Spring Break
New dorms approved
Despite residents plea, planning for 3 dorms underway
By: Yusra Tekbali
Issue date: 1/25/08 Section: News
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William Kennedy, 78, is a resident of the home on East Sixth Street east of North Euclid Avenue and addressed the board, urging them to reevaluate the life estate arrangement previously granted to him by the regents in 1996.
"(Twelve years ago) the regents made me a promise that my wife and I could live in our house as long as we wanted," Kennedy said. "That promise has been broken and the amount offered by the UA is not enough to purchase a home of comparable value. The university is taking more than it's willing to give in compensation."
Steven Kennedy, 31, son of William Kennedy, also addressed the board saying his family supports the construction of new residence halls, but should be compensated appropriately.
"We are not contesting the new dorms," he said. "But do not leave my family, my parents out on the street. We ask the board to uphold the promise it made 12 years ago, of providing security and comfort to my parents."
The three new residence halls will be constructed on three sites on the UA's main campus: the northeast corner of East Sixth Street and North Euclid Avenue, the northeast corner of East Sixth Street and North Highland Avenue and East Fourth Street between North Cherry and Highland Avenues, replacing the Hopi Lodge Residence Hall, according to the regents.
Construction for the new halls will cost around $180 million, with 1,188 beds constructed at the three separate sites. The halls will house new students and help promote academic achievement and retention of students, said Regents Anne Mariucci, the main overseer of the project and the only one who voted against its implementation.
Mariucci said the high cost of the project was the main reason she couldn't support it.
"There is no question that we need it, but are we prepared to build a facility at this expense?" she asked. "We are building a Ritz Carlton and charging Motel 6 prices. This isn't the best use of $180 million."
Marrucci said a third-party developer could build the new halls using 100 percent of his owncapital for significantly less.
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