Simpson to present UB growth plan to residents

John Simpson

University at Buffalo President John Simpson will meet with Amherst residents to present UB's plans to grow by 40 percent and discuss that growth's potential impact on the region's economy.

The public forum, co-hosted by the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 29 at Marinaccio's Italian Ristorante, 5877 Main St., Williamsville.

Among the topics to be addressed is how UB's planned growth will positively impact the Buffalo Niagara Region and create new opportunities for UB to interact with the community.

Simpson will be joined in the presentation by Robert Shibley, professor and director of the Urban Design Project in the UB School of Architecture and Planning. Shibley is overseeing UB's master-planning process, which is intended to transform the landscape and infrastructure of UB's North, South and Downtown campuses in keeping with the objectives of UB's strategic plan, known as UB 2020.

As part of its efforts to develop a master plan to oversee growth and the development of its three campus centers between now and 2020, UB has been reaching out to government officials, municipal planners and community leaders in Amherst, Buffalo and said.

"Our goal is to develop a master plan that connects with the plans of UB's host municipalities and is in the best interests of the community," he said. "A critical element of this collaboration is how to best link UB's campuses with neighboring communities."

Since announcing

the plan in September, Simpson and Shibley have met with many community groups and leaders to discuss the plan's potential impact on Western New York and to invite ideas and feedback.

In the presentation to Amherst residents, Shibley will outline the beginnings of a new master plan for all three campuses.

According to Shibley, the plan will support UB's targeted growth and will improve campus environments dramatically.

"We are trying to build bridges with communities around our three campus centers," Shibley added. "The master plan will lead to the creation of modern, attractive and safe spaces on all three campuses - creating memorable environments for students, faculty, staff and community members to interact."

According to Simpson, UB's plan to grow by 10,000 students and 750 faculty members over the next 15 years will substantially increase the university's annual economic impact on Western New York. It will also be a major catalyst for the kind of economic revitalization seen in Silicon Valley, Seattle, Boston and other American cities with great universities, UB officials have said.

A bigger and better UB, Simpson said, will lead to regional job growth, improve the quality of life, bring in millions of dollars for research and new venture capital, create new companies and support existing ones, and reverse the "brain drain" exodus of young people from the region.

For more information about the UB master plan, visit www.buffa lo.edu/ub2020/plan.