UT System cancels big Houston expansion (Dallas, Austin: appointed, real estate, neighborhood)

[xxwin]

UT System cancels big Houston expansion - Houston Chronicle

The University of Texas System is abandoning plans to expand in Houston.
Chancellor William McRaven said Wednesday he will no longer pursue a project on 300-plus acres in Houston.
"I was not able to develop a shared vision," McRaven said in a press conference Wednesday. "I wasn't able to get the stakeholders necessary to move forward."
BACKLASH: Lawmaker, UT spar over land being called a "dump"
McRaven said Wednesday that the system planned a data science institute for the land. The center would focus on energy, health and education data. Aspects of this plan may proceed at the system's universities around the state.
UT acquired the land for $215 million but, until today, did not disclose what the university planned to build. McRaven recommended to the regents that UT's real estate office begin work to sell the land.
McRaven faced criticism from Texas lawmakers because he did not apprise them before buying the property. Sen. John Whitmire recently called the property a "dump."
State Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston, said Wednesday that he respected UT's decision. "I met with UT administration and leadership several times, and questioned the recently appointed regents regarding this purchase at their nomination hearing," he said in a statement.
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With an anticipated tight state budget -- the Senate wants to cut hundreds of millions of dollars in higher education funding cuts to higher education -- lawmakers have questioned the need for UT's venture in Houston.
The chancellor acknowledged to state lawmakers in a Feb. 13 letter that much of the Houston land was an abandoned oil field and a few of the acres are polluted by a former polymer facility on the site.

McRaven formed an advisory group in February 2016 of representatives from around the city, including universities and businesses, to decide how to best use the property. In his letter, the chancellor said he expected the group's recommendations by the end of February, but a UT spokeswoman said Tuesday he had not received them as of last week.The group last met in January, two people with knowledge of those meetings said.
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University of Houston boosters were critical of UT's intentions almost immediately after the system announced the land deal two years ago.
An anticipated tight state budget includes hundreds of millions of cuts to higher education proposed by the Senate, and lawmakers have questioned the need to spend more money on a new venture.

[hbcu]

where are the defenders of this? they were loud and proud a few weeks ago

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by hbcu

where are the defenders of this? they were loud and proud a few weeks ago

If you mean those who support UT expansion into Houston , RIGHT HERE !

[Houston parent]

So they spent $215 million without a clear plan and buy-in from the necessary parties? That seems like a good reason to fire a bunch of people for misusing a huge amount of public dollars. Its not like they can just flip the land and break even in this economy. That's a pretty rough neighborhood too - they my well end up taking a loss after an extended hold.

[Jack Lance]

Originally Posted by Houston parent

So they spent $215 million without a clear plan and buy-in from the necessary parties? That seems like a good reason to fire a bunch of people for misusing a huge amount of public dollars. Its not like they can just flip the land and break even in this economy. That's a pretty rough neighborhood too - they my well end up taking a loss after an extended hold.

Whether or not this is the location UT should have chose is one thing, but for UT to ignore Houston while it expands into every other part of the state is unfathomable. If not this location then they should pick another one and soon.

There may be some problems with the environmental quality of this tract, (McRaven says some environmental clean up would be required) however, I don't see how anybody could call this area "rough" since it is basically a vacant area with little development of any kind....

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by Houston parent

So they spent $215 million without a clear plan and buy-in from the necessary parties? That seems like a good reason to fire a bunch of people for misusing a huge amount of public dollars. Its not like they can just flip the land and break even in this economy. That's a pretty rough neighborhood too - they my well end up taking a loss after an extended hold.

If they bought it for $215 million .... maybe .... they can sell it for $215 million

[DanielWayne]

Originally Posted by Dopo

If they bought it for $215 million .... maybe .... they can sell it for $215 million

They bought it at an inflated price in the first place from a UT alum, so it is definitely not worth what they paid for it. That alone raised a few eyebrows. That was just one of the myriad items that made this whole proposal suspect.

