A little bit of construction going on at XU, from the 2/22/05 Enquirer:

 

 

Hoff Academic Quadrangle is to include a new teaching, learning and research center; a renovated Alter Hall; updates to the library; and construction of a new business college and residence hall.  Architect's rendering 

 

XU changing face of campus

Hoff quad to serve 'millennial generation'

By Lori Kurtzman

Enquirer staff writer

 

Xavier University built its main academic buildings for the baby boomer generation.

...

 

To meet the needs of millennials - usually defined as those born since 1982 - Xavier officials have developed a strategic plan that calls for the creation of the James E. Hoff, S.J., Academic Quadrangle. It's named for the former XU president, a Jesuit priest who died in July after a battle with cancer.

 

Click link for article

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050222/NEWS0102/502220343/1058/NEWS01

 

Could Cincinnati be the hub for young business elite.

Yes, the region working together with our extensive list of Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies could become an area high on young entrepreneurial talent.

 

OPINION

From the December 2, 2005 print edition

Our Opinion

Region can share colleges' vision

Xavier University, without blowing its horn too loud, has been raising money for a new college of business on its Walnut Hills campus, as Senior Reporter Lucy May writes in this week's issue. The new building would replace the college's cramped quarters in Hailstones Hall.

 

That's newsworthy by itself, but as May reports, Xavier is thinking outside the building, so to speak. It wants to redefine how it educates its business students, and its new quarters will include three units: the Center for Entrepreneurship, the Center for Business Ethics and the Center for Investment Research.

 

No link available for article

Xavier gets down to business

President Michael Graham works to engage alumni, corporate leaders to create facility for business school

Lucy May

Senior Staff Reporter

Xavier University is planning a new facility for its Williams College of Business, and top university officials have worked quietly for the past 15 months to raise the tens of millions of dollars it will take to build it.

 

The idea is to create a college and facility that are as appealing to local executives as they are to students and faculty, said Xavier President Michael Graham.

 

No link available for article

Xavier wants nicer 'front door'

Land purchased, plans drawn up; now university seeks building contractor

BY LORI KURTZMAN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

 

EVANSTON - The area to the east of the Xavier University campus is bleak and industrial - not exactly comforting to a current student or welcoming to a prospective one. But the private Catholic college, now celebrating its 175th anniversary, is about to change that.

 

Click link for article

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060828/NEWS0102/608280328/1077/NEWS01

Notice all the rail lines?

It wants to turn those 20 bleak acres into a gleaming campus front door.

 

Good news, I agree that Xavier needs a better front door, the entrance into Xavier from Dana is pretty blighted.

After Xavier built the Cintas Center in 2000, Norwood's then-mayor erected a gate across Cleneay Avenue to detour traffic during events at the center.

 

This time, though, both the cities of Cincinnati and Norwood will be major players in the area's development, Blume said. And Norwood Mayor Thomas Williams is excited about the project.

 

"We're really enthused," he said. "We keep saying it over and over and over (that) in that area, Xavier University plays a large role, and it's a positive role. ... We're anxious to see it take place. It'll be a great addition to our community.

 

It's good to hear that Norwood is actually supporting the university now.  I was a student when the Cintas Center was discussed, and the city of Norwood put up a huge fight against it. 

 

Back then, almost every business in Norwood had horrible service, and several students sensed a dislike of XU students from them.  I did almost all of my grocery shopping in Hyde Park because of this, and I remember many other students did the same thing.  I was surprised that more businesses in Norwood did not offer a student discount then or at least seemed somewhat supportive of the students.  They could have received a lot of business then.  I wonder if this has changed.  I always felt that Norwood missed out on a lot of business because of their attitude.

Hopefully, XU will get this done, and get it done right.  That spot has a lot of potential.  When I was a student there ('96-'00), I remember hearing rumors  that this area was going to be developed with an eye towards the school, but I don't think it had gotten to the stage of XU doing the development. 

For those of you who weren't in town or are too young to remember, this was the site of the BASF plant which blew up in 1990.  We were at Sunlight Pool that day and can remember seeing the absolutely enormous cloud of smoke rising a thousand feet into the sky from ten miles away.   

 

^ blew up?  Fill me in...  Did anyone die?  Why did it blow up?  How many people did this place employ?

I think one or two people died.  There was definitely at least one fatality.  Over a dozen people were hurt.

