EDITORIAL & OPINION: The 'Sun' rises over 40th St.

The plans for the Sundance Cinemas, parking garage and fresh-food market are exactly what University City needs. Both Redford and University President Judith Rodin said they wanted the eight-screen theater and other venues to become a locus of activity for the community and the school. In fact, Redford said that what attracted him to the 40th Street site was its location right in between "a depressed area and the university experience." The plans for the complex that University officials officially unveiled on Monday proved that both parties were committed to that vision, and it is one which we heartily endorse. The unique design of the buildings are laudable -- both for their aesthetic and functional qualities. The renderings of the complex looks stunning and we eagerly await seeing 40th Street in its new form. It is also commendable that the complex was designed not to be a theater, but rather a center for a variety of activity -- including lectures, community gathering and eating. The designs for the complex also call for a coffee bar and a new restaurant -- both of which have been sorely missing from the 40th Street area. The fact that both the coffee bar and the complex's restaurant will be operated by renowned restaurateur Stephen Starr only makes us more excited. The extensive outdoor seating area, which will be located along the Walnut Street side of the complex, will hopefully serve as an area where students and community members gel together in friendly fashion. Most of all, we are excited about what this project will mean for the further development of the 40th Street corridor. The University has already announced plans to open a parking garage with a specialty food market on the ground floor across the street from Sundance Cinemas. We hope that these are just the first of many ventures that are developed on the campus's western boundary. The plans for the complex show that University and Sundance officials are truly committed to redefining the 40th Street area. They have created a center with a myriad of features aimed to appeal both to students and community members on the 40th Street corridor.