The State College Borough Planning Commission seems to think it can play Houdini in the coming months and completely transform 37 acres of land into a thriving commercial and residential area by Dec. 18.

At last Tuesday's meeting, the planning commission announced the Urban Village, an area west of Atherton Street that will include businesses such as grocery stores, restaurants and coffee shops, would be complete by the end of the year.

The announcement comes more than a decade after plans were first introduced. Given all the bureaucratic red tape officials have gone through to get to this point, what is the likelihood that the project will be complete within the next ten months?

Not very likely at all.

While developing the area west of Atherton Street and bringing in new businesses will benefit the community, the timeline set for the project is unrealistic.

Hypothetically, if council does not make its deadline, it would not be the end of the world, but to continue postponing it, which may very well happen, could cause many residents to doubt the competency of borough officials and their sincerity about the project.

And construction of some of the buildings could potentially displace students currently living in the area. While the borough does have the right to declare eminent domain, it should not make students relocate, like it did in 2004 when the borough forced three students out of their rented home to make way for the West Beaver Avenue and Fraser Street parking garage.

The Urban Village is supposed to promote growth and a sense of community, but borough officials will not be able to do either if they do not respect students living in the area.

The area will also include a permanent housing market to support the new businesses.

It is understandable that the borough wants to expand its permanent tax base, but the new homes will probably be located next to student housing without any segregation. In the interest of promoting peaceful interaction between permanent residents and students, the borough should reconsider this decision.