Contact: George Mauzy, media specialist, (740) 597-1794 or mauzy@ohio.edu
ATHENS, Ohio (February 20, 2001) -- Ohio University has reached a tentative agreement to purchase Bromley Hall from the Bromley Group based in Champaign, Ill. for $6 million, housing officials said today. The purchase is expected to become official with the approval of appropriate state agencies within 70 days.
Bromley Hall, located at 35 S. Congress St., will be used primarily as an upperclassmen residence hall starting next fall. The nine-story building, built in 1964, will continue to be used for professional conferences, special programming and temporary housing for students, guests and employees.
Bromley also will be used for overflow housing while the university renovates or replaces all of its residence halls during the next 10 years.
"We've been renting parts of Bromley Hall for many years, so when it came up for sale, it made good sense for the university to buy the building," said Ohio University Vice President for Administration Gary North. "The building is adjacent to campus, can be used for additional office space, is in good physical condition and meets the university's need for additional housing as enrollment numbers increase and as we move forward with our housing renovation program. These reasons make it a smart investment for the university."
The 158,688 square-foot building has 520 beds and amenities not found in other Ohio University residence halls, such as private bathroom facilities, a swimming pool and an exercise room. It also has air conditioning, Internet capabilities and a food service component.
"Housing and custodial services for the building will be provided by the university, so this purchase will create new jobs," Associate Vice President for Administration Sherwood Wilson said.
"Bromley Hall is an excellent addition to Ohio University," Director of Housing and Food Service Randy Shelton said. "It gives us flexibility because it's a multi-use facility. It can accommodate residents, conference groups and meet the special needs of our academic departments. It also gives us a dining hall closer to College Green where many students have classes."
North said the university had been discussing ways to accommodate students during the renovation of the residence halls. The university is expected to take more than 150 residence hall beds offline next fall.
The university is setting up a transition team to make the addition of Bromley to the university's housing division go smoothly.
"I am very pleased that Gary North and his staff has included a representative of the union on its transition team," AFSCME 1699 President Charlie Adkins said. "This purchase will probably create more than 15 new university jobs."
The university will assume responsibility for the building at the end of spring quarter.
