[BCXtreme]

The Facebook versions are by far the highest resolution. Instagram is 640x640 I think, and Twitter is only 1024 wide. For fine examination, the Facebook versions are the best.

I like the idea of a smaller basketball arena on East. The bridge over to South Campus isn't a bad idea either, more for the poor guys down there than the people on East. I would think if that happens another change to the bus routes will happen, maybe a bus from East that goes somewhere on Main Campus other than Green Hall.

Based on what I had already seen on the old plans, combined with this new information, these roads will essentially create an unbroken loop around the campus, with other roads running through the middle. That will give them a lot more flexibility in planning bus routes, I think.

[Sly Fox]

This close-up adds to the intrigue ...

[JakeP50]

Oh great, now I'm just staring at that picture trying to figure out what the buildings I don't recognize are. I'm turning into Medic

[BCXtreme]

Oh great, now I'm just staring at that picture trying to figure out what the buildings I don't recognize are. I'm turning into Medic

Or me. I've been doing that for hours.

I actually know or have decent guesses what a number of the buildings are. The ones that have me a little befuddled are mostly the buildings on North and South Campuses, and the large complex near David's Place (formerly the Clubhouse) on the south end of East Campus.

By the way, you only have to look at this model for a few seconds to realize just how much has been added to the plan since the website was last updated. I am really hoping that these generously provided pictures mean that they are close to making some formal announcements.

Well played, CJ. This is the 1st time I have seen something this significant from the school leaked on IG:

Hmm … is it technically considered a leak if the information comes from the president himself?

[Sly Fox]

He's the leaker and we are the leakees.

[Purple Haize]

This close-up adds to the intrigue ...

That tower looks.......interesting sticking up like that.

[ALUmnus]

So, the plan for the four giant identical dorm buildings has been scrapped? That's too bad, it looked like a good concept. I also don't see the gothic chapel they had planned near those dorms, though it's hard to see. I was excited about that one.

It's funny, when I saw this come through last night on twitter, the first thing that came to mind: the power of flamefans. It's real.

[PAmedic]

geez spend a day in new england and look what happens.

glad everyone already asked my questions for me...

it really would be easier if JLFjr would just vett this stuff through me us first

I wondered how long it would be before they scrapped the 4 giant "commons" style dorms. less than a year evidently

you'd have a ton of housing had they built that out in addition to what's already there.

interesting for sure

[BCXtreme]

So, the plan for the four giant identical dorm buildings has been scrapped? That's too bad, it looked like a good concept. I also don't see the gothic chapel they had planned near those dorms, though it's hard to see. I was excited about that one.

It's funny, when I saw this come through last night on twitter, the first thing that came to mind: the power of flamefans. It's real.

If you check the zoomed out pictures, the gothic chapel is still there. It's just been moved down towards South Campus.

Also, contrary to popular belief, there were never going to be "four giant identical dorm buildings." Check the original plan carefully. The SIX buildings were going to be in identical pairs matched east to west across the central lawn. The southern L-shaped buildings are a little smaller than their northern counterparts. According to the model, the southeastern L-shaped building is still part of the plan, in the exact same configuration (slightly smaller than Commons I). The other four buildings have been replaced by six smaller buildings (four on the west side and two on the east side of the larger buildings; check the model very carefully if you don't see those two at first). Why the change? I'm really not sure. It could be due to the desire to build a dining hall under the west side buildings. It could be they decided six 1,200-student buildings was too high-density and decided to divide students up among more buildings. It could be there was an issue with the architect who designed the larger buildings, who is not the same architect they are working with for almost everything else. I'm sure when the shift is formally announced, a comment will be made as to the reason for the change. The larger Commons dorms will likely stand out as the most high-end housing, because the upper floors will now have unobstructed views in all directions.

geez spend a day in new england and look what happens.

glad everyone already asked my questions for me...

it really would be easier if JLFjr would just vett this stuff through me us first

I wondered how long it would be before they scrapped the 4 giant "commons" style dorms. less than a year evidently

you'd have a ton of housing had they built that out in addition to what's already there.

interesting for sure

I was wondering where you went, you missed all the excitement!

