The University of Memphis is moving forward with several multimillion-dollar projects in an effort to unify its main campus, but is facing opposition from area neighborhood associations.
The U of M plans to build a $62 million recreation center and a pedestrian bridge over the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks that divide the campus from the current recreation center.
“The bridge is going to help create synergy on the main campus,” said Steve Whistler, assistant director of U of M’s Campus Recreation Intermural Services. “The bridge and the new rec center are independent projects, but I think it is a win-win situation.”
The Memphis and Shelby County Office of Planning and Development was prepared to recommend approval with conditions of the closure of Echles Street between Spottswood and Southern Avenues during a meeting that was held on Aug. 13.
But the University put its request on hold after the Normal Station Neighborhood Associated voted in opposition of Echles’ closing.
“Normal Station Neighborhood Association is concerned that the closure of the northern block of Echles between Southern and Spottswood would displace traffic onto the already congested streets of the neighborhood,” said Wilma Taylor, president of the association, in a correspondence with The Daily Helmsman. “However, we are pleased that the University of Memphis takes this concern seriously and will be conducting a traffic impact analysis designed to give us a projection of what will happen if the block is closed.”
Once the study has been completed, the NSHA will work with the U of M to use that information to decide how it can best serve the needs of the University and the neighborhood.
“The U of M has worked very closely with our association over the years to the benefit of both groups,” Taylor said. “We greatly appreciate their concern for and interest in the Normal Station neighborhood.”
As for the new recreation center, construction is currently scheduled to begin in September 2016 and be completed in May of 2018.
“The new rec center is going to be the most cutting edge in the region,” Whistler said. “It is going to help recruit new students and retain them.”
The new complex will feature a five-court basketball wing, four racquetball courts, a multilevel fitness center and a one-third mile track.
“We did tons of research and traveled all over the country in to look at other colleges rec centers,” Whistler said. “Our plans have been compared to Auburn’s rec center, and they currently has a one-third mile track — the longest rec center track in the country. We plan on adding maybe a few feet to ours to make it the longest in the country. We are not trying to duplicate what Auburn has done, but we did want to see what was cutting edge.”
The plan is to build the new complex before demolishing the existing recreation center, except for the Larry O. Finch Center, which currently hosts the U of M basketball team practices.
A new parking lot, and potentially a parking garage, as well as a multiuse artificial turf field that will be used for intermural sports will take the place of the current recreation center.
“We had a great deal of input that went into the planning of this, including students,” Whistler said. “We invited students from the Student Government Association to give their input. We talked to students that work at the current rec center and all other types of students. We tried to get a cross section of student input.”
Despite being independent projects, the bridge and the new recreation center will be completely student-funded through an approved debt fee.
