Vancouver — One of British Columbia's top universities has declared itself a no-go area for big corporate franchises as it moves to build a village that will house 10,000 residents on its mountain campus.
The head of a trust that is overseeing the $1-billion development at Simon Fraser University said he has already rejected overtures from Starbucks Corp., Quiznos Sub and Church's Chicken.
"This is not an anti-corporate gesture,'' said Michael Geller, president of the SFU Community Trust.
"Rather, the overall policy was inspired in part by the proximity of the development to the university and the desire to create a special sense of place,'' he said. "We want to attract businesses that will give a unique sense of character to the community.''
Simon Fraser is building the UniverCity Highlands village, a mixture of condominiums, townhouses and commercial space, to create an endowment fund and other revenue sources for the university. It will also provide more facilities for students who commute from nearby Vancouver and Burnaby.
The decision not to award leases to major corporate franchises is also a nod to Arthur Erickson, the architect who designed the Simon Fraser campus, which is perched on top of a mountain and opened in 1965.
"He was worried that the design would be too suburban,'' Mr. Geller said.
Such efforts are getting a lukewarm response from representatives of Simon Fraser's 20,000 students, who appear to be more concerned about what they pay for housing than where they buy their coffee.
"This is a public-relations grab,'' said Louis Julig, an internal relations officer with the Simon Fraser Students Society.
Ms. Julig said that while the society is generally opposed to corporate influence on campus, students are pushing harder for residential-style housing that is "affordably priced and adequately sized.''
Under the existing plan, she said, the ability of students to obtain affordable housing in the village is not guaranteed.
When the first phase of the new village opens this fall, the Town and Gown Pub, Renaissance Café, and Himalayan Peak Restaurant will likely face restrictions on the type of products they can offer SFU students and staff.
Businesses operating in the commercial zone are to be small, independent companies that are deemed to reflect the unique environment that the university is aiming to create.
Leaseholders have to comply with strict environmental guidelines relating to the height of the buildings and water consumption.
The non-corporate policy of the trust has not gone unnoticed across town at the University of British Columbia, where commercial arrangements appear to be a sensitive topic.
"A deal we entered into with Coca-Cola 10 years ago is still creating controversy,'' said Paul Patterson, a UBC spokesman.
"Every time our water fountains are not working, students allege that this is part of a conspiracy to make people drink Coke.''
Mr. Geller said he is well aware that not everyone in Simon Fraser's student population is happy with the non-corporate policy.
"A lot of students are dissatisfied that we are not going to attract a Tim Hortons or a Krispy Kreme,'' he said.
