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Welcome to “College Town, UTA”
UT Arlington, a commuter school? Not much
anymore. District 5 City Council member Lana Wolff
says a number of students may still drive to the
sprawling campus of 28,000, but this is “certainly
not the UTA of yesterday.”
Wolff and university officials are banking on UT
Arlington becoming a vital partner with the City of
Arlington to create a Downtown/University District
that’s an intellectual, cultural and economic hub
that balances the traditional college town with new
business growth.
The launch of UT Arlington’s community outreach
initiative, “College Town, UTA,” is a first step in
that direction. The vision aligns with plans to
revitalize a downtown that blends existing
performing and visual art venues, historic
neighborhoods, libraries, parks, retailers and
restaurants with the school’s vast research center,
popular planetarium and soon-to-be constructed
special events center and mixed-use
retail/residential structure.
The $73 million, 190,000 square-foot special event
center will sit between South Center and South Pecan
streets on West Second Stree and host Maverick
basketball and volleyball as well as convocations,
commencements, concerts, speakers, conferences and
other events. It is expected to open in the spring
of 2012 with a seating capacity of 6,500.
Construction of a $67 million mixed-use residence
hall will follow. The project includes 1,800 parking
spaces on four levels to support the events center
and living space for about 450 students. The
building will include retail and office space at the
ground level, a University police satellite office
and a plaza.
With a population well over 300,000, Arlington isn’t
the typical college town anymore. But as UTA
Communications and Community Relations Associate
Vice President Amy Schultz points out, “A college
town is more than just geography.”
“What we want Arlington residents to know about us
is that we’ve got a cool re-emerging downtown with a
big university supporting that effort,” she said.
“This is a huge treasure,” said Wolff. “Those who
live at the edge of a college campus love going on
campus. It’s well-manicured, safe and has good
educational and cultural opportunities. It’s just a
magnet for people who want to live around a
university.”
Part of the “College Town, UTA” initiative is
providing people with information to make them feel
included, said Schultz. Newsletters will be mailed
twice a year and feature specific campus projects,
programs and dates for events like the Maverick
Speaker Series. The web site provides information on
UT Arlington topics of interest to neighbors,
including construction updates, public events,
resources, discounts, partnership opportunities and
children’s programming.
“I like what I see so far,” said Brandon Conner,
whose home is within walking distance of the
university. “It finally feels like the neighborhood
will be taken into account with what they are trying
to do.”
That’s the idea, said Schultz. “We want residents to
feel that we’re an accessible, open place,” she
said. “That we have the welcome mat out for them.”
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