U-mass in Tower Square have formed a unique partnership in offering local
citizens the opportunity to attend Mass
right here in downtown Springfield University will lease over 27,000 square
be on the second floor of the building
just in time for fall program to start in fall 2014
today I'm joined by Kevin Kennedy Springfield steep development officer in
University Massachusetts by
Chancellor John Kennedy to talk about that full-fare with you john
why the location why did you guys choose the Tower Square Building
well as you know we had a number of options presented 2010 Springfield word
absolutely committed to a location in the center the city Tara square just had
the right combination
love facilities the ability to modify this basis we needed
parking and then of course access to the wonderful food court and other
a amenities they were would be appealing to our students
and especially because you are reaching out primarily to younger students there
almost
right in the heart of downtown you have transportation right around the corner
with the bus station and
there's so many things local to that was that how
important a party in up part do you think that played
in a factor the younger students in this downtown Springfield area
but I think we're we're committed to appealing to those the student
population
but it but as Kevin can attest we're committed to revitalizing the heart of
the city so
the downtown location was was critical to that all other locations had access
to public transportation in various ways
but again terrace where the right combination and also for the purposes
the University
had a bright opportunity for us to bring the University in terms of sin age
in terms of making a statement about where we were going to be in the city
I it was a tough choice because we really some terrific
folks in town they were offering a space it's just the way the Tower Square put
all that the pieces together really was unmatched
and talking about that Kevin Kennedy from the city
you guys have the casino coming in hopefully soon enough and then ask him
got you math coming into downtown Springfield
I mean you guys must have your hands fall but
it in you very excited about all this opportunity we've got lots of new
businesses that are coming here we've got new police in the downtown we've got
new lights coming in the downtown you mention Union Station
and what you masses doing here's a big boost for the down to arm
they well they're not a corporate citizen they are going to be a good
citizen the downtown we've been interested in bringing them here for 20
years
and chairman Thomas and the president karet in
based in Chancellor supply me if I said that correctly
arm in John here had a good great deal to do with that and we're really
thrilled about it
and it seems that you're not just
an reaching out to you we know what the math Amherst we now have all these other
locations but it's almost as for bringing
that a whole nother level to downtown with the education provided
hopefully will be entertainment enough from the city's perspective if the
offers all these other
and many years as well but they kinda wanna top it all off with the education
took a relationship that you math paths with the city in providing that
education to the students and two that kids on Springfield it's a great
offering I mean the land grant institution for the state
home now offering programs that are
can be unique arm yeah I deer that we're going to have a youthful vibrancy
on downtown streets a going to our restaurants
using Union Station all around the place in downtown is really going to be a big
boost was
we've spent a lot of time and effort down here with our parking authority or
business improvement district and
downtown release on their way back where we're anxious about the casino or
anxious about U-mass coming here we're anxious about new entertainment options
a
a lot of things are gonna be happening in Springfield over the next three years
do you feel that this will provide an opportunity for somebody that perhaps
couldn't get a rough order could
managed to get out to you mass and pressure you math Boston that
you know right here provide them with that ability to not be far from home or
work
especially maybe if they're in a different economic level than somebody
from the math in her sir
U-mass Boston well yeah I mean I would say that a
wanna be clear that the the the facility people has programming from
the entire US system so that for undergraduate campuses primarily
and what Dad to afford us is to be is the opportunity to offer programming
across the academic
spectrum I so yes they're the it'll be a great opportunity for
but for student in Springfield for students in the community colleges and
inch dick Holyoke Community College's we're we're looking at two plus two
programs are looking at we have it number partnership already with stack
up but that's not all that that this is about the
the University USA merced spend committed to Springfield for number two
years we had that you miss hammer spring for partnership to sign back in 2008
and as congressman neil pointed out when we announce this
there's been discussions about bringing you master Springfield for about what
twenty twenty-five years now
find it funny happening in it what this is about for us is a fulfillment
ARV arlene great mission love teaching researching gauge would so that
activities at Amherst is involved in down here in Springfield are
are more than just course offerings for students we're committed to it working
with the Springfield Public Schools for 180 days in Springfield and other
initiatives we have underway
to help work with the with the with that the more work in the public schools to
improve the public schools in to train teachers to teach in a challenging
environment
we have a long-standing partnership with a state
through that pain about life sciences institute which is bringing life science
research to the to the region
with print precision manufacturing lines in we have
a knowing the public radio which virtually moved
will be moving downtown Springfield to all of this is part of the University's
commitment
to the work with Springfield to
temp improve the city in that University will benefit from that as well
got now I know the city has seen some ups and downs
in its downtown vibrancy and seven guys are trying to bring it back up to the
high especially the casino
coming through add you got any be immediate concern like all well
this influx of college students you know is that a good environment will be too
much or do you feel that this will be a good
typeof influx with this like you mentioned before vibrancy are there any
concerns or worry
this is going to be very positive the ID rope
you what your downtown to be exciting you want it to be
someplace the people wanna go i mean you need to take your security you need to
take your lighting
but you also need people people bring a vibrancy that can be really helpful
and next thing you know they're staying here they're they're going to the
restaurants are going to the shops they're going to the MassMutual Center
Symphony Hall
and everybody benefits from it next thing you know we've we've we
got more demand with more demand you get better
opportunities in the downtown it just will stall wall and
again we think the them mayor has made this a really high priority
and he's put a lot of time and effort into this them and
it's it's it's great that they're here and again we we have been waiting for
this for many many years and they're finally here
thank the gentleman so much Kevin Kenny John Kennedy thank you so much
thank you