As the City Council continues to meet to determine the future of downtown Auburn, students speak their minds on the matter of the possible new urbanism in Auburn.
Stone Ray, freshman in architecture, has lived in the new 160 North Ross Street apartment complex for a month.
According to Ray, he could not ask for a better living situation. Ray said the selling point for him was the location of the building in relation to campus.
While he walks most places, Ray said he would prefer to be right in the heart of downtown, making transportation easier.
By setting the building height requirements downtown to 75 feet and allowing for student housing in the urban core, Ray said the City of Auburn would be applying the principal of new urbanism, or a walkable community, to the city.
Alison Sunderhaft, senior in chemical engineering, said it is extremely difficult to find housing within walking distance of campus. Because of this, she said housing downtown would be a big hit to students.
Sunderhaft also said a few more stories would not completely take away Auburn's village-type feel; it would only add a more modern and convenient twist to the core.
Ray said 75-foot buildings would not bother him, but he does understand the concern of blocking the view of Samford Hall from the northern approach.
“It’s great to look at Samford Hall, but I’m distracted by overhead power lines and a rundown gas station,” Ray said. “That building will have a roof that could be utilized, and the view from up there could be better than the view from your windshield as you cross over the train tracks.”
Ray said he believes a 75-foot building would not compete with the 156-foot Samford Hall.
Some citizens have concerns with the potential new buildings downtown, because they believe it will cause Auburn to lose its small town feel, Ray said.
“I agree that 75-foot buildings are not for that small town feel, but to me Auburn is not a small town anymore,” Ray said.
Ray said it is unfair to say Auburn should operate like a small town like it did in the 1800s, because the population has drastically increased since then.
"Our small town is growing," Sunderhaft said.
Ray dreams of an Auburn where more students and businesses are located downtown, which would promote walking and eliminate driving. He also believes this will keep Auburn vibrant and social.
“I like to pass my fellow students and talk to them, rather than passing them in my car and honking my horn,” Ray said.
Fisher Conanan, freshman in mechanical engineering, said it was time for Auburn to grow downtown as the population of the city grows.
Conanan, who moved to Auburn in 2003 from San Francisco, said he is a fan of a more urban city-like style for Auburn.
Conanan said student housing already exists, and having more downtown would just be housing in a different location.
According to Conanan, growth will promote new businesses and more diversity for the city as a whole by attracting new residents and visitors.
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