Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1968 [PAGE 1040]

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988

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[March 20

the University of Illinois for said land for the purposes hereinabove set forth and because the compensation to be paid to the owner thereof for such land cannot be agreed upon between him and this Board of Trustees, it is necessary for The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois to take said land and acquire title thereto through the exercise by it of the right of eminent domain conferred upon it by law and to have the compensation to be paid by it to the owner thereof and any and all other persons who may have any right, title or interest in and to said land determined in the manner provided by law for the exercise of said right and power of eminent domain; and Be It, and It Is Hereby Further Resolved by The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois that the necessary and appropriate action be taken for the acquisition of title to said property by said The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois and to have the compensation to be paid therefor determined by the institution and prosecution to completion of a proceeding in eminent domain in a court of competent jurisdiction and that the Legal Counsel of the University be, and he is hereby, authorized to proceed accordingly, to institute and prosecute an eminent domain proceeding in the name and on behalf of The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois for the acquisition of said land and the determination of the compensation to be paid by it therefor, and to employ such special legal counsel, appraisers, and others as he may deem necessary or desirable to assist him in the institution and prosecution of said proceeding.

On motion of Mr. Williamson, the foregoing resolution was adopted by the following vote: Aye, Mr. Clement, Mr. Grimes, Mr. Hahn, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Jones, Mr. Swain, Mr. Williamson; no, none; absent, Governor Kerner, Mr. Page, Mr. Pogue, Dr. Weatherly.

ACQUISITION OF 6 0 7 AND 6 0 8 EAST WHITE STREET, CHAMPAIGN (36) The President of the University, with the concurrence of appropriate administrative officers, recommends that The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois request the University of Illinois Foundation to purchase the property at 607 East White Street, Champaign, and the property directly across the street to the north, namely, 608 East White Street, Champaign, which is owned by the same party, for the sum of $40,000 and lease these properties to the University at a rental sufficient to enable the Foundation to pay the interest costs on the loan secured to finance their acquisition. The property at 607 East White Street is 66 feet by 66 feet and the property at 608 East White Street is 62.75 feet by 132 feet (a total of 12,639 square feet). Improvements on both properties consist of older frame dwellings that are currently being used for rental purposes.

On motion of Mr. Grimes, this recommendation was approved by the following vote: Aye, Mr. Clement, Mr. Grimes, Mr. Hahn, Mr. Hughes, Mr. Jones, Mr. Swain, Mr. Williamson; no, none; absent, Governor Kerner, Mr. Page, Mr. Pogue, Dr. Weatherly.

ACQUISITION OF "PEACOCK PRAIRIE," GLENVIEW (37) The President of the University, with the concurrence of the appropriate administrative officers, recommends adoption of the attached resolution for the acquisition of S.141 acres of property in Cook County, Illinois, known as "Peacock Prairie," through condemnation proceedings and further requests authorization of settlement of the condemnation suit or purchase of the property if such can be effected within a total price of $230,500. The property in question is, with the exception hereafter noted, virgin prairie land, the last known tract of such existing in the northeastern part of the state of Illinois. It contains irreplaceable native flowering plants and grasses, which can not be transplanted, and many of which are extremely rare, some nearing extinction. It will be extremely valuable for field trip studies in ecology, entomology, population biology, and plant and animal taxonomy, and, in the graduate area, for supervised research in both botanical and zoological aspects of modern bioecology. About half the property is rented to tenants operating a miniature golf course and archery range. This use covers less than half the land under their lease, but they have plans to expand such use to the remaining portion covered by their lease. Less than 20 per cent of the whole Prairie has been disturbed by this use.