For the foreseeable future, Ohio University President Roderick McDavis will still see students and Alden Library when he glances out his living room window.
It might not be long, though, before his view doesn’t include OU’s campus.
“There are no plans at this time to move the president’s residence, because it is not a priority for the donor who approached our Board of Trustees last year about building a new residence,” said Jennifer Kirksey, McDavis’ chief of staff, in an email. “However, we are very realistic that we need to — now or in the near future — address the needs of the residence in order for it to be a viable place to house current and future presidents of Ohio University.”
Discussions to move the president’s residence, currently at 29 Park Place, off campus are not “off the table,” Kirskey said, though the funding to execute a move has not been identified.
The donor first approached the Board of Trustees this past fall about purchasing a new president’s residence or renovating the current one, prompting speculation whether McDavis would move out of the home that has housed OU presidents for 60 years. The donor contacted OU within the last few months to say this change was no longer a priority, Kirksey said.
Repairs have recently been made to the residence, but they stem from routine needs — not preparations to repurpose or sell the property.
Facilities replaced the sidewalk in front of McDavis’ home in January, costing $5,000, according to a previous Post article.
Other grounds work undertaken includes seasonal work, such as replanting grass, Kirksey said. All the work was funded through routine maintenance funds.
McDavis is the only public university president in the state of Ohio who lives on campus, living in the largest house at 8,034 square feet. This number includes a finished basement area, which is 2,300 square feet. Not every county auditor’s office in Ohio includes basement square footage.
“(My wife) Deborah and I are very happy at 29 Park Place,” McDavis said in a September Post article. “I especially enjoy being able to walk to work, the easy interaction with faculty, students and staff and the hosting of our community at our home.”
OU bought the current house in 1951 for $60,000, and it has housed seven OU presidents since, according to a previous Post article.
The house is currently valued at $926,050, according to the Athens County Auditor’s Office.
“Whether 29 Park Place remains as the President’s residence or not, the home is a physical asset of the university,” Kirksey said. “And like every other facility on our campuses, we need to address any health, life, and safety issues that may arise as well as provide annual maintenance.”
dd195710@ohiou.edu