Just FYI, the original Commons plan broke in November 2012, and the earliest indicator of this change was March 2014. In November 2013, the then-new Master Plan still showed the original six massive buildings. So it lasted a while.

I'm not entirely sure the number of students housed will decrease all that much with this change. Sure, the new buildings are smaller, but there are also more of them. Plus, the interior configuration may accommodate more students in a smaller space; at first, they were going to use different floor plans in the three different pairs of Commons dorms so that all three sizes could still house 1,200 students each. Only time will tell how exactly this change will impact future housing capacity.

[Kiwon]

Okay....I know I must be behind the times but I have two questions:

1. It seemed to me that the 252-foot Bell Tower/Landmark Tower project announcement was widely reported and not well-received by many locals. Those opposed to it seemed to hope that the FAA would prohibit the construction because of its close proximity to the Regional Airport.

Has LU already gotten the official A-okay to proceed with the project?

2. What is the status of the land swap deal with the Central Virginia Community College? The idea was floated in 2013 but I have not heard anything about it since then. Did I miss something?

I note the new sidewalk going up Harvard street on one side matches with the sidewalks at the Tunnel. Is that a city project or a LU project? Also, what is the heavy construction that is going on in the right lane on Harvard street? I only have the web cam to go on.

[UVALibertyFan]

There haven't been any further developments on the CVCC swap thing, my guess is it is on hold for now if it ever happens.

The construction on Harvard Street is to widen (add turn lanes) and add sidewalks to address the added traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian, associated with the new tunnels. The city is doing the work.

[BCXtreme]

Okay....I know I must be behind the times but I have two questions:

1. It seemed to me that the 252-foot Bell Tower/Landmark Tower project announcement was widely reported and not well-received by many locals. Those opposed to it seemed to hope that the FAA would prohibit the construction because of its close proximity to the Regional Airport.

Has LU already gotten the official A-okay to proceed with the project?

I can't remember the last time a high-profile Liberty project was well-received by the townies. Fact is, much of Lynchburg would rather be able to forget Liberty is here, and some would prefer they shut down altogether. Jerry Falwell was not always popular in Lynchburg, and Liberty never will be because of that.

From what I heard, Liberty would not have moved forward with announcing the project unless they were fairly certain it would go through. I think it was actually Sly who said that they had been studying the possibility of a tower for a long time before the announcement. According to what the university has said, LYH can accommodate them with minor or no adjustments. They are obviously confident that they will get all the necessary approvals to be publicly talking about a groundbreaking in February.

2. What is the status of the land swap deal with the Central Virginia Community College? The idea was floated in 2013 but I have not heard anything about it since then. Did I miss something?

Pres. Falwell said last semester that the idea was canned. CVCC and LU decided it wasn't the best way to go.

I note the new sidewalk going up Harvard street on one side matches with the sidewalks at the Tunnel. Is that a city project or a LU project? Also, what is the heavy construction that is going on in the right lane on Harvard street? I only have the web cam to go on.

UVALibertyFan beat me to this one, and is right on all counts. Additionally, the project is expected to be finished by mid-November. CVCC traffic is allowed to exit at Wards Road, but the whole road is closed to thru traffic and traffic to CVCC must enter on the other end of Harvard Street, via Wards Ferry Road.

[Kiwon]

Thanks for the detailed answers.

[Purple Haize]

The Liberty Med School was VERY well received by the local medical community. Superfluous things such as the LU monogram, the Tower etc, it is very negatively received

[BJWilliams]

I think the story on the monogram is that someone donated money and it was specifically earmarked for that purpose.

[BCXtreme]

EDIT: By the way, I saw Pres. Falwell confirm on Twitter that they do plan to build a new indoor track and turn the current Tolsma track into a courtyard. However, he also said that is a long range plan, probably 15-20 years in the future. The model, apparently, includes both short-term and long-term projects.

