Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1960 [PAGE 420]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1959]

UNIVERSITY OF I L L I N O I S

417

versity that after a careful review of all the factors involved, including the possibility of relocating Meigs Field, Northerly Island can not be made available as a University site. On May 6, 1959, Mayor Richard J. Daley asked the Board of Trustees to consider the railroad terminal area as a site, with the suggestion that Garfield Park be considered as an alternate site if by April, i960, the railroad terminal could not be made available. The Trustees have studied this proposal. They believe that no further delay should ensue in declaring a firm decision, so that site planning may be started at once and site development undertaken as soon as funds are appropriated by the General Assembly now in session. On the basis of the alternatives now before the Board, it is their judgment that the Garfield P a r k site as now described 1 is second only to Northerly Island as a desirable site within the city of Chicago, assuming that approximately 135 acres of park land and twelve acres of land outside the park can be made available at a cost not to exceed the estimated cost of the Riverside site (in accordance with the Mayor's statement on costs on February 23) on the University's timetable. It is also assumed that certain street closings can be negotiated and that the city plans to designate portions of the adjacent area for redevelopment. The Board of Trustees, therefore, recommends to the Mayor of the city of Chicago that steps be taken immediately so that the Garfield Park land may be conveyed to the Board of Trustees as soon as the appropriations are made. It would be expected that such enabling legislation as may be necessary for this purpose would be sponsored by the P a r k District and the City. T h e Board of Trustees also recommends to the Governor and the General Assembly that the funds for the Chicago Undergraduate Division be appropriated for the purpose of acquiring the Garfield P a r k site. T h e Trustees further recommend that the legislation, providing for a referendum on a bond issue for buildings at the state universities, be amended to increase the total by fifty million dollars, the sum estimated to be necessary for buildings and equipment to permit the replacement and enlargement of the program now offered at Navy Pier. It is the intention of the Board of Trustees to rescind its action of February 19. !959i with reference to the Riverside site, as soon as the acquisition of Garfield P a r k by the University is assured. Conditions of Acceptance for Garfield Park 1. That the entire park land south of the Lake Street elevated (including all the existing improvements) will be deeded to the University of Illinois. 2. That a redevelopment program will be established for the surrounding area by which the park land lost to the community will be relocated. 3. That Fifth Avenue will be closed west of Central Avenue. 4. That consideration will be given by the City to closing one or more of the east-west streets crossing the above site. 5. That the acquisition cost of the park land and the triangular section lying south of it and adjacent to the Congress Street Expressway will not exceed the land acquisition and development costs to the University for construction on the Riverside site. 6. That the University will have the right of access to city streets for the purpose of constructing utilities.

On motion of Mr. Johnston, this recommendation was approved.

BIENNIAL BUILDING PROGRAM FOR 1959-61

Mr. Pogue, for the Committee on Buildings and Grounds, presented the following report:

Governor William G. Stratton's budget message to the Seventy-first General Assembly of Illinois recommends appropriations totaling $14,190,000 to the Uni1 The Garfield Park site herein described differs from that originally proposed in the report of the Real Estate Research Corporation of Chicago. The present proposal includes approximately eighty-one acres of additional park land instead of requiring the acquisition of a similar area of privately owned land. In other words, the area of land which would be available for immediate construction of buildings without requiring clearance or relocation of families has been greatly increased.