LEWISBURG — Plans for Bucknell University to move into the downtown will continue despite the announcement of the departure of the university’s president, Brian C. Mitchell.
“It really shouldn’t have any effect,” said university spokesman Tom Evelyn. “All plans will continue as currently in place.”
Mitchell announced his resignation Wednesday, effective June 30, 2010. He has served as Bucknell’s 16th president since 2004.
Work is moving forward on the bookstore, at Market and North Fourth streets, and Evelyn said the project is on schedule. Work is being done inside the building, and the project is expected to be completed next summer.
Additional campus and downtown projects — including an administrative office building, an inn and conference center and affiliated garage, and new athletics facilities — still are in the planning stages, and start dates will be worked out in the coming months.
Linda Sterling, executive director of the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership, said it’s difficult to predict what might happen, but she hopes there will be no change in plans. She said there’s no reason to think there will be.
“President Mitchell certainly had a great vision, and I really, really appreciated his understanding of historic preservation and downtown local economies,” she said. “I’m hoping there’s no change in commitment. There’s no reason to believe there is.”
The plan was approved by the trustees, Sterling noted. She also is not anticipating a loss of interest in the project.
“Of course, President Mitchell’s leadership helped these projects get under way, but it was an effort of a much larger group representing the university,” Evelyn said, mentioning the board of trustees. “He laid down a really important foundation for these projects and helped the university pursue it as planned.”
Evelyn said Mitchell still will be at the university for another year and will continue to play a large role in the projects.
Sterling said: “Mitchell really understands the benefits of the university and community working together. I’m grateful to see him here and how the university has grown while he’s here. ... It makes my job a whole lot easier that the university is such an economic development partner. It’s a real asset for Lewisburg.”
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