The Griffin: volume 54, issue 06 - Oct. 21, 1983

              Dr. Ronald Coan, Chairman of the Urban Studies Department terms the study "as one of the largest ever done." .Vri!>• Stuff I'hntufiruiihcr IH)M l.l(. fi When the housing values and demand for these areas go down, real estate brokers no longer deal with them. People interested must then go to banks and qualify for a mortgage. "Qualifying is a very difficult process", said Dr. Coan, qnd is "beyond the ability of most people to do." People are then forced to pay cash or enter into land contract sales. As a result, all types of speculators and scam artists are able to enter the picture.because the market has left them", he added. Since 1980, over 100 students under the direction of Dr. Ronald Coan have studies more than 13 banks, 40,000 mortgages and 40,000 home improvements in an effort to determine exactly where the city's neighborhoods by Colleen R. Marzec "This is one of the largest studies ever done, quite possibly the second largest in the nation", said Dr. Coan, chairman of the Urban Studies Department. He was referring to the study conducted by the department for the city of Buffalo entitled, "Mortgage and Home Inprovement Lending". Volume I of the study has just been published and concentrates specifically on the mortgage industry's standing within the city. According to Dr. Coah, "38% of the census tracks are out of the mortgage market." Essentially this means that 38-40% of the city is ineligible for a mortgage. Once a neighborhood reaches a certain point, housing values go down, and the conditions that encourage a mortgage lender disappear. "The deck is stacked against these neighborhoods in research which is used in a practical manner that serves the community. stand Dr. Coan continued, "Buffalo is trying to revitalize it's neighborhoods, fundamental to this they must be able to attract capital. What this study is doing is checking the ability of the neighborhood to attract this capital. Without it, they will never get off the ground." The study is the result of the department's efforts to move the urban studies program to a preprofessional level with an emphasis on community research rather than the traditional internships. In this way, students are able to gain valuable experience £ ISouwbiuo £tbrary Dr. Walter Sharrow, Dean of Arts and Sciences (lower left hand corner) explained proposed library solutions. Sharrow also served as the chairman of the library ad-hoc committee. Ill I'hotos by IM)\I I.IC ITI According to a Consultant report on the library by Mr. Paul Mason of Mira Incorporated, the Archives could be considered a "separable" part of the library. The second Interim solution "Our experience was that very few undergraduates use the Archives and that the archives could be separable from the library," Dr. Sharrow commented.1) Moving the archives from the basement of the library to the basement of Christ the King Chapel. The "Assurance for Excellence" report to the board proposes these two temporary solutions: He said, "A document outlining the interim solutions has been circulated to the Board of Trustees, but it will not be considered by them as a whole until Tuesday. Up to this point, the board has been attending various committee meetings on the library solution. by Tom Allport and Kevin J. Smith Plans for the expansion of the Andrew L. Bouwhuis library are at a pivotal stage with the forthcoming meeting of the Board of Trustees this Tuesday. According to Dr. Walter Sharrow, Dean of Arts and Sciences and Chairman of the AD HOC Committee on Library Space, the Board will consider a commitment for two (2) interim solutions in order to deal with immediate space problems faced by the library. 2) Renovation of technical services and cataloguing. The cataloguing and technical services behind the circulation desk will be moved to rooms on the first floor of Old Main. The circulation desk and checkpoint will be moved to the entrance to the Foyer from Old Main. The as stated in the report con cerned: When asked about the commitment of the Board of Trustees up to this point, Sharrow responded, "Up to this time, the Dr. Sharrow explained, "This would add more square feet for book space, shelving, and reader stations." front porch of the library will be extended and serve as the Foyer to the library. He added, "I would not like to anticipate what the Board will do, but I :an say, the work we have done up to this point has been in close consultation with the Board. This is an extremely Board of Trustees have given their commitment in principle. The question now is whether economic commitment will be given." The proposed construction should.proceed in two stages: 1) The construction of a new wing on the first floor toward the Main St. side that would add about 21,000 square feet. 2) Architectural structuring on the tower side of the library along with work on an expanded Foyer from Old Main. Stage I of this new construction would come in 1986, and the {cont'd on page ll The major decision made by the collective Committees was that even after these interim solutions, we will definitely need new construction. The Committee recommended to the Board of Trustees that they had a prime face case concerning the space problem. The top people in the field of Library Science were contacted and a Consultant was chosen to specify the dimensions of the library problem. The consultant chosen was Thomas R. Mason of Mira Incorporated who is considered one of the top ten in the country. "We were interested in Interim solutions so we could alleviate present problems," said Dr. Sharrow. The real work on the library started several years ago. An AD HOC Committee composed of faculty, administrative and student members was appointed to reach a general consensus on how to deal with the immediate space problems facing the library. sensitive time because so much is at stake." Urban Studies Department Conducts Monumental Mortgage Study Project (cont'd on page 3) Philosophy Skills Valuable? page 5. Griffs Basketball Begins, page 16. Griffin Restaurant Review, see 20. V M'jii m ■ A, | m 4-4S- ;:i / H£ / ■H A- • *• :.;?3 » ;1> THE GRIFFIN "OVER A HALF CENTURY IN PRINT" VOLUME LIV, NUMBER 6 Friday, October 21, 1983 Serving The College And Community Library Plans to be Considered by Trustees