UB President John Simpson announced Tuesday that after four years of stalled action, construction will begin today on Lee Road and the entire $600 million project will be done by Sunday.
The ambitious project, which aims to create a greater college atmosphere on North Campus, calls for the development of Lee Road from the Ellicott Complex to the Student Union.
The project's new buildings will not only provide UB with 3,000 additional beds for student housing, but when construction is done on Sunday, UB will also have a new bookstore, visitor's center, faculty club, hotel, TGI Friday's restaurant, mini-supermarket, childcare center, conference center, amphitheatre and quadrangle, florist, music store, clothing store, bike shop, bank, health services facility, "water feature" for winter ice skating, dry cleaners, gift shop and extra parking.
"I don't see why it can't be done by Sunday," said Simpson, who was the first to put a shovel in the site at Tuesday's groundbreaking ceremony. "We've put this off long enough as it is. After four years of planning, arguing, conceptualizing and financing - none of which I was here for, of course - getting this done by Sunday is the least UB could do for the students."
Simpson apologized for being reclusive during his first months here, seeming to do nothing but unpack. The fa?\0xA4ade was necessary, he said, to organize the Lee Road construction.
"I'm sorry if you all feel left in the dark," said Simpson. "But the secrecy over the last few months has allowed me to work closely with the best contractors in all New York, who I just know will do an excellent job. Going over the plans with them has had me very excited."
Ken Campbell, project manager of the Hard Hats & Things construction company, however, said he has no idea what the heck Simpson is talking about.
"I have no idea what the heck he's talking about," Campbell said.
Simpson said he was encouraged by the overwhelming support the project has received from everyone in the Buffalo community.
"I hate it," said Robert Coles, a local architect. "That campus out in Amherst already took away the city's vitality, and now they're going to put the final nail in the coffin by building on Lee Road."
According to Coles, with the extensive commercialization of Lee Road, students in Amherst would have no reason to ever leave the campus and would become even further isolated from Buffalo.
So far, the Lee Road project's biggest proponents have been the students.
"You mean I'd never have to leave campus? And I could be even lazier and more uncultured and ignorant than I am now?" said Jessica Watts, a seventh year undeclared major. "Awesome."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
