By Sarah Kuper and Rae Patterson
Samford University administrators are moving forward with drafting plans to update and expand the campus after several community forums in February.
Organizers estimate an average of 20 to 30 people attended each meeting. Campus planning firm Dober Lidsky Mathey gave presentations at the meetings and led question and answer sessions. The Massachusetts firm is partnering with Samford by analyzing the existing campus infrastructure and by gathering data and feedback from Samford constituents, including Homewood neighbors.
Firm principal George Mathey explained to those attending a recent forum that, so far, more than 85 meetings have taken place on campus for the purpose of data collection and analysis of buildings, traffic, parking and space.
That data is being used to formulate a campus plan that will consider every aspect of the university, including academic programs, student life, residences, athletics and administration.
Mathey reviewed each college’s major necessities that the campus plan intends to address. While he emphasized that the university would be making adjustments to the campus using property the school already owns, Homewood neighbors voiced concerns over rumors of Samford’s growth into their neighborhoods.
Don Kirkpatrick has lived in his home on Saulter View Road for more than 30 years. He said that while Samford officials say they won’t be expanding into his neighborhood, the truth is they already have.
“They already own a number of houses on Saulter Road. How many neighbors do you have that regularly have six cars parked out front with six different county license tags on them?” Kirkpatrick said. “Students are living there.”
Kirkpatrick said it isn’t enough that the school is using his neighborhood as student housing, but the university also has created an entrance and exit to campus through the residential area.
“They just recently cut a road as a back entrance to the campus, so now 4,500 student cars will be coming up and down Saulter Road,” he said.
Samford Chief Strategy Officer Colin Coyne said the new cut-through is an “emergency only” exit that will be used strictly by the fire department and was built at the request of fire officials.
Samford has bought houses in the neighborhood in years past; some made way for the cut-through and others were sold or are in use.
Coyne joined Mathey in emphasizing that Samford is looking at expansion only on property the university already owns.
“There is no plan for a massive takeover of downtown Homewood,” he said.
Coyne said he knows neighbors will continue to have questions and concerns about the campus plan, but he feels the tone of the recent forums was positive.
“People were very forthcoming with their concerns but everything was kept very constructive. Really, people just want to be kept up to speed and that’s what we want to do,” Coyne said.
Kirkpatrick did not attend a community forum but has been in communication with Samford administrators. He said he’s been outspoken about the university’s growth plans.
“Years ago, we had a committee and we met with Samford and the Homewood mayor at the time, Robert Waldrop, and we agreed on certain boundaries. But now there is a new mayor and new people at the university and here we are,” Kirkpatrick said.
He said he’s seen a lot of change in his neighborhood as Samford has grown. A lot of his neighbors now are somehow connected with the school, whether they are professors or staff.
“I don’t have a problem with that, some of them are in my Sunday school class, but I can say over the years I’ve learned how to tell which fraternity is having a party and what the score of the ball game is just by the noise. I can also read the paper at night on my deck because of all the lights,” Kirkpatrick said.
Coyne said he understands neighbors have concerns about light, noise and traffic, but he said the planning firm is doing studies and analysis about ways to minimize the impact of the school on neighbors.
“We want to be good neighbors and we want to be completely transparent,” Coyne said. “I’d be shocked if there was anything that came out of this plan that would have people picketing Samford University.”
Mathey invited listeners at a recent forum to return in a couple of months when Samford hosts its next forum.
“We want your input and reactions as we continue,” he said. “They help improve the plan in ways that we, as professionals, can’t always see.”
Kirkpatrick said he is sure the university will keep him informed about developing plans. Whether the university would change plans because of neighborhood concern is something he isn’t so sure about.
“They keep sending us little memos, but they are going to do what they want to do,” he said. “I don’t really feel like they care about the neighborhood.”
