Commercial Center Put On Hold

By Elizabeth Alonzo
Staff Writer

In hopes of reducing Stony Brook University’s dependence on state financial support, Assemblyman Steve Englebright sponsored a bill which would authorize Stony Brook University to lease University property to private not-for-profit corporations. These companies will offer student-faculty facilities, student services, retail, and commercial services. Private investments are expected to fund the construction.

The bill proposes the construction of a new anchor facility which will be located in the middle of campus, also known as the Academic Mall. This structure will provide a bookstore, a student-faculty center, and other related services. At the moment, several student services are located at various buildings throughout the campus. This facility will bring such services at a core location making it convenient for both resident and commuter students while creating a “village-like” atmosphere for the campus.

A student survey justified the bill, concluding that there is a growing demand for retail and food establishments, a computer store and other related services. At a conference meeting last Wednesday, Assemblyman Englebright stated, “The campus is growing like a magnificent plant in a too small pot. Very little goes on. The campus offers relatively little in terms of accommodating students and faculty.” Englebright believed that this construction would be a good opportunity for students and faculty to gather to create a better college-campus environment as compared to the “weekend escape” that occurs on Thursdays and Fridays at the LIRR station.

There are several controversial issues dealing with this matter, one being that many people do not believe that the state should sell public assets for private use. However, according to Englebright, “I pushed for the bill because it promotes improving student life. But I don’t want to overdo it. I don’t want 80 foot letters spelling out ‘CVS’ on top of the math tower.”

This bill is just one of the many propositions concerning the controversial ground-lease programs on the Stony Brook campus. The infamous development of a hotel/conference center by the main entrance of the University is currently in the works, thanks to the Gaffney Bill, and the University is in the process of cutting a contract with a private company. There is a lawsuit filed by the Three Village Inn and the Holiday Inn Express against the University concerning the construction of the hotel.

A similar bill had been passed for the Amherst Campus of SUNY Buffalo in the mid-1970s. SUNY Buffalo freshman Stamatina Fileas comments, “it’s called the ‘Commons,’ which has a Starbucks, Chinese food, Korean express, Burger King, a hair salon, a CVS, a Subway, a convenience store, a jewelry store, and some other stores. They have actually recently extended it for who knows what reason or what they are going to put there.”

For the past nine years, this bill had been in a legislative vortex, and on February 17, 2005 was referred to the higher education subcommittee for further deliberations. The bill will most likely not be acted on until the controversial issues are dealt with.

Englebright stated, “Sullivan was enthusiastic about the bill and promised to advance it. Then he changed his mind. There are implications that had not been fully worked out yet. The reason why two different chairmen chose not to advance it is because of the need to resolve some of the policy issues throughout the SUNY system.”

According to Englebright, the project will not be implemented anytime soon. In other words, don’t hold your breath.