Oklahoma State University Athletics
OSU Announces Expansion plans for Athletics
November 04, 2005 | General
OSU's campus master plan will be presented to the OSU Board of Regents for preliminary approval in December and will guide university growth over the next 5 to 20 years. Purchasing this property not only provides for athletics, but will free up additional campus space as the university meets academic, student housing and parking needs.
“We have some very successful athletic programs and this expansion will improve our ability to compete in the future,” said David Schmidly, OSU System CEO and President. “It also allows us to consolidate all athletic facilities in one area, which provides space to meet other university needs. It is important to understand that this is a long-range expansion plan. It will be phased in to keep pace with funding as it becomes available.”
The property purchase is being conducted by the OSU Foundation, which has already secured funding to purchase most of the land. Building the facilities could require several years for completion and would require additional fund-raising.
The purchase plans received a big boost late last month when a local family agreed to sell a significant portion of property in the area. OSU will soon be holding public meetings with property owners and residents in the purchase area to review the project and discuss the process. The major portion of the housing in the area is rental property.
“We are sensitive to the property owners and residents in the area,” said Mike Holder, OSU vice president for athletic programs and director of intercollegiate athletics. “We are pursuing this acquisition now to provide adequate time for them to adjust. Everything will be done to make sure homeowners, renters and students are treated fairly.”
OSU reviewed the plans with city and Stillwater Public School officials and will continue to seek their input and advice.
“We appreciate the university's efforts and certainly recognize the potential of a first-class athletic village for Stillwater's economic growth and vitality,” said Stillwater Mayor Bud Lacy. “As we move forward, the City of Stillwater is committed to working closely with the university to facilitate the project while at the same time preserving services and access that is in the best interests of our community and its citizens.”
OSU is working to help minimize Stillwater Public Schools' loss in property tax revenue. “The owners in the purchase area will most likely create demand for new housing elsewhere in Stillwater so we would expect the school district's overall tax revenue will suffer only an initial decrease, which we are working to address,” said Gary Clark, general counsel for the OSU Foundation.
“We have an excellent working relationship with OSU and we appreciate the university addressing the impact on our budget,” said Walter Swanson, superintendent for Stillwater Public Schools. “The university is helping alleviate the loss of important dollars, allowing us to continue to provide a first-class public education to our students. This OSU initiative will mean growth for Stillwater and that is always good news for Stillwater schools.”
The proposed purchase area covers approximately 100 acres north of Hall of Fame Avenue. The university has already purchased and cleared land between Washington and Monroe Streets north of Hall of Fame for a new multi-modal transportation center and possible academic facilities.
The OSU campus master plan will guide an unprecedented period of growth at OSU. The university has already started or will begin soon more than $200 million in capital improvements for academics and student needs. These projects include a $70 million interdisciplinary research building, a new classroom building, the multi-modal transportation facility, renovation of Murray Hall into classrooms and laboratories, new architecture and business school buildings, and much more.
The land purchase for the athletic village will allow OSU to build premier men's and women's facilities for track, tennis and soccer, as well as an indoor facility for football, baseball, track and other sports. New facilities will improve OSU's ability to recruit top-class student-athletes and elevate the program to new levels of success.
