Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1946 [PAGE 226]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1944]

U N I V E R S I T Y OF

ILLINOIS

223

and is in a block in which the University may secure a relatively large tract at a relatively small cost. There are four and a fraction vacant lots, three small residences, one large residence, and two fraternities in this block. This is a very desirable block for the expansion of the Men's Residence Halls, being in the residence area for men adjacent to the present Men's Residence Hall and to the University's steam and electric distribution systems. The lot includes a residence constructed 35 years ago—a story and a half seven or eight room frame house which has always been kept in good condition. T h e house can undoubtedly be rented until the University has need for the ground and wishes to remove it. Since the owner was anxious to sell the property and immediate action was necessary, the Provost, acting for the President, authorized the payment of $500 for an option on this property until October I, this payment having been made from appropriations previously made by the Board for purchasing such options. I do not concur in this proposal. O n m o t i o n of M r . M c K e l v e y , t h e B o a r d r e f u s e d t o e x e r c i s e its right u n d e r this option. PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL PROPERTY ON MATHEWS AVENUE (32) The Board of Trustees on October 30, 1943 (Minutes, pages 743, 750), approved the policy of acquiring property fronting on Mathews Avenue in Urbana. It also made an appropriation at that time for the purchase of certain property and additional options as opportunity might arise. T h e Director of the Physical Plant has been negotiating for the purchase of the property at the corner of Oregon and Mathews which is a key property in the proposed expansion. After long discussion the owner finally agreed to accept $21,500 for the property. Appraisals of the property indicate a valuation of from $18,000 to

$25,000.

T h e Director of the Physical Plant recommends that this purchase be made at $21,500. The Comptroller has followed the negotiations and concurs in the recommendation. In view of the previous action of the Board, an option for the purchase at this price was secured to October 1 on payment of $750. I concur in these recommendations and further recommend an appropriation from the General Reserve Fund of the approximate amount required to complete the purchase, including expense of transfer after allowing f o r . t h e option already purchased, a net amount of approximately $2i;0oo. O n m o t i o n of M r . D a v i s , t h i s p u r c h a s e w a s a u t h o r i z e d a s r e c o m mended. T h e appropriation w a s m a d e by the following vote: Aye, M r . Davis, M r . Fornof, M r s . Grigsby, M r . Jensen, M r . K a r r a k e r , M r . Livingston, M r . McKelvey, Dr. M e y e r ; no, none; absent, M r . Green, Dr. Luken, M r . Nickell. POST-WAR BUILDING PROGRAM (33) T h e list of projects and the construction schedule which were given general approval by the Board of Trustees on June 22 and specific approval by the Executive Committee on July 10 was transmitted to the Illinois P o s t - W a r Planning Commission on July 10. At a conference held by representatives of the University and of the Commission on August 7, it was stated that the University's entire program had been approved by the Commission but that the post-war program of the State had been extended to cover five bienniums instead of three, as originally planned. It was also stated that the Commission had adopted health, safety, and veterans' care as the criteria for determining the relative urgency of projects. The representatives of the Commission agreed that the providing of space to take care of the expected increase in enrollment is one phase of "veterans' care," because a large proportion of the post-war enrollment will be made up of veterans. As the result of this conference and one held on August 14, the University submitted a revised list of projects, dated August 24, 1944, for the first post-war biennium.