[BCXtreme]

Uhh... so no Doc's diner. :I chortle audibly.:

I'm slightly at a loss as to why you are audibly chortling, but as I recall, Liberty specifically said that Doc's and the bookstore building WILL continue to exist. The fact that they don't show up on the current, preliminary plans is contradictory, but I would be more inclined to trust the information straight from the higher-ups. The people making the maps and renderings don't work for the university, and therefore they won't always be 100% accurate (e.g., the Residential Commons is called "Student Commons" on one map).

Barber explained the drain on the University of having to continually set up and take down the Vines for convo, concerts, etc. is a big factor in this new arena.

+1000. The university needs a space that can be almost completely dedicated to Convocation. An arena that has to be reconfigured on an almost-daily basis to serve so many different things is an unnecessary drain on resources and time. Plus, it detracts from the university's all-important image. It always looks and works better to have dedicated facilities for frequently recurring events, rather than constantly retrofitting "multipurpose" spaces. The latter approach too often results in a "jack of all trades, master of none" facility.

Also, IMHO, far better to have a smaller facility that you can fill up than a giant facility that's always half empty. The latter makes it seem like you're just being arrogant and overestimating your support, which is not a good image. That's probably what would happen if they expand Williams Stadium too soon, as well.

[BCXtreme]

Here's the N&A article's version of the Master Plan for anybody who doesn't want to deal with a sideways PDF. For reference, the plan was dated August 2014, so like I said, it's probably just a tad older than the Liberty Journal version. With that in mind…

The structure outside the new East Campus parking garage is labeled "Student Life." If that means there will be offices like Housing and SGA moving out of Green Hall, I'm sure students will appreciate that.

There are unidentified "tunnel improvements" planned for the East Campus pedestrian tunnel.

The academic building attached to the front of DeMoss is planned to be the new Religion Hall.

The building between the Landmark Tower and the Hill is an Honors College. Based on the labeling of the Journal version, I'm guessing that's to be a residential college with both academic and residential functions. Possibly.

After the Lakeside Dining Hall and Culinary Arts building go up, the old Reber-Thomas will be converted to parking, it seems. Because apparently no amount of student complaints and university comparisons will convince LU that a 13k-16k campus needs more than one dining hall.

The new academic area where the Speakman parking lot currently is (between the current bookstore and religion bldg) will be the "President's Quad" and will have underground parking, apparently.

The soccer practice field behind the Hancock Welcome Center will be converted into a half-circle shaped "event lawn." I believe soccer practice will be using the new indoor practice facility near the tunnel (visible in the larger, Journal plan).

There will be vehicular gates at several points along University Blvd, and one on Reber-Thomas Drive. The intention, apparently, is to reduce thru traffic in the main academic and residential corridors, which would be a major boon. (I swear, crossing the intersection between DeMoss and Towns during freshman year, I got nervous that I didn't have my affairs in order.)

The east perimeter road between the bookstore area and US-460, pictured on earlier plans, is not in the Liberty Journal plan.

[Purple Haize]

Am I the only one who isn't huge on the new, smaller bball arena? I..... Then again maybe it's just me and I'm crazy

What are everyone else's thoughts?

Yes. Yes you are
It addresses who we are now. Not who we used to be. That's very rare here. We are getting to a time where students were not even born when the Vines Center was packed out regularly. Add to that we are now a football school whereas when we packed it out e were a basketball school
Finally, I would cross my fingers and hope, that they looked at attendance over the last 10-15 years, and came up with the 4500 number. That would be logical and make sense.....which is why I'm skeptical

[Cider Jim]

I've read the hard copy of the new Liberty Journal, but where is the electronic version with the PDFs? I've looked on the LU website and can't seem to find it.

[Dr. Sheh]

Am I the only one who isn't huge on the new, smaller bball arena? I..... Then again maybe it's just me and I'm crazy

What are everyone else's thoughts?

