JUNE 25, 2009 ISSUE
ASU Board of Trustees Talk Property
Approves Purchases, Easement, Demolition at Regular Meeting
The purchase, transfer, sublease and demolition of current and future property dominated the agenda at Friday, June 19’s meeting of the ASU Board of Trustees.
During Friday’s meeting, the board approved the demolition of the amphitheater located on the south side of the ASU Plemmons Student Union. The concrete amphitheater was constructed in 1996 as an outdoor facility for musical entertainment and public speaking, but, due to a lack of interest from the campus community and adverse wind and other environmental conditions, the facility is unused and has been allowed to degrade. Once demolished, the site will be used for the expansion of the student union.
The board also approved a three-year lease agreement with Watauga County through The Hunger and Health Coalition, Inc. for approximately 4,000 square feet of office space in the Hannah Building, located at 141 Health Center Drive in Boone. The space is used for faculty offices and swing space to accommodate repairs and renovations of campus buildings.
The board approved a request from the North Carolina Department of Administration to provide NCDOT an easement on East King Street on property currently owned by New River Light & Power Company. NCDOT will pay ASU $84,950 for the easement, which is needed for right-of-way work as part of the Highway 421 widening project.
Also during the meeting, the board approved a request to the UNC Board of Governors to issue its special obligation/general revenue bonds or other long-term debt in an amount not to exceed $31,068,000 to provide funds to ASU for athletic facilities ($19,068,000) and improvements to Cone Residence Hall ($12,000,000). The board expects the debt to be issued this summer or fall in the form of general revenue bonds. The decision is contingent on approval by the General Assembly.
The board also approved an agreement for the North Carolina Department of Administration to purchase the First Presbyterian Church property from the ASU Endowment Fund. The ASU Endowment Fund acquired property from First Presbyterian Church on June 30, 2008, at a contract sales price of $7.5 million. The property consists of five parcels, including a sanctuary building, a classroom/office building and three parking lots. In May, ASU began taking bids for the new College of Education building, which will occupy a portion of the First Presbyterian Church property. Hickory Construction Company won the low bid, which was lower than ASU expected, according to ASU Interim Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs Greg Lovins. The low bid left ASU with more money than originally expected, thus the purchase and transfer of the property from the ASU Endowment Fund to the state became an option.
Acquisition of the church property is ancillary and related to construction of the new College of Education building on the corner of College and Howard streets in Boone. University officials requested acquisition of the property to facilitate construction of the project and serve the long-range needs of the faculty, students and visitors who will occupy the new building. One of the parking lots is located diagonally across Howard Street from the construction site and will be used to stage construction. No other property within a reasonable distance is available to serve that function. All of the parking lots will serve the building’s occupants in the long term. The sanctuary will provide lecture space to accommodate lectures and guest speakers, and the classroom/office building will provide space for faculty offices and equipment storage.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, September 24 and 25, at the Broyhill Inn & Conference Center in Boone.
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