The Vision Thing
I read Sue Detisch’s guest commentary (UC/Golden Triangle News, Dec. 28, page 6) with some surprise, especially when I came to the line "Anyone can see that we live in single-dwelling homes on quiet streets in small neighborhoods in South University City." Apparently she is vision-impaired. I live in south University City in a condominium complex in one of 145 units. There is another complex on the same street with 132 units, and a third with several hundred units. There are two large apartment complexes up the street from me and a third further east along Governor and it happens to be in the process of doubling in size. The oldest condominium complexes in south University City were built in the late 1970s, 30 years ago. For most of us, this would be enough time to take notice of their existence.
She needs some corrective lenses. I don’t know how to account for her lack of accuracy, but it does make me question the integrity of the remainder of her piece.
Judy Brinner, University City

Changes are already here
Suggestions for isolating south UC from the “urban and commercial north” have absorbed a lot of newsprint recently. Sandy Lippe suggests a change of name might be appropriate to better focus on our family-oriented community with its established schools and parks (“Three wish lists for change in UC,” UC/Golden Triangle News, Nov, 23, page 7). The writer of a guest commentary on Dec. 26, ’06, wishes to retain the ambience of south UC: “Anyone can see we live in single-dwelling homes on quiet streets in small neighborhoods.” She also worries that population density will congest the roads, making it difficult for children to reach their neighborhood schools.
The reality is the changes they fear are not impending “” they are already with us, and thousands of residents in south UC have been dealing with them for years. The proposed condominium towers in north University City, if approved, will definitely have a negative impact on our community in the south. However, even without them, University City is at saturation point.
Genesee Avenue is the single north/south conduit through the heart of south University City, by which many commuters from the entire county reach jobs or services at hospitals, medical centers, businesses, shopping centers and the university in north UC. Our excellent schools attract students from all over the city on more than 50 buses a day, and hundreds of students who select one of our three “choice” schools arrive and depart daily by private automobiles. Our parks attract soccer, baseball and softball teams from all parts of the county every weekend.
While south UC is primarily a single-family residential community, multi-family dwellings do exist here. Condominium and apartment complexes border both sides of Genesee Avenue between SR 52 and UC High. At the eastern end of Governor Drive, the 511-unit senior complex known as University City Village/Town Park Villas is in the process of expanding. Based upon approval of the City Council in October 2000, an additional 599 units, including 80 assisted living units, will be added. The residents of these complexes also want and deserve a peaceful quality of life.
Safety has become a critical issue in south UC with increased growth and traffic congestion. Fire and medical response times, especially during commute periods, are dangerously slow, and the need for an alternate evacuation route to Genesee was graphically described by the fire department after the Cedar fires of 2003.
Fortunately, solutions are on the way. In August, the City Council voted to build the long-promised, long-awaited Regents Road Bridge over, not through, Rose Canyon, providing our community with a precious alternate route and significant relief for congested Genesee Avenue. Also, last fall our Community Plan was amended to provide University City with additional fire stations. Both projects will improve the quality of life for thousands of residents and make University City a safer place to live.
There is no returning to the south UC of 30 years ago when our kids played baseball on Chaparral Field, now Costa Verde. Like our own children, south UC has grown up. Rather than concentrate on changing the name of our community or separating it from the north, why not build on what already makes south UC great “” the people who volunteer in our schools, parks, library, youth sports, scouting, civic and charitable organizations. Let’s work together for the good of the whole community.
Marcia Munn, University City