 

I forget the cause, but there were over a hundred OSHA citations.

 

Would be smart if this had a light rail component.

For those of you who weren't in town or are too young to remember, this was the site of the BASF plant which blew up in 1990.  We were at Sunlight Pool that day and can remember seeing the absolutely enormous cloud of smoke rising a thousand feet into the sky from ten miles away.   

 

 

I vaguely remember this.  My brother was a student at the time, and he was stuck on campus for a while.

Its a huge plot of land. Glad they're finally doing something with it.

I'm a little leary with this project....I haven't been too thrilled with XU's work in the past.  Hopefully they dash away my doubts and do a great project.

I'm sure the people in Norwood will find something to complain about ;]

 

 

There is something about this location, and I think its the lack of any large buildings nearby, which causes us all to overestimate just how large that lot is.  2-3 acres is not a huge piece of property, looking at the site on google maps shows it's not really as big as it seems.  Xavier's recent construction has all been mediocre, I think the pedestrian mall was unecessary and doesn't look particularly good.  The new dorms remind me of rehab.  Also prior to I-71, the campus solidly faced Victory Parkway but of course now Dana Rd. is the more traveled direction.   

 

Here is a 6 year-old article:

 

 

Sunday, March 05, 2000

Former BASF site to become retail location

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Xavier parking also in plan

 

 

BY STEVE KEMME

The Cincinnati Enquirer

        For almost 10 years, the large lot at the corner of Montgomery and Dana avenues in Evanston has been vacant, a grim reminder of the explosion of the BASF chemical manufacturing plant that had occupied the site. But the property is on the verge of a rebirth.

 

 

        Plans announced Saturday call for retail and other businesses to be built on 21/2 acres at the corner of Montgomery and Dana and for a parking lot for the Xavier University's Cintas Center to be built on the remaining part of the 6.7-acre lot.

 

No link available for article

 

17k damaged homes!!??!?!??!?!!!?!/!/11/2;3j52221t3gpwgg/bnska;g;DF;AJGA

jmecklenborg, what is it about the pedestrian mall that you dislike?  To me, the closing of Ledgewood and whatever that other street was to get rid of the road through the middle of campus was one of the better moves X made, especially in terms of making the campus feel much more 'collegiate.' 

To me, the closing of Ledgewood and whatever that other street was to get rid of the road through the middle of campus was one of the better moves X made, especially in terms of making the campus feel much more 'collegiate.'  

 

I agree....closing Ledgewood was a great move.  The new student center is definitely a big improvement over the old one.  They redid both the academic mall and the residential mall when I was a student.  Both were improvements.

I don't want to speak for jmeck....but I feel that they could have done a MUCH better job on the area than what they did.  It was an improvement, but it is nothing to write home about either :|  The architecture is generic, the open-spaces aren't exactly thought provoking, and to me XU (much like UC) is not/should not try to be like a 'typical' college.  They are urban-universities and should try to find their own niche outside of the 'typical' college scene (ie: MU, OU, etc)

I am not an expert on Xavier, I have probably been to the campus less than 20 times in my life and never in any of the main buildings.  The problem is that closing streets in that fashion never feels "right", you can always still tell there used to be a street there.  By putting the zagging paths there, it's trying to immitate the bricked paths of Harvard Yard and old universities all over the world.  The problem with that is that those paths were paved after people wore those paths in.  XU looks like it was trying to create a "center" for the campus, but it's doomed because it wasn't built around the concept of a center from the very beginning meaning the main building face Victory Parkway, and it also lacks big old trees, which is necessary for a center to feel like a center, and you can't buy those. 

 

 

jmeck,

 

I agree with your assessment.  You can still tell that there used to be streets there, and the criss-crossing paths on the mall are clearly designed and not naturally worn.  In its defense, though, I think the closing of Ledgewood/bricking of the mall was necessary, and easily the biggest improvement the university made building-wise.  Before the change that street ran literally through the middle of campus, and was as unsightly (and probably unsafe) as it could be.  I don't have any illusions that X's campus is like Miami or OU, but it was something that needed to be done; while it's obvious that they did it, I'm still glad that they did, because the previous set-up was so unwieldy.

