Most Buckeyes lucky enough to make the trip to the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz., seem to remember something other than the Buckeye victory — Mill Avenue.
Mill Avenue is the “High Street” of Arizona State University, complete with boutiques, restaurants, retail shops and bars.
“Buckeyes can expect the same details,” said Herman Bulls, managing director of Jones Lang LaSalle, the development firm working with Campus Partners to create the University Gateway Center.
Most people who went to Tempe remember the variety of stores, the aesthetic features of the avenue and the cleanliness of the area.
“The demographics are, of course, different, but replicating the same atmosphere is a goal,” Bulls said.
Scott Cole, the associate vice president for facility planning and management at Arizona State, said the city of Tempe anticipated the Fiesta Bowl crowds and embarked on a 15-year renovation plan that would satisfy the people who would be coming to the area.
“We knew the tired buildings, sloppy bars and fast food places needed some updating,” Cole said. “We made a conscious effort to rehabilitate the area.”
Tempe experienced a decrease in crime and vagrancy when the project was completed.
“People were excited about the new restaurants, bars and retail, as well as the decline in crime,” Cole said. “We achieved our goal.”
Jones Lang LaSalle has worked on development projects at the University of Pennsylvania, San Jose State University and the Georgia Institute of Technology.
The University of Pennsylvania was facing issues similar to those of OSU, but issues with crime helped Penn decide renovations were in order.
“The University of Pennsylvania made a decision to improve the campus area to solve crime issues and create a place of activity that would be full of people,” Bulls said.
Tom Lussenhop, the former director of real estate at Penn and president and CEO of the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, said Jones Lang LaSalle helped Penn keep the Sansom Common project on schedule.
“Jones Lang LaSalle’s management was critical to the pace of the project,” Lussenhop said. “Ohio State can anticipate visible results because of Jones Lang LaSalle’s experience with other university environments, and they have the momentum to better the atmosphere.”
Georgia Tech’s situation was different. They wanted to extend their campus to the midtown area.
“We wanted to reach closer to the developing midtown and decided to renovate a derelict area,” said Scott Levitan, executive director of real estate and development at Georgia Tech. “We knew this was going to be a positive contribution to the community and asked Jones Lang LaSalle to step in and help with the development process.”
“Georgia Tech’s situation required a hotel and classrooms to solve space problems. Upon analysis of the likelihood of the development, it was determined a bookstore, office spaces and parking were needed,” Bulls said.
Georgia Tech is still under construction, but Levitan is satisfied with the progress and looks forward to an August completion date.
“Jones Lang LaSalle participated on all levels and really have performed admirably in helping us achieve our goal,” Levitan said.
