Elon — the university — has seen it’s share of changes in the last five years —Construction of a new library, football stadium and two new academic pavilions to name a few. And a new political science pavilion and business school building are on the way.

Meanwhile, downtown Elon — mainly defined by the block of merchants along Williamson and Lebanon Avenues — has remained relatively stagnant.

But, a North Carolina State University graduate student’s vision for downtown and a pending contact for development of the fire house fields suggests that sweeping change may soon be on the way for Elon — the town.

Pam Graham, who recently earned a master’s of landscaping architecture at North Carolina State University, outlined a decade-long development plan in a term project.

In the project, Graham outlines a downtown district made up of residences, retail establishments, green space and public gathering places. The site, which would extend across the current firehouse fields,

would be connected to the present shopping district.

One focus of the plan is community-building. A number of the proposed elements encourage interaction, including the integration of retail, residential and public spaces, a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere, narrow streets and corner stores.

Despite its progressive nature, Graham’s plan seeks to not compromise the towns identity.

"Of primary concern is the town’s ability to maintain its small-town character as it faces continued pressure from the adjacent city of Burlington," she wrote in the project’s outline.

Town Clerk Sabrina Oliver said the project is little more than an idea now. Graham’s plans are posted in Town Hall for citizens to review. Oliver said citizens are encouraged to share their opinions about the project.

One component of a new downtown may be closer to fruition, however.

Gerald Whittington, vice president of business, finance and technology, said the university has reached an agreement with a developer to sell the fire station fields if the developer can get the land rezoned, produce an appropriate design and fill the development with tenants.

Whittington said the university also stipulated that the developer could not take control of the land until the school has found replacement recreational fields. He said the school is in the process of designing fields to be located on land purchased last year from Elon Homes for Children.