Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 11/23/04 Section: Campus News

Photo by Megan Kung / Daily Staff Pablo Valencia, a construction worker, walks through the Campus Village construction site Monday. [Click to enlarge]

Many businesses, residents and students have had positive reactions to the new Campus Village, located on the corner of 10th and San Salvador streets, but others expressed complaints.

Ken Parker, the owner of Ken Hubb's Barber Shop on 10th Street, said he is optimistic that the Campus Village, which will open in Fall 2005, will increase his business.

"I'm hoping it will - I sure hope so," Parker said. He said the new residence halls are the best things to come to the campus since he has been here.

Parker, who has owned his barbershop since 1963, said he is glad the building will block the sunlight in the afternoon. He said his shop has been cooler now that the buildings have brought the welcomed shade.

Parker said he had few complaints about the Campus Village.

"Except for the noise, no problem," Parker said. The Rev. Michael Carson, of the San Jose State University Catholic Campus Ministry and Newman Community on 10th Street, said he welcomes the new students from the Campus Village.

"We're actually very excited about it," Carson said. He said they are developing new programs and they hope to attract new people to the campus ministry.

Carson said the campus ministry would increase and change mass times to accommodate the new students. Right now, the ministry has its Mass times at 12:10 p.m. Monday through Friday and at noon and 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Sister Marcia Krause, the director of the campus ministry, said she is excited about the opening of the residence halls.

"We are so looking forward to the new residents," Krause said. She said the campus ministry is looking for new ways of serving the students and the ministry is currently going through remodeling.

La Shonda Baker, a senior majoring in English and an employee at Robert's Bookstore, said she also welcomes the new residence halls.

"Hopefully it will improve our business," Baker said. She said the only problem she has with the Campus Village is the dust from construction.

Some residents who live near the site have expressed negative feelings to the housing project.

Robert Ramirez, a San Jose resident, said he does not like how the sun will be blocked from the buildings.

"The only other thing that we don't like is the shade," Ramirez said.

"It takes away from the evening sun."

Ramirez said the noise of the construction has been a problem.

"Sometimes they start too early in the morning," Ramirez said.

"You have to close the door and turn the TV on."

Nocho Montano, a San Jose resident, also said the building has been a problem.

"It cuts off all the sun," Montano said. He said when the dorms do open, it would not increase the amount of cars on 10th Street.

"The traffic is always thick through here," Montano said. He said the traffic might actually thin out once the Campus Village opens.

Frances Roth, the director for the Associated Students Child Development Center, said she is hoping to attract new students from the Campus Village to the center.

"Maybe we will get volunteers," Roth said. She said, however, that the buildings might create more traffic.

Anthony Chong, a junior majoring in English and an employee at Top Dog, a hot dog restaurant at Eleventh and San Carlos streets, said he likes the idea of the new residence halls.

"I'm certainly in favor of it," Chong said. "I think it's going to be really nice having a lot of freshmen moving to the campus area. I can definitely see it being a big bonus to the area, not just our store in general, but everywhere around the school."

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