Article discussing how most Scranton residents opposed the University's proposal to close several blocks of Linden Street to create the University Commons, 1978

1978-10-22

Newspaper clippings

University Commons

Linden Street

Scranton City Council

Hill Neighborhood Association

University of Scranton Archives

univscrapbook-b044_0220f

Archival Records

St. Thomas Hall and University Commons

Times Shamrock Communications

[Please note that computer-generated transcripts include formatting, spelling, and grammatical irregularities and errors.]
Only 30 Per Cent OK University Plan
Most Oppose Closing Linden Street
The computerized polling system The Sunday Times calls Instapoll has uncovered strong sentiment among city residents against the request of the University of Scranton to close two blocks of Linden Street.
Concern over increased traffic congestion on Mulberry Street and hampered access for fire and ambulance crews dominated the responses of the 48 per cent of the Instapoll participants who opposed the street closing plan.
Some 30 per cent of the respondents were in favor of the plan to turn the 900 and 1000 blocks of Linden Street into a part of the University campus. Those undecided numbered 22 per cent.
City officials have tabled indefinitely action on the controversial request by the University, a request the institution has made in the past in order to eliminate the inconvenience of having a busy thoroughfare bisecting the urban, Jesuit campus.
Respondents in favor of the plan cited the safety factor of the current situation. One person called by Instapoll predicted "somebody's gonna get killed up there" if the traffic continues to flow up Linden Street.
"I just graduated from the U," said one respondent. "I know what it's like to try and cross streets and having traffic go through there without regard to crosswalks."
The Instapoll survey was taken Thursday evening and used a random sampling of phone numbers.
Some of those responding in the negative indicated they were Hill Section residents, a section of town which recently has generated opposition to the University plan, probably because any closing off of Linden Street would affect it the most.
Several persons said increased traffic on Mulberry Street, especially in winter, would be hazardous. One noted this traffic would tie up the main artery leading to Community Medical Center.
One opponent of the plan suggested a compromise: One-way traffic on Linden Street.
One person in favor of the plan suggested the city first make provisions for rerouting the Linden Street traffic onto Ridge Row.
Many persons answering "yes" indicated in some manner the need for more of a campus atmosphere at a school in which a busy street cuts through the heart of the land.
"Yes, I feel the street should be closed off, because the students have a right to have their own place," one said. "They pay their tuition. They should be able to use the land as their own."
Another person said the idea is good because "it would make Scranton a better college area."

Advancing the Mission