Mayor Frank Jackson has assembled a group of students, developers, and faculty and staff members to begin the transformation of University Drive into what Jackson described as, “Downtown Prairie View,” in a project formally named Communiversity.
The first major construction site of Communiversity is scheduled to begin next year, when a retail center will break ground on the corner of University Drive and Echols Street.
Blueprints for development indicate three-story retail center will feature a bank, a credit union, apartment-styled condos with amenities, and leasing space for six student-owned retail shops.
According to Jackson, the rebuilding of University Drive, whose design can be accredited to students in the Natherlyne A. Kennedy School of Architecture, was one of the initial efforts in launching the project.
Funding for construction was split between funds donated by the city and $3.9 million in stimulus money given by the Obama administration at the beginning of 2009.
Many who have witnessed construction on University Drive can attest to how far the conditions of the roads have come since fall 2008. It was the beginning of a long-term effort to urbanize the areas surrounding Prairie View A&M University.
The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County, Houston, Texas has also expressed interest in Prairie View, as the MTA is currently making arrangements to build a public transit railroad stop at the abandoned train depot on Old-290.
Since being established in 1969, the City of Prairie View has undergone little to no commercial changes. Among numerous items sitting on Jackson’s bookshelf, is a thick, three-ring binder containing more than six years’ worth of documents consisting of construction plans, contracts, and building permits which serve as a blueprint for the project that was launched last year.
In a meeting held last year, in which Students In Free Enterprise, College of Business, members of the City Council, the Prairie View Chamber of Commerce, and a number of other businesses and organizations were involved, all entities came together and brainstormed to develop resources that would enable them to achieve this goal.
Jackson noted that he used both the $28 million in refund checks received by students in 2009, and Prairie View’s $114 million impact on Waller County as incentives to get outside influence involved.
“Students are our number one resource, and the primary reason we are all here.” Jackson said. “The goal of this university and this city is to produce society-ready people. Its important for students to get involved in this game, and learn to play it at an early age, and those wishing to get involved in this effort shouldn’t hesitate to contact me.”
Jackson also looked to Rick Baldwin, associate professor in the College of Business, to contact the Federal Reserve in Houston, and developer George Johnson and his daughter, Courtney Johnson-Rose, to complete the economic development planning. The city also approached Michael D. McKinney to get the Texas A&M system to get them on board for economic develop and commercialization through Texas Engineering Extension Services.
Jackson said, “After we got all these resources together, we then began to define economic development, which we all agreed meant to create wealth. That’s what we’re attempting to do here.”
Texas Engineering Extension Services, or TEEX, had begun using Texas A&M and Prairie View graduate students to conduct research on the functions and operations taking place in research laboratories at PVAMU, which according to Jackson, will produce a report in January 2011 indicating which research laboratories are capable of using their studies for commercial implications. Shortly after, the city began to purchase foreclosed property on University Drive and making plans to build new enterprises in these areas.
Jackson also noted that he encourages anyone who has ties to Prairie View to get involved in the effort, stressing the importance of the city and the university to prosper as one.