Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1946 [PAGE 918]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1945]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

911

transfer these houses from Charlestown, Indiana, and set them up for occupancy. The University has had no previous experience with this type of installations as a basis for figuring local labor and other costs, so that this estimate may be too high or too low. On the basis of $2,000 a unit the acquisition and installation of 400 portable houses would require a capital investment of $800,000. There is available the item of $1,500,000 for students' residence halls and equipment in the "Act making appropriations for a State-wide system of public works projects, including all ordinary and contingent expenses relating thereto." This money can be used only if released by the Governor. If the University uses some of this appropriation for temporary housing there will be less money for permanent residence halls. On the other hand, it will take a year and a half to construct permanent facilities; whereas if portable houses are secured now they can be put in service by the opening of the second semester in February, 1946. This fall approximately 500 former and prospective new students who are married veterans of World W a r II were unable to enroll in the University because they could not find suitable living quarters. As demobilization of the armed forces accelerates there will be more such prospective students desiring to enroll in the University, so that our problem will become even more serious unless additional housing facilities are available immediately. I recommend that: (1) the Board of Trustees confirm the action of the President in making application to the National Housing Agency for portable houses; (2) the Board authorize its officers to execute the necessary lease or leases; (3) the Board request the Governor to release $800,000 from the appropriation for students' residence halls and equipment to cover the expense of installing up to 400 portable houses at Urbana-Champaign; and (4) the money thus released be appropriated for the installation of portable houses and other expenses incidental thereto. T h e Gymnasium Annex will be converted into a dormitory for housing 300 unmarried students, and this facility will be available by the opening of the second semester in February, 1046.

The President added that after this recommendation was prepared and sent to members of the Board of Trustees, information was received from the National Housing Agency that only 275 portable houses are available and that the application for the additional 125 units can not be approved. President Livingston stated that the Governor has released $500,000 from the appropriation for "students' residence halls and equipment" for the installation of portable houses. On motion of Mr. Davis, the action of the President of the University in making application for portable houses was approved and confirmed, the officers of the Board were authorized to execute the necessary leases, and the $500,000 released from the State appropriation for students' residence halls was appropriated for the transportation of the portable houses and their erection on the sites assigned. The appropriation was made by the following vote: Aye, Mr. Livingston, Mr. Davis, Dr. Meyer. The President of the University also presented a letter dated November 21, 1945, from the Director of the Physical Plant Department discussing sites for the installation of the portable houses. A copy of the letter was given to the Secretary of the Board for record. The President stated that 150 of the portable houses will be located on the so-called Gallivan Tract Addition, extending partly on the land immediately east, and the other 125 in the area south of the Abbott Power Plant and north of Stadium Drive, subject to the approval of municipal authorities with respect to building codes. This report was received for record.