The Liberty Med School was VERY well received by the local medical community. Superfluous things such as the LU monogram, the Tower etc, it is very negatively received

Exactly, the medical community is thrilled about the medical school. I heard a number of townies swore off ever willingly going to Lynchburg General Hospital if there was any chance that medical students from Liberty University would be involved in their care, because they felt Liberty's involvement would destroy Centra's quality of service. Sadly, plenty of people around here seem to maintain that Liberty students are completely inept at everything except prayer and Bible study, and would rather they and the school not have such a big presence in the city.

I think the story on the monogram is that someone donated money and it was specifically earmarked for that purpose.

I personally don't like the monogram, only because I think it's ugly. I think that they should use LU's official, stylized monogram, and make it look like a more natural part of the landscape.

[BJWilliams]

I was in the hospital due to gall bladder pain and one of the first nurses that worked with me was a Liberty nursing grad and she did very well and did not seem even the slightest bit inept.

[BCXtreme]

I was in the hospital due to gall bladder pain and one of the first nurses that worked with me was a Liberty nursing grad and she did very well and did not seem even the slightest bit inept.

Liberty's Nursing program does observe a high quality, and I'm sure LUCOM will too. I would have no issue with a LUCOM student being involved in my care. I would have no issue with a Liberty Law student helping me with my taxes. Liberty does teach its students to do well in their fields, in my opinion. Unfortunately, for various reasons, most of which are hokum, there are some people out there who believe strongly that Liberty University is a diploma mill for conservative Christians who are too intellectually stunted by their beliefs and/or upbringing to go to a real university. There are a decent number of those people in Lynchburg, in addition to some Christians of other denominations that despised Jerry Falwell Sr. and won't ever give any credit to anything he was involved with.

In twenty-five years, Liberty University could be the highest-regarded university in Virginia, and it still won't change those people's minds. Some people just care more about feelings than facts.

[Cider Jim]

In the Quiz Bowl community, LU is high respected academically. Last year, we beat:
UVa--3 times
VA Tech--3 times
Johns Hopkins
UNC
Alabama
Davidson
Northeastern

[Purple Haize]

If rather have an accountant do my taxes. But that's just me

[adam42381]

If rather have an accountant do my taxes. But that's just me

[BCXtreme]

In the Quiz Bowl community, LU is high respected academically. Last year, we beat:
UVa--3 times
VA Tech--3 times
Johns Hopkins
UNC
Alabama
Davidson
Northeastern

Debate tends to kick butt too. As I said, while I would be the first to admit that LU's overall academic profile could be improved, the anti-Liberty crowd mostly bases their disapproval on feelings, not facts. Otherwise, completely owning varsity debate in the U.S. would have turned more heads.

If rather have an accountant do my taxes. But that's just me

I'd rather do my taxes myself. But Liberty law students offer to help members of the community navigate the overly complicated tax code at the appropriate time each year, and I'm sure they are very effective at doing so. I'm pretty sure it's not the end-to-end tax preparation service that an accountant would offer.

[ATrain]

If rather have an accountant do my taxes. But that's just me

+1. It's going to be really complicated for this year.

[Kiwon]

Another real estate question.....

So LU has Annex 1 and Annex 2, converted motels for dormitory use.

In the future, will the school keep using them for student housing or will all residential students be required to live on the main campus?

I was under the impression that they were stop-gap measures while the Commons was under construction to replace the student housing on the Circle.

[BCXtreme]

Another real estate question.....

So LU has Annex 1 and Annex 2, converted motels for dormitory use.

In the future, will the school keep using them for student housing or will all residential students be required to live on the main campus?

I was under the impression that they were stop-gap measures while the Commons was under construction to replace the student housing on the Circle.

That is a good question. Pres. Falwell did indicate that once Main Campus housing capacity has caught up with the university's needs, they would consider closing Annex I and Annex II and selling both buildings. It didn't sound like they would be looking at that for another 8-10 years or so, based on the then-estimated completion time for the entire Champion Circle housing area. The Master Plan model shows significant changes to the Circle plan as well as some major unknown construction on South Campus, so I'm not sure how all that will impact the speed and/or size of the housing expansion.

I would imagine that if the university can build enough housing to begin offering a low-cost option on the actual campus again, they will shut down the Annex. There are a lot of issues with that set-up.