The State College Borough Planning Commission has set a date to complete the revitalization of the Urban Village -- an area made up of more than 90 percent student housing.

Officials said last week they want to complete the project by Dec. 18.

Borough Planning Director Carl Hess said the Planning Commission wants to create a permanent housing market to support the new businesses in the area. The permanent housing would most likely be located next to student housing without any segregation.

However, Jennifer Mers (senior-architectural engineering), who lives in the area, said she didn't think that the plan to put permanent residents next door to student housing would work. "I don't know many families who would want to live next door to a college student's house," Mers said.

The area, known as the Urban Village, is about 37 acres, located west of Atherton Street. It is bordered on the north by the newly developed West Campus and on the south by Calder Way and downtown State College. West College Avenue runs through the area.

A market feasibility study completed last fall pointed to run-down student housing in the area and the safety concerns of some students. It suggested that the Urban Village could benefit from more owner-occupied homes and mixed-use retail areas.

Hess said the plan also includes fixing up historical homes, another recommendation of the study. The neighborhood contains some of the oldest buildings in the borough, some dating to the early 20th century. "We will work with property owners and Penn State to fix houses, build new buildings and revitalize historic buildings," Hess said.

Construction of buildings in the area could temporarily displace some students living in the area, Hess said.

"It is too premature to tell if that would happen, and we would help to relocate people if it did occur," he said.

Some students said they opposed the idea of eminent domain, which gives the borough the right to demolish any buildings that it sees a need to rebuild.

The government must compensate owners for property obtained through eminent domain. An appraisal is conducted, and that price becomes the minimum price the government would offer to pay, Hess said.

"I don't think it's fair at all, especially for people who have taken the time to rent the houses to college students," Heather McAlum (senior-agricultural business management) said.

Mers echoed McAlum's sentiments concerning the issue of eminent domain. "I don't think that's fair. I would not want it to be my house," Mers said.

Hess said student displacement through eminent domain is not a strong probability for the Urban Village project and is an option the borough hopes to avoid. "Theoretically, displacement could occur by eminent domain. But that is a last resort," Hess said.

Hess said the plan calls for tearing down old buildings and rebuilding them, as well as cleaning up other ones without making major structural changes.

McAlum said she was unaware of the borough's plans for the Urban Village, but as a resident of the Urban Village neighborhood, she likes the neighborhood the way it is currently.

"As a college student, this is a great place to live," McAlum said. "I don't see the point of them tearing down houses to build new ones. I love it out here."

Hess said there would also be new businesses that would go into the neighborhood. This would include about 20,000 to 30,000 square feet of "neighborhood commercial" businesses, like grocery stores, restaurants and coffee shops.

Mers said she was also unaware of the borough's plans for Urban Village, but the plan to bring more restaurants and grocery stores into the area would be beneficial.

"There aren't many grocery stores out here; you need a car to get to one. You mostly have to walk, and there really is just McLanahans," Mers said.