Let's completely forget that they bought the land with intent to expand... without first telling the state legislature. I doubt even A&M would try to pull that off.

I'm not celebrating yet, although I am glad the UT system has elected to take the high road and back out. It's interesting to think about this - UH is legitimately pushing to become another state flagship (as well as Tech) since the state of Texas lags far behind every other state when it comes to availability of flagship universities. Yet during a time of budget shortfall, the UT system was trying to manipulate the state to spend money on a duplicitous redundancy that really demonstrated no academic need to the community. It's almost like the UT system was trying to behave in the academic world the same as UT-Austin does in athletics.

Score one for the good guys.

[BCLRRE]

Originally Posted by Jack Lance

Whether or not this is the location UT should have chose is one thing, but for UT to ignore Houston while it expands into every other part of the state is unfathomable. If not this location then they should pick another one and soon.

There may be some problems with the environmental quality of this tract, (McRaven says some environmental clean up would be required) however, I don't see how anybody could call this area "rough" since it is basically a vacant area with little development of any kind....

I agree. This cancellation is all about the other parts of the state are already EXTREMELY jealous of Houston, and could not stand to see it get yet another powerhouse attribute. Additionally, while UH has improved into a great school, it wants to be the ONLY big game in town, and hates the idea of direct local competition from a marquee institution like UT. Even though UH says it wants to compete with the big boys in sports and elsewhere, it's really afraid of competition and fought hard for the UT cancellation. UH can't get into the football league it wants, is afraid of another local law school, and is scared sh!tless of UT coming to Houston.

There was also a lot of dirty politics played to get this cancellation. McRaven's environmental cop-out was just the bullsh!t excuse everyone agreed to put forth. McRaven probably sincerely wanted to expand, and for noble reasons, but Texas infighting amongst the Houston haters, scaredy-cat UH, and local willful Houston saboteur John Whitmire, all fuct Houston's UT expansion. Sad. This UT Houston expansion would have been a boon for Houston, especially economically. But the opposition was smart...instead of using one of many anti-Houston pols from Dallas or Austin to kill it, they used one of Houston's local dumbasses (John Whitmire) to kill something great for his own city. Priceless.

I hope it was worth it Johnny-boy.

[ParaguaneroSwag]

Originally Posted by Jack Lance

If you mean those who support UT expansion into Houston , RIGHT HERE !

Right here as well. Those who think UT is going into UH will affect it at large are seriously mistaken. UT would only have bettered the education system in the Houston area.

[Spade]

Originally Posted by BCLRRE

I agree. This cancellation is all about the other parts of the state are already EXTREMELY jealous of Houston, and could not stand to see it get yet another powerhouse attribute. Additionally, while UH has improved into a great school, it wants to be the ONLY big game in town, and hates the idea of direct local competition from a marquee institution like UT. Even though UH says it wants to compete with the big boys in sports and elsewhere, it's really afraid of competition and fought hard for the UT cancellation. UH can't get into the football league it wants, is afraid of another local law school, and is scared sh!tless of UT coming to Houston.

There was also a lot of dirty politics played to get this cancellation. McRaven's environmental cop-out was just the bullsh!t excuse everyone agreed to put forth. McRaven probably sincerely wanted to expand, and for noble reasons, but Texas infighting amongst the Houston haters, scaredy-cat UH, and local willful Houston saboteur John Whitmire, all fuct Houston's UT expansion. Sad. This UT Houston expansion would have been a boon for Houston, especially economically. But the opposition was smart...instead of using one of many anti-Houston pols from Dallas or Austin to kill it, they used one of Houston's local dumbasses (John Whitmire) to kill something great for his own city. Priceless.

I hope it was worth it Johnny-boy.

Could not have said it any better. You can't have enough top education institutions in your area. This would have been great economically for the city and region. Quite honestly, I still think UT will establish a presence in Houston. They will just have to regroup.