Yes. Yes you are :I chortle audibly.:
It addresses who we are now. Not who we used to be. That's very rare here. We are getting to a time where students were not even born when the Vines Center was packed out regularly. Add to that we are now a football school whereas when we packed it out e were a basketball school
Finally, I would cross my fingers and hope, that they looked at attendance over the last 10-15 years, and came up with the 4500 number. That would be logical and make sense.....which is why I'm skeptical

I think it's just tough for me to admit we are where we are as a bball program so that we are downsizing our arena for most games. Maybe I am nostalgic for our relatively good days of bball in years gone by.

[Sly Fox]

I was going to state that we already are competing in diving right now. Having our own dive well will allow us to attract some serious talent to Coach Shell's squad. A Natatorium has been a part of the master plan for a couple of years. But it also has been moved several times in the planning. I am anxious to see construction begin on it while it is being placed closer into the center of campus as opposed to under the monogram.

[JakeP50]

If this new basketball arena is going to be near Doc's but that building isn't going anywhere where are they going to put it? I would think this arena would need some type of parking and the arena itself would take up most of the current Doc's lot. Would that be the beginning of the end for East?

[BCXtreme]

I've read the hard copy of the new Liberty Journal, but where is the electronic version with the PDFs? I've looked on the LU website and can't seem to find it.

The Liberty Journal was available online for about a day before being taken down. It will probably be back once they sort out whatever issue they had.

The PDFs we are referencing are attached to The News & Advance article addressing the new construction plans. Check back a few posts and you'll see the link. The Liberty Journal is generally not available as a PDF, to get good digital images of it you have to be a little more ... creative.

If this new basketball arena is going to be near Doc's but that building isn't going anywhere where are they going to put it? I would think this arena would need some type of parking and the arena itself would take up most of the current Doc's lot. Would that be the beginning of the end for East?

Somebody didn't look at the plan before they posted...

The arena will have its own parking garage, tucked between itself and E51-E54.

The plan does call for the demolition of several East buildings as they shift housing over to Main Campus, but I don't see East going away entirely, at least not within the scope of the plans currently being circulated (2025).

[Purple Haize]

A small arena would be the best thing to happen to our basketball program in a long long time. The energy would be incredible. The demand for tickets would actually go up bc the quality of the experience would be so much higher.

I would seriously consider season tickets

As for parking...... I'll believe the parking garage when I see it!

[JakeP50]

Ok well that makes sense, I'm just glad they aren't going to tear down Bro Row at least until after I graduate.


*Bro Row is E51-54 since all four of them are guy's dorms.

[jcmanson]

Best thing to happen for MBB since Curry? Or McKay?

[jcmanson]

You didn't answer the question.

[Cider Jim]

For old timers like Olldflame, Sly, SCAR, or Medic, does anyone know how many the old original Schilling building used to seat for basketball (aka, the multipurpose building or "the gym")?

You know, the place where SCAR had his famous ETSU dunk that's still a YouTube sensation!

[Purple Haize]

For old timers like Olldflame, Sly, SCAR, or Medic, does anyone know how many the old original Schilling building used to seat for basketball (aka, the multipurpose building or "the gym")?

You know, the place where SCAR had his famous ETSU dunk that's still a YouTube sensation!

According to Mrs Purple 1500-2000

[thepostman]

Oh geez

[justin414]

I don't think I've seen this reported before, but according to this article, http://www.wset.com/story/26818492/time ... er-to-city Liberty plans to close the annex by next October.

[Purple Haize]

I don't think I've seen this reported before, but according to this article, http://www.wset.com/story/26818492/time ... er-to-city Liberty plans to close the annex by next October.

Interesting to say the least. I think bringing the busses back is some CYA and IMO never should have been stopped. If you are putting University housing there you need to provide transportation, regardless of how busy it is.
As for the crosswalk, what about something similar to what's over Wards Rd? I know it would cause traffic nightmares putting up, but it doesn't take that long. And the city SHOULD fence the area between roads immediately.

