North Central planning new residence hall

Artist rendering courtesy of north central college

North Central College's proposed four-story dorm and rec center would hold about 265 students initially and could open in September 2008, pending approval from the city of Naperville.

Several hundred North Central College students may have a chance to move onto campus next fall.

The college is planning to build a four-story "green" residence hall and recreational center, that could open as early as next September, pending city approval.

However, some nearby residents have concerns about the size of the project and their potential new neighbors.

A rec center has been part of the college's master land use plan for years to give students a place to exercise without working around the schedules of athletic teams.

But Paul Loscheider, vice president of business affairs, said the residence hall portion is also needed to accommodate both current and future students.

The school currently leases space to house nearly 200 students in several off-campus locations.

The new facility would be built on the west side of Loomis Street east of the Merner Fieldhouse between the parking deck and Porter Campus Access Road.

The proposed 198,000-square-foot structure would be four stories, or about 50 feet tall. It would house 265 students in the first phase and eventually almost a hundred more.

The rec center portion of the building would have exercise equipment, a 200-meter indoor track, elevated walking track and four multipurpose courts.

The entire facility would be a "green" building with energy-efficient systems and precast walls made up of 40 percent recycled materials.

North Central is trying to lessen traffic on campus and will not be adding a parking lot for the building. Instead, it is hoping to start several car- and-bike sharing programs. Freshman students also will not be able to have cars on campus but would instead have to park in a remote lot and take a shuttle.

Loscheider brought the proposal to the Naperville plan commission recently for approval. At the time, several residents expressed concern about parking, noise and the sheer size of the building. A vote was delayed until Wednesday.

Julie Kulak, who lives across the street from the proposed residence hall, is among those taking issue with the plan.

"Building a rec center, I think that's wonderful, but having a dorm with 265 kids in it ... it's not right for this neighborhood," she said.

Loscheider said the building is more than 50 feet away from Loomis and, because of its location, from Highland Avenue only the top two stories are visible.

"By wrapping the building with the residential part we're actually softening what would have been there, maximizing the college's land use, being sensitive to the environment and sensitive to the neighbors," Loscheider said.

To address concerns from residents and commission members, the college has added two 15-minute parking spaces at both the northwest and southwest entrances. There also would not be an entrance to the building on Loomis Street, which Loscheider said should discourage students from parking there.

Plan commission Vice Chairman Joe McElroy said he has not yet decided how he will vote on the proposal and can see both sides.

"I understand why people who live across the street, they've gotten accustomed to having a big expansive green space across from their houses and I understand why they're not happy about it going away," he said.

But, he noted, "the college is basically landlocked. It would not be fair to keep them from developing, using their property for the highest and best use."