Board zones in on Saginaw

Today, the Delta College Board of Trustees is expected to narrow their list of four possible options for the new, $12.2 million Saginaw campus.

The four zones under consideration for the project in Saginaw are Old Town, Downtown, Buena Vista and Michigan Avenue.

At the board’s last meeting on Dec. 10, there was some heated discussion concerning the criteria for the four zones where the new Saginaw Center will be built. Today, from 9 – 11:30 a.m. in the B-wing board room, there will be a special meeting where representatives for all four zones will present their case for why their zone would be the best solution to Delta College.

“Too long has Saginaw been neglected…when you get involved, great things can happen,” trustee R. Earl Selby said, referring to the important business of choosing a center.

Present at the December meeting were representatives for three out of the four zones. Joyce Seals of Saginaw County supported the idea that 400 Federal Street (Old Town) fit the criteria for Delta’s center. There is a police department in close proximity, a library near by and a 200 car parking garage in place.

Dwayne Parker, the Supervisor of Buena Vista Township, advocated for Delta’s site to be located at the Fort Saginaw Mall site. The current Ricker Center, which will be closed once the new center is built, is in Buena Vista, and Parker believes Delta’s continued presence would benefit the area greatly.

“We’re (Buena Vista) ready for Delta to build its 21st Century center,” Parker said.

Executive Director Beth Ernat of the Saginaw DDA presented her take on benefits of choosing downtown zone for Delta’s Saginaw center.

Also present at the meeting was SmithGroupJJR, an architect and engineering firm, along with Paulien & Associates, Inc., a college and university academic planning expert. Delta has contracted both firms to help make a new 35,000-square-foot Saginaw campus a reality by 2016.

The board made it clear that zones are just being picked out now. Later on in the semester there will be other meetings that will help decide where the location of the building will be placed.