Brookings Banter

Brookings and SDSU's partnership has grown and improved over the past several years.  One of the major accomplishments is the Innovation Campus.  Good communication and relationships exsist between the City and the University.  The city understands the importance of SDSU to our economy.  SDSU could use more help from the the city to accomplish its strategic plan.  It is time to take the relationship to the next level and create a common vision.

A good example is the "Collegetown Vision Statement" created in City of Ithaca New York home of Cornell University.

“The primary goal of the Collegetown Vision Statement is to set the course for the creation of an outstanding urban environment that builds on its proximity to the adjacent campus of Cornell University, an institution of importance to the city for its educational and cultural contributions and for its positive impact on the local economy. As such, there is a unique opportunity to create a diverse, commercially viable, dense, mixed-use community characterized by notable urban design, a predominantly student population, high quality architecture, vibrant public spaces and pedestrian amenities. The vision for residential neighborhoods east of Collegetown includes a population mix of students, long-term residents, families and owner-occupants that enables all to enjoy a high quality of life. The neighborhood between Collegetown and downtown is a primarily residential historic district that enjoys a unique status as a result of its location between two active commercial areas. This area merits attention in the form of programs or incentives to strengthen both its visual appearance and the resident mix of owner-occupants and student renters. A convenient public transportation system connecting Collegetown and the surrounding neighborhoods to the larger Ithaca community is one of several strategies aimed at reducing car traffic in Collegetown and enhancing the environment for pedestrians.”

This vision is not only about economic development, it includes creating a great community with a University. 

Brookings is not just an university town because we are a university town.  In other words the city has always capitalized on having a major University within its borders to grow economically.   How great of a community could we have if we take the relationship to next level and focus on creating a great community with a great university.