The fate of the Mill Street Apartment complex is still to be determined and might not be destroyed if Ohio University president Roderick McDavis approves a proposal from interested developers.
We have distributed RFPs [Request for Proposals] to a number of developers just [last] week ... and a deadline of Oct. 31 has been set for any distributors interested in the property
said Hub Burton, associate vice president of university communications and marketing at OU.
The apartments primarily housed international students until last year when former OU President Robert Glidden made the decision to tear them down because of maintenance problems. The complex is located near the OU intramural fields and is adjacent to Mill Street.
Contracts were issued for the demolition and for hazardous material to be removed, said Terry Conry, director of facilities management at OU.
The former demolition contract had been assigned to R.S. Scurlock of Marion Ohio OU spokesperson Jack Jeffery said.
Burton explained that McDavis is aware of the apartments' current infrastructure problems but feels the project should be looked at and researched before any major decisions are made.
Jeffery said the RFPs have been sent to developers who had expressed interest in the property and applications still are available for others who wish to send a proposal.
After all the RFPs are returned, McDavis will make his final decisions regarding the property, Burton said.
Conry said one of the main purposes for distributing the RFPs is to determine if there is enough value in the apartment complex as it exists today and if having developers come in and renovate will ultimately bring money back to the university.
Once all the RFPs have been returned they will be reviewed by Facilities Planning and Management and a developer will be chosen based on whether it meets the housing criteria and its plan is the most efficient way to handle the situation, he said.
The standard building code issues need to be met as well as a long list of other housing requirements
such as design considerations
amenities for occupants
vending options and so on
Conry said. There will be a pre-bid meeting for property
and a site tour has been scheduled for Oct. 5 at 9 a.m. for those developers that are interested.
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