[alabama24]

Uhh... so no Doc's diner. :I chortle audibly.:

I'm slightly at a loss as to why you are audibly chortling

Doc's diner has been an embarrassment... at least to anyone I have ever heard who has been. I know that there have been changes over the summer....

[BJWilliams]

I actually enjoyed it. I took my wife there when she visited Lynchburg before we got engaged, and it was a quick and easy stop for dinner when I lived over on "the square".

[Cider Jim]

Doc's diner

A good friend of mine was just hired to manage it, and she's the former regional director for Applebee's.

[Purple Haize]

Doc's diner

A good friend of mine was just hired to manage it, and she's the former regional director for Applebee's.

Im sure she's a nice lady but not inspiring confidence......
They could incorporate Doc's into the new arena. Turn it into a place like Applebee's Give people a place to go after a game and grab some wings etc. and generate revenue!

[Hold My Own]

Doc's diner

A good friend of mine was just hired to manage it, and she's the former regional director for Applebee's.

That's great to hear. I went about a year ago and took a VP from another school and to be honest it was embarrassing...in my defense it was his idea to go there and there wasnt too much I could do because he loved diners. You could not request any changes to your order...hold a tomato from a burger or anything. I apologized and told him it was quite different from the time I was last there.

I'm glad to hear there's new management and from somewhere like Applebee's. After all the LU executive in charge of them now is from Applebee's as well and it's night and day different across campus. I went to the Reber Thomas last week with some visitors to the university and it was amazing...seriously amazing. I'll be visiting Doc's again soon to give that another try.

[BCXtreme]

Doc's diner

A good friend of mine was just hired to manage it, and she's the former regional director for Applebee's.

That's great to hear. I went about a year ago and took a VP from another school and to be honest it was embarrassing...in my defense it was his idea to go there and there wasnt too much I could do because he loved diners. You could not request any changes to your order...hold a tomato from a burger or anything. I apologized and told him it was quite different from the time I was last there.

I'm glad to hear there's new management and from somewhere like Applebee's. After all the LU executive in charge of them now is from Applebee's as well and it's night and day different across campus. I went to the Reber Thomas last week with some visitors to the university and it was amazing...seriously amazing. I'll be visiting Doc's again soon to give that another try.

I'd be curious to know which academic year this was. They massively changed Doc's for the 2013-14 school year, and then threw all that out and massively changed it again for the 2014-15 year. The place is so jumbled together at this point, I really think the best course of action would be to tear the whole place down and build a new one as part of the arena complex, with both inside and outside entrances, like some mall restaurants. Also, while I think having a to-go service is great for students (and a LOT of restaurants do offer to-go), I really think they need to figure out how to run a full-service diner and not have it be an embarrassment. The original core concept of "Doc's Diner," in my opinion, would be a vastly superior amenity to the current hodgepodge that is "Doc's," if it could reach and maintain a proper standard of food and service. If they could make it THE meal destination for people attending sporting events in that arena, that would really be something!

[Purple Haize]

I'd be curious to know which academic year this was. They massively changed Doc's for the 2013-14 school year, and then threw all that out and massively changed it again for the 2014-15 year. The place is so jumbled together at this point, I really think the best course of action would be to tear the whole place down and build a new one as part of the arena complex, with both inside and outside entrances, like some mall restaurants. Also, while I think having a to-go service is great for students (and a LOT of restaurants do offer to-go), I really think they need to figure out how to run a full-service diner and not have it be an embarrassment. The original core concept of "Doc's Diner," in my opinion, would be a vastly superior amenity to the current hodgepodge that is "Doc's," if it could reach and maintain a proper standard of food and service. If they could make it THE meal destination for people attending sporting events in that arena, that would really be something!

Golly, someone else made that suggestion can't remember who that was....I do remember they were brilliant though

[BCXtreme]

Golly, someone else made that suggestion can't remember who that was....I do remember they were brilliant though

Never said it was an original idea. Said I thought it was the best course of action.