3D building coming down?

[wh]

Demolition is underway.

[historyman]

Pics of the 3D building from this afternoon 8/31/15.

EDIT--now it's telling me the attachment is too large. I will have to figure out another way to post them.

[a3uge]

Pics of the 3D building from this afternoon 8/31/15.

EDIT--now it's telling me the attachment is too large. I will have to figure out another way to post them.

imgur.com

[elephtheria47]

That area is going to look so nice without that hideous building. If they need help, I would be more than happy to help them tear it down!

[historyman]

still working on it.

[agibson]

That area is going to look so nice without that hideous building. If they need help, I would be more than happy to help them tear it down!

It may depend on what they replace it with, if anything! 

I hear that there were stories circulating a few weeks ago about bids being solicited, and having come back for the demolition.

I've not heard anything concrete about the future use of the space, short term or long term.  (Some dreams of a Trader Joe's, for example, but that sounds like pie in the sky.)

Demolition definitely underway, some of the facade down this morning. They have a big pile of new-looking wood, or maybe pallets.  Not entirely sure what that's for (is it somehow helpful in removing debris?).

[historyman]

Finally.


https://tschmitt.smugmug.com/3D-building-8-31-15/i-SkkdxRv/A


https://tschmitt.smugmug.com/3D-building-8-31-15/i-KnFhjxV/A


https://tschmitt.smugmug.com/3D-building-8-31-15/i-TMZvC2S/A

[wh]

The 3-D building demolition project looks to be completed.  I never realized until now just how large that property is - it's HUGE!  It stretches an entire city block from N-S and at least half a block from E-W.  The back half where the building was is considerably wider than the front parking area along Lincolnway.  I have no idea what the long term plans are for that corner, but what a nice, usable piece of prime real estate it has become!

[crusader05]

Just rumors at this point but I'm hearing that they are looking into a high-end grocer to fill that spot. Having a Trader Joes or Marianos or Whole Foods there would be so great and the university students would LOVE it.

[wh]

Interesting you should mention that. Here's a related article from July:

Whole Foods breaks ground in Schererville, eyes Valpo

http://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/whole-foods-breaks-ground-in-schererville-eyes-valpo/article_ecbd3cc2-d7b6-5620-ab8a-76718d56827c.html?mobile_touch=true

[vu72]

Interesting you should mention that. Here's a related article from July:

Whole Foods breaks ground in Schererville, eyes Valpo

http://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/whole-foods-breaks-ground-in-schererville-eyes-valpo/article_ecbd3cc2-d7b6-5620-ab8a-76718d56827c.html?mobile_touch=true

Perhaps the fact that Whole Foods General Counsel is a Valpo Law grad may be helpful!

[covufan]

Interesting you should mention that. Here's a related article from July:

Whole Foods breaks ground in Schererville, eyes Valpo

http://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/whole-foods-breaks-ground-in-schererville-eyes-valpo/article_ecbd3cc2-d7b6-5620-ab8a-76718d56827c.html?mobile_touch=true

July 2014.  Not so sure Whole Foods is looking to expand right now.  Aldi is more likely.

[valpotx]

Isn't there already an Aldi in Valpo?  Did that go away?

[wh]

Yes, Aldi's is in a prime location adjacent to Best Buy. In fact, they are currently in the process of completing a major renovation.

[FWalum]

Love Aldi, their branded items seem to be of higher quality than other store branded products.  Believe it or not, but my mom (good German that she is) bought a Medion laptop from Aldi back in 2007 and it is still running without any issues other than the battery is kaput. I was skeptical at first and was really surprised by the specs and build quality for the very low price.

[Kyle321n]

The Aldi is Valpo is one of the best in the area and my wife and I shop at it almost exclusively. If there's something Aldi doesn't have we either don't need it or will run over to Strack's and get it.

Putting a Whole Foods across the street from the University isn't a bad idea, and may be a draw to incoming students from affluent families, but I'm not sure how much a college student would be able to afford it.

[usc4valpo]

all I can say - just say no to Walmart!

[Kyle321n]

There's already the Walmart on Rt 30 that is walking distance from campus. At least I considered it walking distance when I was in school. But I would also walk all the way to Target.

[agibson]

There's already the Walmart on Rt 30 that is walking distance from campus. At least I considered it walking distance when I was in school. But I would also walk all the way to Target.

These days I think the sidewalks to Target are in pretty good shape.  Students seem to do very badly at crossing the round-about (and/or drivers do very badly with pedestrians at the roundabout).

I don't guess there's much by way of sidewalks on the way to Walmart.  I walked there a few times myself, if memory serves, as a freshman.  I think I've been back maybe only once since returning to Valpo (I guess it might still be one of the better 24 hour options?).

[talksalot]

the Free (to students) V-Line bus service from the union to both WalMart, Target (and other shopping destinations) are usually quite busy!

[bbtds]

Love Aldi, their branded items seem to be of higher quality than other store branded products.  Believe it or not, but my mom (good German that she is) bought a Medion laptop from Aldi back in 2007 and it is still running without any issues other than the battery is kaput. I was skeptical at first and was really surprised by the specs and build quality for the very low price.

Aldi, a prominent German company, better watch out. Another German company that gebauen Das Auto mit diesel motor was caught betrügt EPA tests.

[agibson]

A couple of quick updates, for the out-of-towners, on this part of the neighborhood. Stilly only rumors circulating for the 3D property itself - we'll see what develops.

The property on the SW corner of Roosevelt and and Lincolnway (across from the used car dealer in one direction, and the Horizon Bank in the other) got an attractive renovation and is now a realty office. It had sat vacant, for sale, for a good while and was the subject of some discussion on this board.

More recently, the university's been tearing down several adjacent properties. Just south of that new realty office, and southwest, and I think also due west. Not sure what the plans are for the property. This is just to the west of the Uptown East apartments/student housing and just to the east of the old hospital parking garage and surface parking lot. It feels like it might be just that realty office left on the block, by the time they're done with all the demolition.

Construction on the new science building seems to be proceeding apace, with the girders now a fairly impressive vertical piece of the campus landscape.

[crusader05]

They've also torn down, on campus the apartments between the VUPD and the old Theta Chi house and that should be where Sigma Chi builds their new chapter facility.

[valpo64]

Am I correct in thinking that the new Phi Psi house will be where the VUPD bldg is now?

[crusader05]

That's what I believe as well. I believe VUPD is moving to a building on the east side of campus near the parking garage but I'm not sure. Sig ep is also looking into buying property off of union street where the grass field currently is so we will finally have a pretty solid greek row going with Phi sig on their corner and Sig Tau and Theta Chi retaining control of their old houses.