COD Construction Update

Our neighbors at the College of Dupage began a construction project along our easterly border this fall. According to the information at the COD website, this was described as a "2011 Parking Improvement Project."

This project began as a surprise, with no notice from the college to the association or management. When the construction fence went up, it raised questions. These included: what is the nature of the project and when would it be completed? According to the information provided at the request of the association and the COD website, this was to have been completed in October.

A meeting was arranged with the Project Manager and the association discovered that this project included a bermed retention pond, with trees, grass, etc.along our easterly border.

This was of concern to some of the residents and so a meeting was arranged. The college responded to a request to send a representative to attend one of our association meetings, but to my knowledge our board never received a reply to several questions that were raised during that meeting, as promised.

So, on December 3, what's the current status of the project? I went to the COD "Construction News" website this morning, and the first item was more of the brick throwing competition with the Village of Glen Ellyn:

"Village Responds to COD Overtures with Three Citations and Two Stop Work Orders
On the same day COD President Robert L. Breuder contacted Village of Glen Ellyn President Mark Pfefferman to develop an agreement for a smooth de-annexation process, the Village served the College with three citations and two stop-work orders."

Well that was of no help!

So, I went further into the construction information site and after reading through all of the "awards" and other propaganda (What does any of this have to do with "construction news?") I finally found this last item:

"2011 Parking Improvement Project
 Phases I and II of the Parking Improvement Project will take place between July 11 and Nov. 15."

Going further into the labrinth of a website, I discovered this statement:

"In our continued effort to inform the COD community, Facilities Planning and Construction has issued this Official Communication to provide more detailed information regarding the 2011 Parking Improvement project. Phase 1 Construction is anticipated to occur July 11 through Sept. 5. Phase 2 Construction is anticipated to occur Sept. 6 through Nov. 15. [See attached map for phase 1 and 2 locations.]"

Going to the map, yes there is "stage 1" right along our fence, with a note "Stage 1: Approximate dates of construction: July 11 through September 5."

I continued to the COD "Master Plan" area of their website and clicked on the "Live Webcam" link.I thought, wow that will be neat! So I clicked and here's what I saw; apparently the webcam is out of action! However, after this image, there's a link and you can try accessing it, yourself:

Here's a Link to COD'S "Live Webcam."
Click Here for Live Webcam

So I returned to the COD website, went to the "Facilities Master Plan" area and then to the "Construction Projects" Page. Here is the list of current projects. The one along our easterly border with the college is not listed here, nor under "Current Projects Construction" Here is what is listed:

ATHLETIC FIELDS #3/SOCCER FIELDS
BERG INSTRUCTIONAL CENTER, STUDENT RESOURCE CENTER AND COLLEGE CENTER ADDITION CULINARY AND HOSPITALITY CENTER HEALTH AND SCIENCE CENTER and TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER
LANDSCAPING IMPROVEMENT
HOMELAND SECURITY EDUCATION CENTER
McANINCH ARTS CENTER GRAPHIC ARTS RENOVATION

So, it seems the project of interest is completed? Not really. Here's a couple of photos taken on December 2. Note: clicking on the photos will enlarge them.

Notes: 
1. Link to Naperville Sun article dated December 1:

Click for Article "college of dupage moves to leave glen ellyn"

2. Link for the Construction News information at the College of DuPage website:

http://home.cod.edu/newsEvents/constructionNews.aspx

3. Link to the current diagram at COD which shows various construction projects. You will note that the project shown in the photos above, is no longer on this diagram. That's interesting!

http://www.cod.edu/Maps/CampMap2.gif