Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1960 [PAGE 1237]

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[April 20

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Meetings of the Board's Committees on General Policy and Buildings and Grounds were held in the forenoon beginning at 10:00 a.m.

CHICAGO UNDERGRADUATE DIVISION SITE ACQUISITION

At the request of Mr. Johnston, Chairman of the Committee on General Policy, President Henry, Director Havens, and Professor Cohn reported on developments, since the March meeting of the Board of Trustees, in negotiations with officials of the Chicago Park District and the city of Chicago for the acquisition by the University of Garfield Park land as a site for the Chicago Undergraduate Division. Thanks to the cooperation of the Chicago Park District and the city of Chicago, the Commissioners of the Chicago Park District on April II, 1960, took official action which provides a basis for determination of the legal questions involved in conveyance of Garfield Park land to the University. Professor Cohn reported that a decision by the Supreme Court of Illinois as to the legality of such conveyance can be anticipated in the fall of i960. Director Havens stated that Garfield Park offers the only opportunity to complete the planning and construction of a Chicago campus at an early date, and recommended that the University continue to work for a general commitment from the Chicago Park District and the city of Chicago that Garfield Park land will be made available subject to a favorable determination of the legal questions. The Board of Trustees at its meeting on March 16, i960, authorized the Executive Committee to act for the Board in considering formal acceptance of an option to purchase Garfield Park land should such an option be offered and action by the Board of Trustees required prior to the April meeting. Specifically the Committee was authorized to accept an option if the action of the Chicago Park District established an appraisal price based on a fair cash value of the property. At the conclusion of these presentations, Mr. Johnston offered the following as an official statement of the University's position: "The Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District adopted an ordinance offering the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois an option to purchase Garfield Park land as a site for the Chicago Undergraduate Division. Subsequently, a court order was sought and secured by taxpayers restraining the Commissioners from offering and the Board of Trustees from accepting this option. "Had this restraining order not been issued, the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois would have taken action to exercise the option offered." This statement was adopted without dissent. D u r i n g the discussion of this motion, M r . Harewood suggested that in addition to continuing negotiations for the acquisition of Garfield Park, University officials also continue exploring the other possible sites. On motion of Mr. Johnston, the Board voted to express its appreciation to the Commissioners of the Chicago P a r k District and to the Mayor of Chicago for their cooperation in the negotiations for the acquisition of Garfield P a r k .

CONTRACTS FOR LANDSCAPING

The Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees has authorized the awards of contracts for landscaping areas as follows: Orchard Place Apartments — Wandell's Twin City Nursery and Landscape Service, Urbana $14 88° Men's Residence Halls Snack Bar and Post Office — Al Nordheden, Urbana 7 480 The award in each case was to the lowest bidder. Funds are available in the