CDU News | Page 16
Community Provides Input at Event on North Campus Project
Friends and neighbors came together for a special event in July to provide community input on proposed plans to expand the CDU campus onto the 12.8-acre former site of Lincoln Elementary School . The site is located just north of the current campus across 118th street and adjacent to the parking structure .
Held in the MLK Community Healing & Trauma Prevention Center adjoining CDU , the Wellness Campus Project Community Meeting represented an important early step in plans to significantly expand the University ’ s footprint in Willowbrook . Initial ideas for the new campus expansion were presented to attendees , then breakout groups were created so residents could delve deeper into different aspects of the plan , provide their own suggestions , and help shape the future of the site .
Attendees gathered together again so one resident from each group could report back on the breakout discussions . This allowed for further discussion and brainstorming about how to best create a North Campus that meets the needs of the community and enhances the neighborhood while accommodating the growth of the University .
The project is initially proposed to include elements of affordable and senior housing for the community , as well as dormitory options for CDU students and workforce housing . Community-serving program space and commercial retail are also part of the vision . A promenade to enhance pedestrian access to the Transit Center was also discussed , along with plans to include athletic facilities and 700 + additional parking spaces to accommodate CDU ’ s growing population .
Food and refreshments were served with extra provided for taking home . Attendees were encouraged to add pins to a map signifying their residence in the neighborhood , which will help the organizers track which regions within and around Willowbrook have been represented in the review and input process . The presentations and main Q & A session were simultaneously translated into Spanish . The entire event lasted approximately 90 minutes .
The concept for the Wellness Campus builds upon the Willowbrook Transit Oriented District Specific Plan community outreach conducted from 2014 to 2017 as well as CDU ’ s Campus Vision Plan created in 2019 . The goal is to transform the location into a safe , vibrant , transit-oriented , health , education , and wellness campus for Willowbrook and surrounding communities . Additional information will be posted on the project website as it becomes available .