It's too late now, but the location where the old Shopko and Food 4 Less was might have been a great location.
You would still have the great view of Y Mountain, and pretty close to campus.
BUT the roads and connections would be a little bit better since you could use university parkway, and university ave, and Freedom blvd... and you would be sending people out in 4 directions rather than kind only 2 from the current location.

BUT, they build apartments in that location, so that isn't really an option anymore.