Kent State to Raze 10 More Houses for Esplanade
Properties all owned by university
Photos
Kent State University is getting ready to demolish 10 more houses in the neighborhood west of campus for construction of the Esplanade.
The Kent Community Development Department issued 10 demolition permits to the university this month for structures at the following addresses: 122 S. Lincoln St.; 128 S. Lincoln St.; 117 S. Willow St.; 123 S. Willow St.; 129 S. Willow St.; 205 S. Willow St.; 209 S. Willow St.; 210 S. Willow St.; 230 S. Willow St.; and 329 E. College Ave.
Lockhart Companies, of Akron, OH, will handle the demolition of all 10 structures.
Some of the properties have already been completely or partially demolished.
A fire almost completely destroyed the house at 128 S. Lincoln St. in November. And 128 S. Lincoln St. is where the historic May H. Prentice house stood until it was moved to avoid demolition in February.
The remaining structures are among the 41 properties bought by Kent State to extend the Esplanade, the on-campus leg of The Portage Hike and Bike Trail, into downtown Kent.
gert bulman
7:28 am on Saturday, December 8, 2012
oh boy! More work on a sidewalk to downtown. Don't the students know how to use the public sidewalks we have? My child goes to KSU and tells me they don't even have the supplies or equipment they need to do their projects. But we have millions for a sidewalk.
KSU Admin
10:10 am on Saturday, December 8, 2012
very insightful gert. I went ahead and discussed your comment with other KSU administrators and based on your interpretation of your 18 year old son's expert assessment of the long term University budget policies we are suspending all work on the campus expansion including the current work on the Esplanade. This will send a strong message to the students that they must use other routes to get from campus to downtown while also allowing for more equipment and supplies for your sons classes. This is much appreciated as we had no idea what we were doing until you spoke out with this comment. You are a true American and patriot and Kent visionary
Mars
10:51 am on Saturday, December 8, 2012
Feeling snarky, eh?
BARB HIPSMAN
11:54 am on Sunday, December 9, 2012
Gert,
I'm a Kent State faculty member and caught this exchange. I'd be a lot happier with KSU Admin if s/he would identify themselves. Transparency breeds truth, KSU Admin.
Thanks. (As in who is to say WHO KSU Admin really is? There are no identifiers past that moniker.)
Teresa K.
12:49 pm on Saturday, December 8, 2012
gert: I agree with your son's expert opinion. The students were able to find their way downtown for the last 50 or so years on city sidewalks. (Part of me is wondering if KSU and the city aren't trying to "contain" the students to a specific area in order to control them.)
gert: you are far from alone in your opinion of the esplanade.
Matt Fredmonsky
3:52 pm on Sunday, December 9, 2012
Barb makes a valid point, and it's also worth pointing out Patch's terms of use encourage posters to use their real names rather than anonymous pseudonyms. Also, this particular reader could get themselves in legal trouble with Kent State for representing themselves as a university official if, in fact, they are not.
Mr Confederate Man
11:38 pm on Sunday, December 9, 2012
Well said matt
Mr Confederate Man
11:38 pm on Sunday, December 9, 2012
Well said gert
Mr Confederate Man
11:41 pm on Sunday, December 9, 2012
Teressa, once again you are so right! Gert, since Ksu has so much money that they can buy 41 house just to demolish, you would think that education was all taken care of. Ksu need to realize that they are in the "EDUCATION" field
Doug
9:46 am on Monday, December 10, 2012
Unfortunately, running a university has become more of a business. With state funding cuts, Ohio's universities have to worry about the bottom line more than ever. The addition of this entrance is all about attracting students. When parents being their children to campus they want to see beauty. Most don't understand educational quality, faculty accomplishments or placement rates. They do understand campus beauty. "Does this look like a good place for my son or daughter to attend" is the question on most parent's minds. The university is moving in the right direction as a new entrance that will convey students safely into downtown i much better to market then 41 broke ass houses.