neighborhood residents were still very opposed to the project due to the size of the building relative to the property, which would (as stated in a letter from President Oden and Vice-President Fred Rogers '72) "not allow for an appropriate integration into the surrounding neighborhood." Progress on the Maple Street Apartments has been put on indefinite hold while the college re-assesses the housing situation and communication issues with the community.
External links
- Construction and Planning Update, Spring 2006
- Carleton News and Notes -A discussion of the effect on the Japanese Garden in item 3:158-173 from the Alumni Chat conference on Caucus (NetID required)
- Carleton News and Notes -Letter from President Oden and VP Rogers about the halt to construction in item 3:177 of Alumni Chat.
