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Council OKs Tulane's Plan to Expand
Read about the 4/15/04 vote in the New Orleans Times Picayune.

University Square Downsized
by 83,000 Square Feet
Hotel Eliminated and Improvements Planned

The modifications to Tulane University Square released today by Councilman Jay Batt reflect hours of discussion between Tulane University and its neighbors. Tulane has agreed to remove the hotel from the project and to downsize the conference center, reducing the overall size of the project by 83,000 square feet. With this reduction, the University is now developing only one-third of the site.

Additionally, the development of Tulane University Square will provide more than $1.2 million in infrastructure improvements to sewerage, traffic, street and drainage in the surrounding area.

The changes announced today should ease concerns about density of the project.

While in general agreement with the modifications presented today by Councilman Batt, the university does have a number of questions and issues that need clarification. The university is working with Councilman Batt on those issues.

Tulane has met numerous times with Councilman Batt and his Blue Ribbon Committee, which has been reviewing the plans since December. Significant progress has been made toward addressing the concerns of neighbors and at the same time fulfilling the university’s critical needs.

Planning Commission Votes in Favor of University Square

The New Orleans City Planning Commission officially approved plans to redevelop Uptown Square into Tulane University Square. Plans for the satellite campus were substantially modified to provide more green space, larger buffer zones between buildings and residences, and improved traffic circulation. Commission Chairman Marshall Truehill commended Tulane on the revised plan, commenting that Tulane “bent over backwards to make concessions” for a more neighborhood-friendly project and given the fact that the university is such an economic engine, “I can’t see how we can deny them the ability to grow.”

“We will continue to look at the plans to see where improvements can be made for the good of the project and the neighborhood,” said Anne Baños, vice president and chief of staff, Tulane University. “We continue to welcome feedback from the neighbors to the university square website.”

The project will go before the New Orleans City Council in April. Read about the 3/9/04 vote in the New Orleans Times Picayune.

University Square Site Plan Revised; Developer Selected for the Project

In response to recommendations in the City Planning Commission’s staff report and neighborhood input, substantial changes have been made to the proposal for University Square. The modifications were shared with neighborhood representatives during a meeting on March 4.

More buffer & green space on Broadway – The Administration building has been re-configured to add more green space, further setback and less structure fronting on Broadway. The building is a more compact, graduated structure than originally proposed. It is set back 40 feet from Broadway and the portion closest to Broadway is just 2 stories high. The building then steps to 5 stories at a distance of 60 feet from Broadway – distancing it from the street.

This change allows for 33% less frontage on Broadway. It will provide a larger buffer to residences and should alleviate concerns about the scale of buildings facing Broadway. Originally, the building was proposed as 4 stories, set back 40 feet from Broadway. The overall square footage of the building is unchanged.

The curb cut has been removed from Broadway across from Coliseum Street. With this revision, the only entrance to the site from Broadway is from Perrier Street. An access lane has been created between the administrative building and parking garage to accommodate traffic on-site.

Graduate and Married Student Apartments – The new configuration for the graduate and married student apartments shifts the building closer to Leake Avenue and farther away from residences, creating a 20-foot buffer between the building and residentially zoned properties

Surface parking - the new configuration allows for 20 more surface parking spaces bringing the total number of off-street surface parking spaces to 40.

Pine Street – traffic on Pine Street between Perrier and Prytania will be one-way lake-bound.

Access to the nursery/childcare center will be from Pine Street to minimize traffic on Prytania.

Carver Playground – Tulane has entered into a partnership with the New Orleans Recreation Department for assistance and improvements to Carver Playground. This collaborative partnership would promote creation of a Booster Club and facilitate volunteer efforts.

Developer Selected for the Project

City Planning Commission Defers Vote On University Square

The New Orleans City Planning Commission deferred a vote on Tulane's plans to develop University Square until its March 9 meeting. The deferral will allow Tulane and city planning staffers to confer on the provisos recommended in the staff's preliminary report. The preliminary report recommended "Modified Approval," subject to several provisos. At a public hearing on January 27, Tulane administrators told the commission that it agrees with 77% of the suggestions and will work with the planning staff between now and March 9 on the remaining provisos.

The university presented its plans to the full commission, emphasizing that its University Square proposal contains 46% open space and develops about half of what is allowed under the current commercial zoning. Tulane is not asking for any waivers or variances. The university must obtain a conditional use permit from the commission only because it is developing a satellite campus on the 6-acre site. During its presentation, Tulane cited the staff's preliminary report which noted, "since the site is zoned C-2 General Commercial District, many other uses which are often considered highly undesirable could be included on the site by right."

Tulane Announces Development of Tulane University Square

Tulane will develop “Tulane University Square” on a portion of the property formerly known as Uptown Square. The estimated $150 million mixed-use development will include facilities that will address critical needs of the university including: administrative offices, a nursery school and childcare center, healthcare facility, conference center, parking, graduate and married student apartments, and amenity retail. By identifying these uses, the university concludes its initial planning phase, which involved an extensive examination of the university’s critical needs and impacts on the neighborhood surrounding the site. More

Why University Square Is So Important

In 1998, Tulane adopted a comprehensive strategic action plan to propel the university forward. Tulane’s plans for University Square are consistent with this blueprint for positioning the university as a national leader.

Competition for the brightest students and valuable research dollars is fierce and academic institutions are regularly updating facilities to remain attractive. University Square is a critical component of Tulane’s plans for the future.

No classes will be conducted at University Square. Rather, it will house services and functions that support academia and research. University Square will free up space on the uptown campus for academic and research initiatives - critical functions for Tulane and the region.

Tulane’s success yields multi-million dollar benefits for New Orleans and the entire region. Tulane’s research funding has grown from $59 million in 1998 to $118 million in 2003. Increased research means more jobs at Tulane:

• Six to seven jobs are created for each $1 million in research funding from the National Institutes of Health. Tulane’s current funding from NIH totals $55 million.
• Tulane employs 5900 people. It is the city’s largest private employer.
• The jobs of another 14,000 people are associated with Tulane contracts, for a total indirect impact of 20,000 jobs in our community.
• Tulane accommodates 75% more students than it did in the 1960s, yet our campus is essentially the same size. We are in need of additional space for expanded research, academic and community programs and administrative functions.

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