College Park District debuts new student living space, parking and dining options at UT Arlington
The residential and retail development includes 1,800 parking spaces in three garages to serve the campus community and visitors.
ARLINGTON – UT Arlington move-in day will be exponentially more exciting next week as students take up residence at Vandergriff Hall and The Lofts at College Park and sample new parking garages and restaurants in the new, 20-acre College Park District development.
The residential and retail development includes 1,800 parking spaces in three garages to serve students living on campus, patrons of restaurants and retail outlets and visitors to the 7,000-seat College Park Center, downtown Arlington and First Baptist Church-Arlington.
“It’s thrilling to see Arlington’s first urban village take root on the UT Arlington campus,” President James D. Spaniolo said. “Our students now have a destination where they can live, study, dine and catch a show or a game. The College Park District is a beacon for everyone who wants to experience the excitement of a thriving College Town.”
UT Arlington residence halls open Monday, Aug. 20. Classes begin Thursday, Aug. 23. A grand opening event for College Park District is planned later this fall.
The College Park District includes 27,000 square feet of retail space, with seven of 10 spaces already leased. Pie Five Pizza Co., a fast casual concept from Pizza Inn Holdings Inc., has announced an Aug. 22 opening. Coolberry Frozen Yogurt is expected to open in early September.
Digg’s Taco Shop, a hip, laid-back taqueria serving fresh, ramped-up tacos, has leased 2,900 square feet off Pecan Street south of UTA Boulevard in the College Park District. The Arlington location is expected to open in November and will have patio seating. Digg’s has a popular University Park location across from Southern Methodist University.
Other restaurants, including previously announced GRIP Mediterranean Grill; Pho Xpress; and MAVS Sports Grill are expected to open in October. The University expects to announce additional tenants throughout the fall.
Vandergriff Hall, named for longtime Arlington mayor and Tarrant County Judge Tom J. Vandergriff, will be home to about 500 students. The Lofts at College Park will serve another 100 students in the new contemporary apartments.
Overall, some 5,300 students will live on campus this fall, with another 775 students living at the northwest corner of campus in new, privately developed student complexes along UTA Boulevard.
The College Park District also features the new, 7,000-square-foot Dan Dipert University Welcome Center at South Center and East Second streets with easy access from points north and south. The center was made possible in part by support from Dan Dipert, chief executive officer of Arlington-based Dan Dipert Travel & Transportation Ltd., and his wife Linda.
Additionally, the district includes a new, UT Arlington Police substation, security cameras and “blue light” emergency call boxes through the garages and added public safety officers to patrol the area.
College Park Center comes alive with the annual MavsMeet convocation at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 22, and UT Arlington women’s volleyball beginning Friday, Aug. 24. UT Arlington men’s and women’s basketball returns to College Park Center in November. More information about UT Arlington Athletics is available at www.utamavs.com.
Passion Pit, a celebrated, Boston-based electric pop band, plays College Park Center on Sept. 14, while Christian hip-hop artist TobyMac is booked Oct. 4. For more information about upcoming College Park Center events and tickets, please visit www.utacollegepark.com.
The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive research institution of 33,500 students in the heart of North Texas. For more information, please visit www.uta.edu.
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Media contact: Kristin Sullivan, Kristinsul@uta.edu, 817-272-5364
The University of Texas at Arlington, www.uta.edu
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