On March 30, I attended the NU (Northwest University) open house and I must say I came away deeply disturbed at what they are proposing to build.
Most disturbing for me is the proposed tennis complex they want to construct. They want to build a behemoth 50-feet high, 120-feet deep by 320-feet long with a front set back of 30 feet.
It would appear that they want to cut down all the mature trees, which are presently in the 30-foot setback area, which is not really appropriate for the “Tree City.”
They say that they will do some berming and replant some screening material but nothing they do is going to diminish the impact of this huge structure on 53rd Street. It will change the entire feel of our neighborhood.
They claim that their expansion is all for the goal of making the university a better place for education, however it would seem that education is taking a back seat to building profit centers via a tennis complex and a lighted soccer field, both of which they are already laying plans with outside interests to lease out these two facilities for profit. I might add that these two sport venues are their first priorities, not student housing or class rooms.
They are asking for a 50-foot high tennis building clearly breaking our own code for building height which is totally unnecessary. The United States Tennis Association only requires a height of 36 feet above the center court net which is three feet in height, making a required total ceiling height of 39 feet, which gives them an additional one foot for a roof, which would bring the over all height above ground to 40 feet, not 50 feet.
Also,they are asking for six courts, which is clearly aimed at outside tennis competitions; four courts would be more than adequate for student use.
I asked President (Joseph) Castleberry of NU if they would consider also setting the building down 5 feet below grade to bring the overall height to 35 feet as well as preserving the mature trees which would help immensely to screen the building. I also asked if the facade of the building would be of a quality that would be compatible with our neighborhood. I did not really get a response to my questions or an answer to a personal letter I sent to him on another occasion.
Will it have the same type of materials that will be used on the buildings they will be building in the interior of the campus which are brick and have somewhat pleasing features or an industrial looking metal building with a few token embellishments?
I can understand the school wanting to increase student housing and other interior buildings to satisfy their needs, but an additional 800 students and 500 cars will impact the neighborhood and probably not in a good way.
I know that the leasing out of the soccer field has already disrupted the neighbors bordering the field with noise and litter. The university now has plans for a lighted soccer field which will be lit until 9 or 10 at night.
They don’t need to compound the impact on our neighborhood with profit centers used by outside interests.
Some years ago, as a city councilman in another city, we were asked to approve just this sort of a project in a residential neighborhood and out of respect to the homeowners and the negative impact on their way of life we turned down the request.
If you too are concerned about this project I would encourage you to attend the next NU open house meeting on May 9 at 6 p.m. The University , the Houghton and Kirkland Councils and planners will appreciate your thoughts and comments.
Dennis Schor, Kirkland
