Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1962 [PAGE 470]

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1961]

UNXVEBSITV. OF ILLINOIS

467

On motion of Mr, Clement, a five-minute recess was taken until Mrs. Scala and Miss Binford could appear. Mrs. Scala and Miss Binford made presentations requesting the Board to reconsider its selection of the Harrison-Halsted Street site for the new Chicago campus of the University of Illinois and to choose another site, preferably Garfield Park. Mrs. Scala stated that the group she represents wants the new University campus within the City but in an area other than the Harrison-Halsted Street site. Mr. Havens reviewed the site selection work of the Real Estate Research Corporation and the studies made by Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, Architects and Engineers, which resulted in the selection of four sites: Meigs Field, Garfield Park, Riverside, and the Rail Terminal areas. He explained why the Trustees were obliged to eliminate Meigs Field and the Rail Terminal sites, Meigs Field because of legal restrictions which would prevent conveyance of title to the University, and the Rail Terminal because of the long time which would be involved in acquisition and clearance. He stated that the University made an all-out effort to secure Garfield Park, but title restrictions on key areas, the certainty of prolonged litigation over attempts on the part of the University to purchase and the Chicago Park District to sell, excessive replacement costs, and the reluctance of the Chicago Park District to make any definite commitments eliminated Garfield Park from further consideration. In the meantime, on September 27, 1961, the city of Chicago requested the University to include the HarrisonHalsted Street area as an alternate site with other sites which were then under consideration. Public announcements of this proposal was made at the time. The University proceeded to study this new site while attempts were still being made to acquire Garfield Park. When it became clear that the latter is not feasible, the Board on February IS, 1961, voted to select the Harrison-Halsted Street site and to accept the offer of the same by the city of Chicago. Miss Binford asked if the Harrison-Halsted Street area was included in the sites studied by the Real Estate Research Corporation of Chicago. Mr. Havens replied that it was not included in the original studies, or in the public report of Real Estate Research Corporation presented to the Board of Trustees in October, 1958, but that the Harrison-Halsted Street area was subsequently studied by the Corporation after it had been proposed by the city of Chicago, Mr. Dilliard asked if any others present wished to be heard, A representative of the Garfield Park community, who did not identify himself, made a statement in behalf of the Garfield Park site. At the conclusion of these presentations, on motion of Mr. Johnston, the Board adjourned.

A. J. JANATA

K E N N E Y E. WILLIAMSON

Secretary

President