NORFOLK
Old Dominion University is tearing down its half-century-old presidential residence and building a new one.
The university's Board of Visitors on Friday approved conveying the property to the Old Dominion University Real Estate Foundation, a private, non profit entity, to demolish the house and handle the financing.
The foundation would build the new residence for about $2.2 million and lease it to the university. The board also plans to monitor the project to keep costs low.
Board members said they were concerned about sending the wrong message during cash-strapped times but felt it was necessary because it will begin a new search for a school president soon.
"I think in these times we don't want to use state funds," Rector Ross Mugler said.
The home was described by consultants and board members as inadequate and "not presidential," as it serves not only as a home but as a place to host university functions and fundraising events.
The building, which is off-campus in the Larchmont neighborhood, has been vacant since former President Roseann Runte left earlier this year for a similar job in Ottawa. The house was built around 1948 and needs an overhaul, including the replacement of all major building systems. The house also does not meet code requirements.
Representatives from Tymoff and Moss Architects estimated long-term renovations at $2.1 million and new construction at $2.2 million to $2.6 million, depending on the finishes. The price tag also includes upgrades to the surrounding lot to improve parking. Short-term renovations could be accomplished for about $1.2 million but would not address the structural issues. A new home would provide roughly 5,400 square feet.
Also announced at the board meeting was a $1 million gift from George Dragas Jr. Dragas, a former board rector and alumnus, has designated the gift to be used for academic purposes. The university will finalize details on how the gift will be used.
Denise Watson Batts, (757) 446-2504 or denise.batts@pilotonline.com
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ODU's famous quote
ODU's famous quote.."Build it, or at least plan to, and they will come."
This Old House
The President's house is sad. As an alumni I am happy to see it go. ODU has one of the lowest paid Presidents & a house that shows it. I have been there for tea numerous times & even a BBQ. This was nearly 10 years ago & it was sad then.
People keep talking about student safety yet don't know the cost of tea in china. Most of the students being robbed are leaving parties under the influence. With a little bit of common sense most of these problems would not be happening.
...in addition
in addition...I know for me, living in the dorms was not an easy experience. Especially when you are not a drinker but still want to have fun. I was lucky enough to randomly be assigned another alcohol-free roommate 1st semester. Yet we had only a few places to go at night to avoid alcohol presence/pressures. One place was the campus ministry houses on 49th st. ODU and larchmont can afford to have one place where it's alcohol free students can gather to still have fun. Plus the new president would feel safe walking home at night down the "alcohol-free, student activities district" or whatever you want to call it. After all, 30% of ODU students do not drink (taking from a student wide survey of over 2,000 students).
yes.
The president's home is one of the biggest pull factors for any prospective president. If ODU wants to attract a truely great president, then the school must show its appreciation. I say build the house, and raise the surrounding values in larchmont. It's my feeling that ODU needs to aquire all of the homes along 49th street, ODU already owns most, the rest are rentals. ODU could turn then all into campus ministry homes, or student sponsored activity homes (all alcohol free) and with honor students living upstairs for free, but in charge of upkeep, cleaning and student activity planning, much like an R.A. This would give 49th street and Larchmont a better name and add to the already high number of ministry houses along 49th. Plus the school could then control the outside grounds and appearance of the homes to make 49th look clean and uniform.
ODU needs to spend
ODU needs to spend $2.2million dollars making their campus safe
Please read the article
The only university money that is being spent on this house is for the lease, which is no different than if the university bought "any other house in Larchmont." ODU is doing an excellent job of trying to weather these tough economic times, but you still have to look toward the future or else you'll be way behind the curve when the economic fog lifts. This is just an example of making sure the university doesn't fall behind while keeping its head above water.
ODU spending lately...
All the spending at ODU for their "rising" is running in the tens of millions. But with football is running in hundreds of millions. So to them, $2.6M is a rounding error and chump change.
Meanwhile, as a Dec. 04 undergrad and 08 masters grad student from the engineering department, I saw firsthand that they are letting their engineering program go third world (read: no money is being spent). My prof and advisor complained how much BOV meeting stunk. Money for engineering was always voted down in their budget every year, while extra allotments were voted for other colleges. Engineering is probably the most known program they got, but it doesn't have the bling-bling that the business college has. 90% of engineering students are foreign nationals from third world countries, so most there know how do make do with little. Just keep the fire marshal out of Kaufman Hall. :P
$2.6M is only the tiny tip of the mismanagement iceberg.
So What Happened...
...to the house that Joe Marchello built for $400,000 back in '87??
2.2 million dollars!!!
OK where are the mean and nasty commentors that were angry about the spending on NSU's president house. I can't hear you!!!
Reckless waste
What a complete waste of money--taxpayers or not--in these economic times. You could buy just about any home in Larchmont for this kind of spending! And the house isn't "presidential" enough? Then have the parties for the academic elite at another place. You could rent something just about every night for this sum. Just because millions are being spent on fancy structures doesn't mean the students come out of there any better educated. When most of them are in remedial english and math upon entering your focus needs to be elsewhere. Sorry to have to tell you but ODU will never be a Harvard and the existing house is just fine.
2.1 - 2.6 for a house????
The person that will be living there is president of a school not the United States. I do believe that they could build a modest nice house for less than they are. I hope people look at the money ODU is spending on this before they support anything else they have to offer. If they would spend like this, during a bad economy, what else are they wasting money on. I am also sure that there are many nice up to date homes in the area for sale for much less than it would cost to rebuild.
A HOUSE?
Ok, a $2.2 million house for a prospective president off campus or hightened security for students already living off campus? Tough choice. When the student body needs protection the ODU staff is talking about a house. One with a pricy bill to go along with it. I understand that a school should have a presence, but there are other issues. The President makes enough money to get their own house. The school can build a central center for meetings, hosting events, buisness, and security offices. Instead they are looking at a party house for someone that may be here "whenever". Always looking at the far future and letting the now fall behind. Take care of the now and the then will come through. Besides, if the students do not feel safe, you may not need a president.