East Campus Task Force discusses development options

By Elliot Novess
Western Herald

Some at Western Michigan University may feel WMU officials are doing nothing to save historic buildings on East Campus, officials are working to prove otherwise.

“For those under the impression we are doing nothing for East Campus, then they should attend one of our meetings,” said Bob Miller, vice president for community outreach and co-chair of East Campus Task Force.

On March 25, the East Campus Task Force discussed estimated tax credits that could potentially be received if the East Hall is to be used by a private developer.

The most recent meeting raised more questions than it answered. A marketable use for the buildings must be obtained for more discussion to take place. If new momentum is not found, the task force could disband, according to members of the task force.

Estimates focused on East Hall, North Hall and Vandercook Hall. The next step is to find out which credits are applicable to the buildings, but that all depends on what the new use of the buildings will be.

No developer has stepped forward with an idea.

“The chance of a private partner is almost nil,” said Lowell Rinker, East Campus Task Force vice president and WMU’s chief financial officer.

Each tax credit has stipulations as to the building’s new use. For instance, to be awarded a New Market Tax Credit for a historic building, the project must be mixed use.

It will take more than one tax credit to get any restoration started on East Campus. It is not likely that all of the tax credits will be had.

“No specific detailed plans have been done,” Rinker said. “This report is very back of the envelope.”

A marketing package laying out the reasons for development and what the buildings could be used for needs to be made. Partners must be obtained for this to happen.

“There is a lot of love in the area for these buildings,” Miller said. “How do you make it work?”

The task force does not have a set schedule for its meetings, which are open to the public. Meetings are held in the commons area of Walwood Hall.

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Posted by heraldstaff on Mar 28 2010. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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