 

Incidentally, they do seem to have made a concerted effort to sort of reconfigure the campus away from Victory Parkway and toward the academic mall.  The West Row buildings (which are the oldest on campus, from the early 20th century) -- Hinkle, Schmidt, Alumni, etc. -- have all been refurbished and renovated in the last 10 years, and as part of that they have basically re-made the facades and portions facing the mall so that they are now the "front" of the buildings.  Really, I think it's worked out well -- it still looks like the buildings face Victory Pkwy., but when you're on campus and see Hinkle or Schmidt, or walk into it, it's clear that the building is now oriented toward the Mall. 

 

As to some of the other complaints -- that the buildings are mediocre, etc. -- well, I don't think that campus has been inspired as it's grown, but I do like that they have clearly drawn a line in the sand for uniformity.  It appears that they want the buildings to be the same brown-brick, done in a vaguely gothic style.  The dorms have been less satisfying, and Cintas is a whole different beast, but I think the new student center is a vast improvement over what was there previously.  I also give them kudos for their attempts to improve some of the uglier, 60's/70s era buildings on campus (particularly Schott, which is a monstrosity).  At this point, they desperately need to get rid of Alter hall (where many A & S classes are held). 

 

For a visual aid, here's ColDay's aerial of Xavier:

 

 

 

^Thanks for the pic.  In addition to the more conspicuous CL&N and Wasson Rd. ROW's, there is another one which you can see split at the very bottom of the image, this is the line which crosses Reading Rd. at Tennessee Ave. and joins with the B&O.  I believe this is where the I-75 light rail line (proposed but never studied) was to have joined the better known I-71 line.  So Xavier would have been located at the convergence of three suburban transit lines under the Metro Moves plan.   

 

The problem of campuses expanding, and the original buildings no longer "facing" what is now the center of campus is a problem all over the country, few universities are immune to it.  So many now have expressway approaches which become the face of the university instead of the main roads they were originally built on.  Over and over again campuses doom themselves when they wipe out the original streets or build free-floating buildings which ignore the streets.  UC is a classic(?) example of this.  The better campuses usually have preexisting houses and other structures which are incorporated instead of mowed down, Xavier has a bit of this but the surrounding housing styles are not as colorful as those around UC (such as the Pi Kappa Alpha house) so there's less there to work with.         

 

 

 

XU might use eminent domain

Houses stand in way of business college

BY GREGORY KORTE | [email protected]

September 6, 2006

 

CINCINNATI - Xavier University is exploring the use of eminent domain - "as a last, last resort," school officials say - to take privately owned houses in Evanston to build a new business college.

 

If it follows through, Xavier's move would be a rare - but not unprecedented - attempt by a private university to exert the same land-acquisition powers granted the state, cities and even public universities.

 

Click link for article

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060906/NEWS0102/609060364

Ooo...seems like a pretty unwise time to start throwing talk of Eminent Domain around in that neck of the woods...of course, it sounds like they didn't bring it up, just confirmed that they've discussed it internally as a last resort...still, seems like the wisest time to start talking about it would be some time other than when they're rewriting Eminent Domain law...

From the 9/20/06 Xavier University Newswire:

 

 

PHOTO: The houses along Ledgewood are scheduled to come down in preparation for the new academic quadrangle. This comes in the midst of the Ohio Supreme Court’s ruling involving the use of eminent domain in the Rookwood Commons area of Norwood.  Newswire

 

Examining eminent domain

Part one of a two part series investigating eminent domain and Ledgewood

Matthew Finger

Op-Ed Editor

 

The issue of eminent domain has been a hot topic both on and off Xavier’s campus. With Xavier’s unveiling of a 10 year growth plan, which includes a renovated Alter Hall, McDonald Library, more greenspace and a new Williams College of Business, comes the possibility of eminent domain.

 

On Sept. 7, the Ohio State Supreme Court ruled that the property of Sanae Ichikawa-Burton and Matthew Burton be returned to them, writes Steve Kemme of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

 

The Burtons are not alone in their struggle against the potential building of a $125 million office-condominium-retail venture. Joe Horney along with Joy and Carl Gamble Jr. have also had their bouts with the use, and often labeled ‘abuse,’ of eminent domain.

 

What is eminent domain, exactly? Well, that’s a difficult question to answer, especially since in the past, there has been a somewhat dynamic definition. Basically, eminent domain is the government’s ability to seize private property for public use, with the promise of compensation for that property.

