Mayor Backs Closing Of Two Blocks at U of S, 1972

Scranton Tribune article regarding the closing of a portion of Linden Street to make way for the University of Scranton Commons.

1972-09

McCarthy, Bob

Bochicchio, Rocco

Newspaper clippings

University Commons

Linden Street

University of Scranton Archives

univscrapbook-b051_0135a

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.]
The Scranton Tribune
PROPOSES STREET CLOSING—Mayor Eugene J. Peters, right, announces his support of a proposal to close two blocks of Linden Street through the University of Scranton campus. At left, Jay Best of the planning firm of Bellante, Clauss, Miller and Nolan, points to drawings detailing new traffic flow and a new, unified campus that would be created by closing the street.—(Tribune Photo, Rocco Bochicchio)
Proposed Ordinance Goes to Council; Pedestrian Plaza Planned
Mayor Backs Closing Of 2 Blocks at U of S
By BOB MCCARTHY
A proposed ordinance for the closing of two blocks of Linden Street through the University of Scranton campus was forwarded Tuesday to City Council by Mayor Eugene J. Peters as plans were unveiled to create a terraced pedestrian plaza on the site.
At a 2:30 p.m. press conference outside the university's student center, the mayor announced his full support for closing the busy street between Monroe and Clay Avenues and revealed the following points about the proposed plan:
—If approved, the closing will not take place until the Harrison Avenue Bridge, now undergoing extensive renovation, is reopened to traffic by the State Department of Transportation.
—An alternate route for east-bound traffic on Linden Street will be provided by making the 1300 block of Monroe Avenue a two-way route, giving access from Linden Street to Mulberry Street.
-Traffic signals, completely financed by the University of Scranton, will be installed at Monroe Avenue and Mulberry
Street to facilitate traffic flow. If the ordinance is passed now, the signals will be in place before the Harrison Avenue Bridge opens.
—If the street is closed, the U of S plans to create a terraced pedestrian plaza along the two blocks. Preliminary plans for such utilization have been prepared by the architectural firm of Bellante, Clauss, Miller and Nolan.
Mayor Peters said a dedicated group of young city residents who are students at the university have been "lobbying vigorously within the system" for the closing over the past several months.
He said that when they first approached him, he was opposed to the idea because he "could not in conscience propose the closing of Linden Street from Monroe Avenue to Clay Avenue without first having a practical, feasible, engineered alternate proposal to consider."
Those same students then went to work, he noted, and in conjunction with the university's faculty and administration recruited a respected engineering firm to volunteer its services in designing an alternate traffic flow.
"Having been presented with this proposal, I am today forwarding to City Council a proposed ordinance for the closing of Linden Street from the northwesterly line of Clay Avenue to the northeasterly line of Monroe Avenue with the full recommendation of this administration for its passage."
While it was not clear Tuesday what kind of reception the idea will receive in Council Chambers, the proposal appeared to have shaky bi-partisan support on the Council two months ago.
At that time, Councilman James A. Doherty was angered because Council President Myron Wolkoff refused to place the matter on the agenda for discussion at a regular meeting.
Doherty said the University had a right to be heard and suggested Wolkoff was opposed to the idea because his brother operates a flower shop on Mulberry Street.
Wolkoff insisted he wasn't opposed to the idea, but noted he thought its presentation was untimely because the Harrison Avenue Bridge was closed.
Doherty brought the matter up at the meeting anyway conveying university officials' opinion that the present situation posed a severe safety hazard to students crossing the street.
This brought a response from a member of the audience, Mrs. Kitty Schumacher, who asked what contribution the university makes to the people of Scranton and demanded proof of a safety hazard on the street.
While she spoke, a car slammed into a pole on the narrow, heavily-traveled street, and a short time later a girl was struck by a car on Linden Street at the university.
At his press conference Tuesday, the mayor had the following to say about the university's contributions:
"The University of Scranton, as everyone knows, contributes over seven million dollars to the economy of this area every year. But the worth of what the University contributes cannot be measured in dollars, it can only be measured in the opportunity it offers our sons and now our daughters — to pursue higher education, not in some distant locale, but right here at home...the opportunity it gives our children to pursue a course in a college known for its academic excellence—large enough to gain a national reputation, but small enough for every individual student to have the advantage of his own identity.
"I advocate the closing of these two blocks of Linden Street, not only because of the obvious public safety hazard which now exists with pedestrians and motorists confronting each other every hour, but also for the opportunity it gives to this University to grow and prosper so that this city may have a brighter future. But, most of all, I propose the closing of these blocks to evidence the good faith of our city government to show that we are responsive to rational requests — especially when these requests be from the young of this community. For we now have an opportunity to justify the faith of our young Scrantonians as well as an obligation to prove our faith in them so that when graduation comes, they may consider staying and caring for this city."

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