The following comes from a Mar. 16 story in UT San Diego.
Just about everywhere you look these days in downtown Escondido, college students are making movies, eating at restaurants, working at part-time jobs or studying in Maple Street Plaza.
Merchants and city officials say the arrival last September of John Paul the Great Catholic University, which focuses on careers in film and animation, has enlivened Escondido’s struggling downtown and given it a more youthful vibe.
“Every time I’m downtown I see students walking around, making movies or eating at Swami’s,” City Councilman John Masson said last week. “We want more people downtown and this is helping.”
School officials say this could be just the beginning. The university recently bought another downtown building, expanding the scope of its operation to four sites on Grand Avenue, and enrollment is projected to grow from 175 students to about 1,000 in the next few years.
Long-term goals include spurring a cluster of media businesses around the campus, with former students running many of them.
“We are committed to being in Escondido,” said Tim Van Damm, who leads the university’s fundraising efforts. “We’re a natural fit here because Escondido has been working toward a downtown focused on the arts for many years.”
Escondido built the California Center for the Arts nearby in 1994 and the city has been trying to attract art galleries downtown ever since. But city officials were initially reluctant to approve the university because it conflicts with the city’s goal of a downtown filled with restaurants and live entertainment venues.
Dan Forster, president of the Downtown Business Association, said those concerns seem to be fading away.
“Students walking around has created a buzz,” he said. “They eat at Pedro’s Downtown Deli, they film inside the Grand Tea Room and they’re just an overall positive influence.”
Several new restaurants opened at roughly the same time as the university, creating a snowball effect for the area, Forster said. And the students have helped make sure those restaurants succeed, he said….
Others have also blamed the university for contributing to a downtown parking shortage that’s emerged in recent months.
But Councilman Masson said the shortage is the result of so many new businesses opening. Van Damm said students are strictly prohibited from parking downtown and that university officials monitor student cars.
Most of the students live in Latitude 33, an upscale apartment complex that opened a few blocks north of Grand in summer 2012. Students are required to walk from there to campus, Van Damm said.
To read the entire story, click here.
Its good news for Escondido but they are not very nice with the parking situation. Its a public place, they should be allowed to park there as well.
I have years of video of the annual Anti Male Hate Riot known (but now completely censored) as the SF Dyke March – I wonder if any9one at this school is interested in helping edit (and where necessary pixilate) the video in to educational shorts?
It is very hard for me to understand a Catholic college or university, dedicated to film and the media, and related arts! Why not a college named for our new “Saint” John Paul II– dedicated to rigorous, traditional Catholic academics and theology, attracting serious young men, who might be interested in the priesthood?? Well– as this school sounds very “secular”– are they making truly Catholic films?? Is that the idea, along with a deep spiritual emphasis, and the study of “Saint” John Paul II’s writings and personal spirituality, that led him to Sainthood?? What about his marvelous healing gifts– will these inspiring cases of his miraculous healings be studied?? “Pope John Paul the Great” was certainly NOT “great” due to his media or acting talents!! He was great due to his blessed spiritual gifts and sanctity!
Linda Maria, with all due respect, we need Catholics formed in the faith, involved in film and media. Like it or not, the media forms the bulk of public opinion, in our culture. This includes the opinion of Catholics. If you think about it, at the height of European culture, the Catholic Church was the supporter of the arts. The goal of this university is to reclaim our rightful place in this worthy endeavor.
Thank you Tracy and Charles A for your comments. I agree with you both. Plus this school is not only about media, it is also focusing on Business and I think some liberal arts and Theology.
It has daily Mass, they require students to attend adoration etc. Their dorms are a dry campus, that means they do not tolerate alcohol or partying. Which is nice because even in other Catholic University’s there is a hooking up and partying. This University is considered to be a true Catholic school. It has a wonderful pro-life group as well. Well at least that is what I have seen/heard thus far.
Lets keep them in our prayers. In this culture, devout schools need our support and help so they can continue on that good path.
John Paul the…what? Oh ya…you mean the Koran kisser that will be canonized by the “ain’t no Catholic God” pope.
This is a very good school. The University is faithful and their students are dedicated to the faith. I’m glad to hear that they found a campus in an area where they can prosper more.
Most of downtown Escondido has always had a parking shortage, having been laid out up to a century ago. If several hundred University students [projected growth] are occupying the available parking, there will be none for the other businesses. So the University is being a good citizen by requiring off-site parking. The University is thinking ahead, since they will need support of residents and City government when they want the likely necessary zoning permit to accomodate the planned growth.