Monday, July 1, 2013
Will Laurentian University Give More to Sudbury Residents than the Local Farmers?
(This post is intended to my students at Laurentian University who are taking a course on cost-benefit analysis this semester)
It was interesting to have got caught on a blog article this morning relating to a project Laurentian University is involved in and I believe this can serve as a perfect example right under our nose to discuss and understand more on the topic we are currently discussing in class now. Speaking in CBA language, the project new School of Architecture of Laurentian University is in consideration (maybe the project has progressed substantively ahead at this moment than as depicted in the article) against the counterfactual (or status quo) of keeping Sudbury Farmer’s Market in place. The article makes many remarkable points on benefits and costs of this project, such as the extent to which the project will contribute to vibrate the local economy, job prospects for the city residents, and the impacts on local farmers and so on so forth. Taking consideration to all the impacts the project will bring, I am eager to read your opinions whether this project will contribute net positive social benefits to Sudbury community (or the province or the country as a whole). So far as my view is concerned, the benefits seem to outweigh the costs no matter what standing we take to conduct CBA (except the standing given to local farmers). Simply speaking, the multidimensional positive impact of education cannot be underestimated at least in the long-run which will be more than enough to offset the costs the society has to bear at present. Even though the costs incurred after the closure of the farmer’s market may not be less substantial, we should happily take the new project as a new hope for Sudbury community and the demise of farmer’s market as an outcome of creative destruction, thanks to the theory propounded by Joseph Schumpeter.
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It seems as though this project, while hurting local farmers by displacing them, will result in a net benefit to the Sudbury economy. However, I am still uncertain that Sudbury's downtown is a good location for a School of Architecture from the perspective of the students who will be going there. They will be cut off from the rest of the university, and isolated from the rest of the student body.
ReplyDeleteAdditionally, while the main Laurentian campus is a beautiful location, Sudbury's downtown has been neglected for a number of decade. I understand that this is an effort to revitalize the area by introducing young, creative people into the area however this seems to be a decision made on Floridian principles, wherein cultural centres are built to entice creative with an entrepreneurial drive, which have historically proven ineffective when not properly understood by city planners.
However, as this decision has already been made its clear that the University feels that this is the best place to put these students. Obvious benefits for the students are a brand new facility and easy access to public transport. Additionally, it will encourage more students to the school and provide them with more options. If anything else this entire debate has alerted many Sudburians to the existence of the farmer's market, which has been moved just down the road. It will be interesting to see an ex-post CBA now that the project has been completed to see if the predictions of this CBA hold.
I believe having the Laurentian University School of Architecture downtown will help revamp the area. The downtown core of Sudbury has been neglected for years. The area is not living up to its real Estate potential. Normally downtown core are the busiest part of city; unfortunately in Sudbury this is not the case. Building The School of Architecture downtown will automatically bring a new market of people into the area.
ReplyDeleteWith the new influx of staff and students, sales in nearby shops, restaurants, and bars will increase dramatically. This will have a positive effect on the community. Overall increasing jobs for local workers, and increasing sales in local downtown shops. It will also create growth opportunity for more local businesses to open or expand.
Therefore I feel moving the local farmers market for the School of Architecture is a great idea. Not only will it help clean up the downtown core but it will also increase sales and local businesses and create jobs. The local farmers market is only moving down the street, so it is still available to the public.
I read the blog post by Green party member Steve May, and I must say I disagree with many of his points. Specifically, I believe that the author is underestimating the benefits that integrating part of the university into the downtown core. The campus wing will bring many direct and indirect benefits to the downtown core, and likely increased benefit to the farmers market itself.
ReplyDeleteI cannot speak to the comment about public consultation because it appears that there was a forum for people to voice their opinions. But I will say that I think it is the responsibility of the elected officials to make decisions for the people they represent. When a group comes together, such as the stakeholders in the school of architecture project, it is the duty of the representatives to scrutinize the options and make a decision which is best for the people. If the project is beneficial to area, and many parties are at the table willing to provide funding, this opportunity should be seized. Many people are resistant to change.
After some further research I found that the farmers market is going to be moved approximately 600 meters to the historical via rail station that is currently abandoned. The market is currently open for business on weekends with special provisions for the indoor only retailers. So it is apparent that the city does care about the farmers market and is making considerable concessions to make a new location suitable for everyone.
I think it's hard to say it's good or bad building the Laurentian University School of Architecture campus in downtown. The benefit that could work well with university development is youth-oriented retail space. An open campus during the lunch hours, small restaurants and food stores cater to student demand. Space for those business could be integrated into the design of the overall project.
ReplyDeleteBut if the campus built in downtown and we will need more space for parking. It might need cost more money for downtown commercial department. The solution for this problem is the time of day demand for parking for the university often fits well with residentian demand. In other way, the best neighbor for the university is residential development. however, the downtown area of Sudbury is a large area for commercial office and it may cause some problems.
My thoughts on this project would no doubt be a positive impact or speaking in CBA language would result in a net benefit to Sudbury's economy. Although this does affect local farmers by displacing them, but the benefits of this would certainly outweigh the costs, as it would attract more creative students from around the world. In addition, this would encourage more advanced industrialized development that Sudbury is in need of, if compared to Toronto or Ottawa. In terms of located this project in downtown Sudbury I would have to agree on the fact that it would provide better transportation to students, however I also believe that it's not such a good idea as it would separate students form the rest of the body that is located in a good location already. I think that this project should definitely be implemented as soon as possible because it would be extremely beneficial for Sudbury in term of more job openings and expanding the creative class of hard workers that will encourage more architectural projects in Sudbury.
ReplyDeleteThis project is already underway. My friend who working in Laurentian University told me that this project will increase the popularity of our city.Also this is the high level education. Because the require of the recruit students will be very high. Yes, this project is a good way to expand by university.It also create the job opportunity.However, the university built a new building in downtown for this project but not in laurentian university area. I think that increased a lots of cost.and Does it necessary to build a new building to one department?
ReplyDeletein Economic language, Housing is the better way to promote local economy, the project new School of Architecture of Laurentian University will bring a job opportunity, gain the extra financial income, the downtown area is considering by development in future, the place nearly human resource department, so it can be coorperate each other and improve training skills, but downtown area cost a expensive value, how to balance the financing is the main problem, if the extra investment cannot bring the economic effect, it is not necessaru to built.
ReplyDelete