 

But it’s more complicated than that. Parade Magazine published an article on Aug. 6 that also touches on the issue of Norwood’s eminent domain predicament. In this article, the 2005 United States Supreme Court case of Kelo v. City of New London is cited. This case set the standard on which Jeffery R. Anderson Real Estate and the Miller-Valentine Group, which are the companies involved in the Norwood case, and potentially Xavier University, are basing their arguments.

 

Kelo states that the government, both state and local, can seize homes so that private development can proceed. But Kelo also claims that in doing so, the private development cannot “benefit a particular class of identifiable individuals.” Basically, the development of the land by the private institution must be of public benefit.

 

The Ohio Supreme Court came to the same conclusion in July of this year when it reached the decision that it is unconstitutional for the government to confiscate property from a private party to give to another private party, with one exception: that the property serves a public benefit other than an increased tax base.

 

In the past, the term “public use” has included projects such as railroads, highway systems, urban-renewal projects, as well as schools and recreation areas such as parks. But what Kelo brings to the table is the very real threat to middle class residential areas, such as the houses on Ledgewood Avenue, which are the properties that would be affected by Xavier’s use of eminent domain.

 

The Ohio Supreme Court’s ruling does not affect Xavier’s case for the use of eminent domain, if it so chooses to use it, says Gregory Korte of the Cincinnati Enquirer, since the state has upheld the belief that classrooms and dormitories serve a public use, even though Xavier is a private university.

 

This ruling has, however, proven to be problematic for the residents of the 11-acre site across from Rookwood, which has been under threat of being seized.

Would the building of a commercial center in Norwood serve a public purpose?

 

Some believe it would, citing Norwood’s economic decline in the past two decades and its transformation from a relatively prosperous industrial city to the current residential area it is now, which is plagued with unemployment and a growing crime rate.

 

For the Burtons, Gambles and Horney, the issue of eminent domain is still a concern, but since the state’s Supreme Court ruling this month has fallen in their favor, the potential of seizure by the government and subsequently commercial developers is a dying one.

 

Xavier, on the other hand, is just beginning its involvement in the topic of eminent domain. In the past seven years, Xavier has spent $2.3 million in acquiring properties on Ledgewood. On average, Xavier has paid the private parties two and a half times the appraised value, as provided by the Hamilton County Auditor’s Office, cites Gregory Korte.

 

Should Xavier invoke eminent domain, it would not be setting precedent. Just this year, Tiffin University, another private university located in Ohio, was confronted with the difficulties that accompany eminent domain. Their case, which involved the acquisition of a private property which was expressed as a “polluted, ugly scarp yard” by Tiffin University president Paul Marion, was settled out of court for the price of $430,000.

 

Obviously, the properties on Ledgewood Avenue are not ‘blighted,’ a term used to describe a dilapidated property, such as the one involved in the Tiffin case. Being blighted makes a property eligible for seizure under eminent domain, though like eminent domain the term ‘blighted’ can have a very fluid definition.

 

This brings us to the question of whether or not Xavier, should it decide to use eminent domain to acquire properties in its search for expansion, has the right to invoke such a power. Is the progress of a private university beneficial to the community as a whole? Moreover, is the basic principle behind eminent domain a violation of private rights? These inquiries and more will, with any luck, be touched upon, though doubtfully resolved, over the next week with the interviewing of key figures in Xavier’s bout with eminent domain.

 

http://www.xavier.edu/newswire/editions/060920/front.htm

 

i dont know much about this development, but i sure would hate to see those homes go

XU touts $200M building plan

Planned quadrangle designed to boost academic standing

BY LORI KURTZMAN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

 

The old way to plan campus growth was to simply put up a new building, said David Dodd, Xavier University vice president and chief information officer.

 

Click link for article

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060930/NEWS0102/609300421

Here is part two of that eminent domain story from Xavier Newswire, 10/4/06:

 

 

Public domain?

Part two of the Newswire’s investigation into eminent domain

Matthew finger

Op-Ed Editor

 

Two weeks ago, the Newswire published an article explaining the issue of eminent domain, its context and its relevance to Xavier University. Building off this article and using official documents along with some limited but helpful personal testimony by Probate Judge James Cissell, I hope to address the issue of a private institution, namely Xavier University, invoking eminent domain on a private property owner.

