Emory Report homepage  

January 29 , 2007
Creating Community, Engaging Society

BY david payne

"You better believe I’d take advantage of it!”

Leslie Hence, an accountant with Emory’s Alumni Development Records, didn’t mince her words when she heard about Emory’s plans to offer housing on Clifton Road. She was excited by the development because it would specifically target full-time Emory employees and others who work on Clifton Road. The condos would include incentives for a wide range of Emory employees at every income level to own homes near their jobs, allowing them to walk or bike to work.

Details of the mortgage program are still being ironed out, but the program and the development itself, across from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are supportive of Emory’s efforts for “Creating Community — Engaging Society” as part of the Strategic Plan.

“University communities thrive on an interesting mix of local residents, on street-level foot traffic during the day and night, and on social areas that people consider fun,” said Mont Rogers, a director with Emory’s Marketing Department. Rogers and Hence both work in the 1762 building and literally would be able to walk from the Clifton Road mixed-use project across the street to work.

Emory’s student population also will begin to see the effects of “Creating Community — Engaging Society” in 2007.

The University will break ground on a new graduate housing complex on Briarcliff Road, accessible to the Sage Hill shopping center and Emory’s campus.

In another plan, changes to housing will consolidate Emory’s freshman population into a centrally located “Freshman Village.” The change will enhance the first year college experience and strengthen the overall campus community by increasing the number of students on Emory’s main campus.

The first dorm in the Freshman Village opens in July; the second and third residence halls begin construction this summer. Ultimately, the complex could include 10 residence halls near Eagle Row.

Each of these housing communities will be served by Emory’s shuttle service, as well as by bicycle paths and expanded sidewalks. The transportation options support Emory’s Sustainability Initiative and negate the need to travel by car.

As Rogers added, “Great universities aren’t isolated from their communities, they reflect their communities.” It’s one new road Emory intends to follow.

A new voice
Emory anticipates filling the newly created role of Senior Vice Provost for Community Diversity and Institutional Development in early 2007. The position will be responsible for “envisioning and enabling an environment where community, diversity and engagement are fostered,” and will report directly to the Provost and the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Milestones: A look at key events in 2007 that will shape “Creating Community — Engaging Society”
• January: Emory opens the latest in its growing number of Park-n-Ride shuttle routes. The third location is at South DeKalb Mall.

• July: Emory completes its endeavor with the Clifton Community Partnership to create urban design guidelines for Clifton Road and sections of North Decatur Road. These guidelines will reflect community input on how key streets should be improved.

• September: Emory anticipates breaking ground on its Clifton Road mixed-use project across from the CDC. The first phase of development is expected to last 18 months.

TOP