Am I glowing? Stop digging Tastes like…art Winning streak

February 11, 2013
wingspan.lccc.wy.edu
16 Wingspan
Wingspan 17
By Allie Hurley
Features Editor
Laramie County Community College
is surrounded by open land…a lot of open
land.
This property belongs to the Lummis
Livestock Co. whose family was among those
who donated the land upon which LCCC was
built in the early 1970s and may continue to be
part of the college’s future.
For LCCC is being kept in mind during the
Lummis Livestock Co.’s proposal to build a new
community development across the street from
LCCC.
“I graduated from LCCC and had a wonderful
experience,” Del Lummis said. “I hold the
college near and dear to my heart.”
The Lummis Livestock Co. has named its
2,000-acre development Sweetgrass and will
include commercial buildings, recreational
access, single and multi-family houses
and apartments, and a resort lodge.
Putting community in community college
Lummis said he hoped this development will
complement the city, county and LCCC.
LCCC would be a part of the Sweetgrass
project if students used its housing. An offcampus
housing facility would be provided for
students and would be built across the street
from LCCC’s main entrance.
However, the housing would not be provided
through the college. The company’s research
has determined an apartment building setting
to be the best kind of facility to serve students
best.
At its very beginning stages, the Sweetgrass
project has passed the Laramie County
Planning Commission, and it’s currently awaiting
a February meeting with the Board of Public
Utilities to get water and sewer permits.
Lummis said he had hoped construction
would start this calendar year, but it looked as if
it may start in 2014 at the earliest.
The Lummis Livestock Co. understands
Cheyenne’s population is steadily increasing because
of major employers including Wyoming’s
By Allie Hurley
Features Editor
Even a small community like Cheyenne offers different styles
of living arrangements, so students from Laramie County
Community College recently surveyed were asked whether
the Hynds Building in downtown Cheyenne was a favorable.
On March 6, the LCCC Board of Trustees at a
study session will decide whether to pursue
the downtown housing.
The Hynds Building became an
option when the Hynds Capitol
Core Project group proposed
student housing
to LCCC officials
last fall. The
group
Air Force Base and Wal-Mart Distribution
center.
The Sweetgrass community would include
many areas for gathers and celebrations such
as mini-parks, shelters and courtyards. A village
center with retail stores and restaurants would
be the focal point of Sweetgrass, so the community
would have nearby services and goods. An
18-hole public golf course, horse trails and lakes
and ponds would be part of the recreational
activities.
A 25-acre neighborhood park will be another
recreational area for the community to
be built along College Drive adjacent to Allison
Draw.
The goals and characteristics for the
Sweetgrass project include embracing the
ranch’s natural features and short grass prairie;
a community committed to lifestyle and quality
of life; to be a “place for everyone”; a variety of
recreational activities; open spaces; an emphasis
on sustainability and “environmental
stewardship.”
making the proposal was Alan O’Hashi, businessman; Glen Garrett,
architect, and Jim Weaver, real estate agent.
The trustees wanted to get students’ opinion about off-campus
housing, especially living downtown.
Throughout November and December, an online survey was posted
for students to take. “The survey was available during Thanksgiving
break until the last week of fall semester classes. During finals week,
the survey was analyzed,” said Ann Murray, LCCC manager of institutional
research.
The survey was promoted by sending emails to all students enrolled
at LCCC for the fall semester, and booths were set up in the student
lounge as well in the residence halls. The survey was online because it
would be easier to access and read the data. Murray added the survey
was aimed more toward second- or more-year students who have
already been on campus.
Some 379 surveys were submitted. Of those taking the survey, 24.66
percent lived on campus and 26.27 percent lived off campus in a house.
In other demographics, 75.21 percent chose single as their relationship
status; 74.26 percent of survey takers were full-time students;
43.85 percent were 18- to 20-years-old, and 71.31 percent were female.
The first question asked the student if he would be interested in
off-campus apartments provided by LCCC. If the student answered
“no,” he skipped to question No. 6. About 76.19
percent said “yes” to the first question.
The next questioned asked the student to
LCCC’s President Dr. Joe Schaffer said the
development was in progress since 2009. It
was put on delay because of the economy but
was brought back up in fall 2012. The development
is supposed to be upscale and nice, which
might improve south Cheyenne. This development
might also bring LCCC from the perception
it is on the edge of Cheyenne to being part
of the city. Schaffer also said this development
would bring an extension of utilities and retail
stores to benefit students.
This development could take 50 years and
would be built in phases. The first phase would
be made up of 200 acres. It would include a village
center, a commercial area with coffeeshops
and stores, and a multi-family and single- family
component.
Lummis said he hoped to make Sweetgrass
compatible with LCCC. Throughout this process,
the company will accept any comments.
Anyone interested may contact Bruce Downing,
consulting planner, at rbdowing@gmail.com or
307-579-4066.
College trustees study student survey
College gauges students’ interest in off-campus living
Design by Kasey M. Orr
rank the four choices
for off-campus living with his most
favorable choice as No. 1 and his least
choice as No. 4. One- to two-bedroom apartments
were the first and second choices chosen by the majority of
survey takers.
About 84.70 percent chose an all-inclusive bill over having
separate bills for utilities, phone, Internet, etc.
Grocery shopping and health care were very important to
students as well as being able to get to those places.
Surveyed students would prefer to live closer to these businesses,
which would help determine where off-campus housing should be
located.
When selecting apartment-style living, students thought having
a gym and fitness center was very important. Study space, 24-hour
maintenance and package acceptance were also very important.
Students didn’t express much need of a meeting room; however, this
room could help students with group projects.
A shared laundry facility was somewhat important, but students
would rather have washer and dryer hookups in each unit. Students
also picked having a dishwasher and a furnished apartment as being
very important.
Easy parking, bus transportation or being within walking distance
from the college were also very important to students, but not a playground.
Some other features students would like to have pets—small or large—
just anything other than a fish. Reliable Internet service was also important.
Other factors that came with off-campus housing were cooking and
eating. Students wouldn’t mind having a meal plan for meals on campus,
a small convenience store or a coffee bar. However, most students would
prefer having their own kitchens to cook their own food.
A concern about off-campus living was an increase of criminal activity.
The college already has rules students must follow, and if they don’t, college
security officers enforce them. What would be the rules and regulations
for off-campus housing and would any type of security be available?
Murray said because the information from the survey has been
collected and analyzed, the next research step is to invite students to
participate in focus groups. These groups will discuss more information
about what students need in order to live downtown and other questions
students have.