 

I interviewed Judge Cissell roughly a week ago in an attempt to acquire information regarding Xavier University’s involvement with Michael Cissell, a private property owner who is at odds with Xavier. Judge Cissell was kind enough to take time out of his day to answer a few questions.

 

When asked whether or not he believed that Xavier had the legal right to use eminent domain, Judge Cissell commented that it is apparently legal, and that Xavier can be granted the right to use eminent domain by the Board of Regency, a governing body that oversees the issue of eminent domain.

 

Michael Cissell mentioned in an interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer that selling his property to Xavier is not the problem. Rather, it is the thought of being bullied into such a position that Cissell has issues with.

 

Xavier University has yet to utilize eminent domain to acquire Cissell’s property, which would be absorbed into the university and made part of Xavier’s 10 year growth plan. But, it seems that should Cissell refuse to sell his property in protest of bullying, Xavier may be allowed to use eminent domain.

 

Judge Cissell was also helpful enough to supply me with relevant documents which relate to the issue of a private university or institution invoking eminent domain. I was sent a summary and selection of the Ohio Revised Code, namely Title 33, Chapter 3333.

 

“It is the declared policy of this state,” proclaims the Code, “That the availability of eminent domain on behalf of educational institutions of higher education is in the public welfare.” Therefore, said private institution may apply to the Ohio board of regents for “the right to appropriate property.”

 

But, this code states several stipulations for the use of eminent domain. It must certify to the board that: There is an inability to agree with the owner on price, a reasonable effort has been made to acquire the property, the property will be used for educational purposes and that the property will be available to all qualified persons without discrimination. The institution must then submit to the board this information, the educational purpose of the property and any other information required by the board.

 

Non-discrimination public interest is the name of the game. For a private university to use eminent domain, they must prove that the property would provide a public service to the community, including resident and dining facilities.

 

As we recently saw in the case involving Rookwood and private citizens who refused to sell, public interest can be a very grey area. Plans for shopping, office and condominium development, which is what would have been built had the private citizens of Norwood lost, would be considered by some to be a public service, especially in a community that is barely hanging on economically.

 

On the other hand, some would argue that the public interest lies not with the general public and population of Norwood, but in the hands of a wealthier population. Such is the problem that could face Xavier.

 

Is expanding the campus of the university a public service or an economical venture made by a wealthy institution? This is the question that has the potential to plague Xavier, the Board of Regents and citizens of Norwood and Evanston in the future.

 

What is eminent domain?

Eminent domain is the inherent power of the state to seize private property without the owner’s consent, either for its own use or for the use of a third party who will devote it to “public uses.”

 

Governments most commonly use the power of eminent domain when the acquisition of real property is necessary for the completion of public projects such as roads, military installations or public buildings.

 

Xavier is investigating the use of eminent domain in acquiring properties on Ledgewood Ave.

 

http://www.xavier.edu/newswire/editions/061004/front.htm#art2

 

From Xavier University, 12/1/06:

 

 

Xavier receives $3 million gift from the Schott Family Foundation for new learning commons

The atrium of the new high-tech building will be named for the Schott family

12/01/06

 

The Marge and Charles Schott Family Foundation is contributing $3 million for the construction of a new learning commons on the Xavier campus. The building’s atrium will be named in their honor.

The learning commons is arguably the paramount building in the development of the James E. Hoff, S.J., Academic Quadrangle, a new high-tech, learning-centered addition to campus that will turn Xavier into a national model of excellence for 21st century students. The quad is being created with revenues generated from the University's new $200 million capital campaign, the most ambitious campaign in the school’s history.

 

The gift from the Schott Foundation is the first gift of the campaign to be publicly announced. Gary Massa, vice president for University relations at Xavier, says the gift underscores the University’s role as a valued partner in the Greater Cincinnati community and, in particular, builds on Marge Schott’s longstanding belief in and support of Catholic education.

 

“We are truly honored that the Schott foundation chose Xavier University for such a generous gift,” Massa says. “Marge Schott and the Schott family have a long, respected tradition of civic, community and educational support that extends throughout Greater Cincinnati and beyond. We are very appreciative to be included in that tradition.”

 

This isn’t the first time the Schott family has stepped forward to support Xavier. In 1970, the family built an on-campus residence hall for the University’s Jesuit priests. Today, Schott Hall is an office and administrative building and houses the offices of admission and financial aid.

