The beginning of the fall 2009 semester was supposed to bring the exciting reopening of the revamped Terra Ve to anxious Purchase students. Even the non-vegetarians were looking forward to the completion of the nearly $1 million project.
But five months later, the campus nucleus of fresh food remains sealed shut. With the spiraling rumors surrounding the rehabilitation, students are becoming more and more impatient.
Senior Director of Dining Services Nick Mennillo said that the delays were caused by the remodeling of the Health Services ceiling, which is located underneath Terra Ve in the basement of Campus Center South.
However, Capital Facilities Planning Project Manager Charles Wellcome said that the delays occurred because of the weather and material delivering problems.
“Contractors are not my most favorite people,” said Mennillo. “When the weather was nice last summer, they did nothing.”
Commuter student Jazzlyn Rutel said that she is unhappy about the delay because Terra Ve is the midway point between the Hub and Starbucks. Sophomore Mary Diviencenzo also said she enjoyed having a place close to the dorms to have breakfast.
Rutel said she has had a hard time believing that the construction will be finished in time for even the next semester because of the school’s track record with delays involving other construction sites. “It will be ready because it’s under my control,” Mennillo said confidently.
Hoffmann Architects, Inc. have designed the entire plan which they said includes a beautiful and convenient outdoor patio as well as more space upstairs for students to sit. According to Mennillo, the biggest issue in completing the project has involved replacing the leaking glass front.
He said that Terra Ve will most likely be finished over the next month, but that there is no point in hiring people for two months or opening the patio during the winter.
Along with the sweeping changes come new additions to the menu. “We are going to try to get a little more earthy,” said Mennillo as he described the plan to have flat bread pizzas and more “grab-and-go type stuff.”
Another major difference is that the hours will probably extend from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mennillo also said that the return of Terra Ve will not mean removing the vegetarian options that are now available at the Hub and the dining hall.
Purchase students are known to have grown attached to the campus eatery and they will likely not be satisfied until it reopens. “It was the best food on campus. It was delicious and healthy,” said Rutel.
She said that her favorite food at Terra Ve was the quesadillas and though there is Zona Mexicana at the Hub, she said it was not the same. Divincenzo also reminisces of grabbing a large amount of garlic bread pizza right before closing.
“It tasted like real food,” said Rutel enthusiastically. “They need to open Terra Ve as soon as possible. I think the end result will be well worth the wait.”
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