U. officials seek space for merchants displaced by Perelman construction

Two days after Provost Stanley Chodorow's town meeting about the Perelman Quadrangle project, administrators and students continue to discuss concerns about available space in the renovated facilities. Houston Hall vendors and members of student and performing arts groups share concerns about the effect of Perelman Quad renovations -- a project that will eventually link Logan, Houston and Williams halls to Irvine Auditorium -- on current office and retail space. University administrators met with 14 Houston Hall vendors last week to inform them that current retailers will not be allowed to return to the basement of Houston Hall. In the next few months, University administrators and officials from the University City Associates realty group will meet with each Houston Hall vendor as part of efforts to find them alternative locations. "We're working to understand their needs," UCA General Manager John Greenwood said. "We're working to find homes for them in the University City area." Retailers will work with University and UCA officials over the next 15 months to locate alternative space, according to Associate Director of Student Life Tom Hauber, who oversees Houston Hall retail. "We have some time to work all of that out," Hauber said. "I want to make the transition as easy as possible." At Tuesday's meeting, Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum thanked the Houston Hall vendors for their years of service to the University community. Loerell Mapp, who has operated Houston Hall's University Copy and Printing Services for the past 13 years, said, although he has long been aware the renovations would force his businesses to relocate, the move will be "devastating." "I knew it was coming forth," he said. "But this is my livelihood." Mapp -- who also owns the hall's Mail Stop Plus -- noted that relocating off campus would harm his business because approximately 90 percent of his customers are members of the University community. He added that he appreciated University efforts to "inform merchants directly" of their status. Thirty groups with space in Houston Hall and Irvine Auditorium will be forced to relocate during the renovations, but administrators emphasized they are continuing to examine options for temporary and permanent replacement space. Their first priority is to find temporary space for the groups being forced out of Irvine Auditorium, which will close this June. And in response to student recommendations, McCoullum said the University's space allocation policy has been updated. As part of the new policy, only the Undergraduate Assembly and the Graduate and Professional Students Association will be assigned permanent office space on the second floor of the renovated Houston Hall. Additionally, student organizations registered with the Office of Student Life can request permanent office space area in Irvine Auditorium and Houston or Williams halls. A board composed of representatives from various student groups will review the requests, while Director of Student Life Activities and Facilities Fran Walker will help coordinate the space reallocation. Although many students at Tuesday's meeting expressed concerns about available space, Walker said only one student approached her yesterday to discuss these concerns. Walker added that she will continue to keep students updated about space allocations. "I've been telling them what I've been told -- that it's being worked out," she said. Walker added that although available campus space "is a commodity more precious than gold," she has confidence that officials will be able to find space for the groups losing their offices as part of the Houston Hall and Irvine Auditorium renovations.