Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1948 [PAGE 325]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

324

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[March 27

31'X.4&, for a period not to exceed two weeks at any one time, on thirty (30) days' notice to the University, for permitting conventions to occupy the premises during such period. N o representative of the University is satisfied with this arrangement, but Commissioner Hewitt has stated that he was committed to the policy of renting the Drill Hall to conventions, and that the University's acceptance of this arrangement was a condition to his granting a lease to the University. This matter has been gone into thoroughly by those responsible for the conduct of Physical Education programs in the Drill Hall, and while they do not like it, they have acquiesced in Commissioner Hewitt's position because all things considered, it was the best thing they could do. 3. Rent. One Thousand Five Hundred Sixty-two and 50/100 Dollars ($1,562.50) a month. The lease provides for certain deductions from the rent during the periods of time when conventions are occupying the Drill Hall. T h e University gets the following credits with the Lessor: ( a ) T h e cost to Lessee of gas, electricity, water, and insurance, estimated at $255 a week; (b) Credit of $262.50 a week during the first ten (10) weeks of convention usage in any one calendar year and $485 a week for each week of convention usage in excess of ten (10) weeks. These last two figures represent the credits for the cost of operation to be furnished by Lessee during such periods. 4. Insurance. The University agrees to carry fire, tornado, and casualty insurance, in the amount of $200,000 for the benefit of the City of Chicago and the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois as their interests may appear. This provision differs from that contained in the lease on the Navy Pier in that, in the latter case, the University pays $1,120 a year to the City in lieu of carrying insurance against fire, tornado, and other casualty. 5. Repairs. This lease obligates the Lessee "to make all necessary repairs and maintain the demised premises, except that the Lessee shall not be liable to make repairs of loss or damage to said premises resulting from occupancy thereof by conventions." In the Navy Pier lease the City obligated itself to make all necessary structural repairs. Commissioner Hewitt refused to incorporate this provision in the Drill Hall lease. The University opposed this in numerous discussions, but to no avail. The University's added obligation here is to be read in connection with the Lessee's obligation to "yield up said premises to Lessor in as good condition and repair as when received, loss by fire or other casualty, and ordinary wear and tear excepted." T h e Legal Counsel submits the following resolution authorizing the officers of the Board to execute the lease for the Drill Hall in accordance with the provisions summarized above.

B E I T RESOLVED:

That, the Comptroller and Secretary of the Board of Trustees are authorized to execute, on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, a lease from the City of Chicago to the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois of premises known as the Drill Hall situated on land adjoining the Chicago Navy Pier, together with adjacent land to be prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Works, said demised premises comprising approximately 75,000 square feet, for use by the University for educational purposes, for the term beginning January I, 1947, and expiring June 30, 1947, with the privilege to the Lessee to renew at the expiration date for successive biennial periods up to June 30, 1951, and annually thereafter until June 30, 1954, upon sixty days notice in writing to the City, and subject however to temporary release by the University for such periods as the City desires the premises for reletting for convention purposes, upon thirty days' notice in writing to the University of such desired use, and upon the understanding that a proportionate reduction in rent will be allowed the University during such convention occupancy, and provided that the City will utilize the premises and relieve the University from payment of rent for a period of not less than ten weeks during any one year, the space to be released to the City for convention occupancy to comprise the