Hood College plans new buildings and parking lots

According to a Master Plan approved by the Hood College Board of Trustees in June of 2007, Hood College plans to add:

• two sets of townhouse-style dorms along Magnolia Avenue (demolishing two houses at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and Belmont Avenue)
• several tennis courts in between the two sets of dorms along Magnolia Avenue
• an aquatics center just to the east of the townhome-style dorms
• a 100-space parking lot between Gambrill Hall and Hodson Science and Technology Center (replacing the tennis courts there)
• two residence halls on either side of Coblentz Hall
• a 100-space parking lot to the east of Coblentz Hall near Hospital Drive
• additional entrances / exits on Hospital Drive
• an extension of Hospital Drive to Park Avenue
• an all-season turf NCAA playing field and bleachers just to the north of Coblentz Hall
  
• a recreation, education, athletics, and convocation facility near Hospital Drive and 7th Street
  
• a softball dugout and bleachers along 7th Street
• landscaping along Rosemont Avenue

In addition, according to the Master Plan, Hood College plans to:

• relocate Williams Observatory closer to Magnolia Avenue and Atlantic Avenue
• renovate Gambrill Hall as a recreation center

Click to see a larger version of this photo

This Master Plan is on display on a stand in Alumnae Hall. As neighbors of Hood College, we are concerned about the expansion. How many additional students will the new dorms house? Where will they park? How much light and noise pollution will result on the side streets near Hood College? Where will the construction traffic flow? What will the impact be of the additional students and service vehicles to the surrounding area?

To answer our questions, President Volpe and his staff will meet with residents at a breakfast session on October 1. Please attend if you are interested, and if you cannot and you have questions or concerns, please leave comments on this blog or email your questions at hood-neighbors@comcast.net. In addition, please join the Hood Neighbors mailing list by emailing hoodneighbors@comcast.net. Hope to see you at the October 1st breakfast session.

Additional photos with closer views of the Master Plan will be posted on this blog soon, as well as any additional information we receive.