cruzan_flame13 wrote:ALUmnus wrote:Lynchburg is such a weird place. Residential properties are going up like crazy, both single-family & townhomes/apartments. Yet, commercially it seems to be, not disaster, but depressed. In the meantime, they've cleared out a large area on Timberlake that is listed for commercial development. We keep building spaces for businesses we can't seemingly support.
I know LU has engaged with the Lynchburg community, but that community does not want the university to gain full control like other colleges across the nation. These same people do not like too much change and because of that, things are a bit outdated and many business places are opening everywhere. At this rate Lynchburg will stay stagnated (one could argue that it is growing but when one business is established, another business goes away) and the big plans that the committee contains will take for ever to be established. It's sad because Lynchburg can gain so much economically and grow in less than the proposed date of 2040. But hey, it is what it is I suppose.
Eh, sure there are folks in the community that don't want LU. The problem is, LU doesn't really engage the community in a positive way on a regular basis. There are students that do, and obviously employees and faculty are all part of the community but as an organization, they could do a better job.
To be honest, when I see what Liberty does with the external properties they do control, I wouldn't want to give them any more control either. Take a look at the Fort Hill shopping center, The Plaza, River Ridge, Candlers Station. Why would anyone look at those places and think that Liberty needs more control over property?