 

In addition to the learning commons, the Hoff Academic Quad also includes a new facility to better serve the Williams College of Business, which has become one of the nation’s most dynamic business schools. It also includes the renovation and modernization of the University Library and Alter Hall, the main classroom building on campus.

 

The Hoff Academic Quad will be located on the academic mall and will create a new entry to the Xavier campus at the corner of Dana and Ledgewood avenues. Construction of the project is slated to begin once a significant portion of the funding goal is secured. The total cost of the project is estimated at $100 million.

 

http://www.xavier.edu/news/news.cfm?news_id=4587&archive=no

 

There is some more info about the on-campus projects that Xavier has planned.  There are some renderings and a fly through of the new projects that I can't seem to find right now.  But there is also a boat load of propaganda that is typical for these type of projects.

http://xu.imodules.com/s/454/great_wonders.aspx?sid=454&gid=1&pgid=344

From the 2/21/07 Xavier Newswire:

 

 

PHOTO: Contrary to rumors, student houses on Ledgewood will not be demolished this summer.  Brian Bowsher

 

Ledgewood housing to remain available to students

Darren LaCour

Senior News Editor

 

The final round of Xavier’s plan for campus expansion calls for the demolition of many of the houses on Ledgewood Avenue and the potential displacement of many students and organizations. Many students were under the impression that these changes would take place during the summer of 2007, but these rumors are incorrect.

 

Senior Billy Reinstatler, who lives at the Men4Others house on Ledgewood, said that word got out in October that their house would not be available the following academic year. “I’m a senior, so I’m not really affected, but two of the guys that live with us are sophomores so they found different housing,” Reinstatler said.

 

Bob Sheeran, Associate Vice President for Facility Management, confirmed that initially the plan was to tear down some of the houses during the summer of 2007, but that plan was altered around Christmas. “The funding is not in place,” he said. “We want to make it a seamless process, so when we tear the houses down we’re ready to begin construction.”

 

Reinstatler explained that in January, he and his housemates met with Angie Kneflin, the Apartments Director for Residence Life, who informed them that their house would still be available for the 2007-08 academic year. By then, however, the two sophomore students had already found new houses.

 

“They don’t know if it’s going to be a themed house next year,” said Reinstatler. “They’ll have to find eight guys, but they might open it up to anyone.”

 

As far as the capital campaign goes, Sheeran hopes to start construction during the summer of 2008, but that still depends on the successful raising of funds. “We have to think one academic year at a time,” he said. “We can’t make students move out in the middle of the year to tear down the houses; we have to make sure that the houses are available for the entire school year.”

 

All of the Ledgewood houses will still be available for the 2007-08 year.

 

He also added that the order in which the buildings are constructed will impact which houses get taken down and when. “It’s too early to say when they’ll come down, and some houses will even be able to stay until after the buildings are built and we begin working on the surrounding grounds.”

 

Students living in Ledgewood houses can breathe a sigh of relief, unless they had already made accommodating plans to live elsewhere. For the 2007-08 school year, Ledgewood will maintain the status quo.

 

Physical Plant does not plan to demolish any of the houses until they are ready to begin construction, but they are eager for that day to come. Sheeran explains, “Our intent is to leave the houses up as long as possible, but at the same time, we want to get them down as soon as we can.”

 

http://www.xavier.edu/newswire/editions/070221/front.htm#art2

 

From Xavier University News, 3/26/07:

 

 

Home City Ice family donates $3 million to benefit Center for Entrepreneurship

The center will be one of the features of a new facility for the Williams College of Business

03/26/07

 

Even when he was earning his general business degree from Xavier in the 1950s, Tom Sedler worked in the family business. “It’s just what we did back then," he says. "I went to class then zipped off to work."

Sedler graduated from Xavier in 1958, but began his career in 1951 at Home City Ice, the Cincinnati company started by his father in 1924.

 

Now, Tom and his wife, Genny, are giving back to the University in a way that will help others fulfill their entrepreneurial spirit. The Sedlers have made a $3 million gift to the Williams College of Business Center for Entrepreneurship. Currently ranked among the top 25 entrepreneurial programs by U.S. News & World Report and 11th by The Princeton Review, Xavier’s program provides students knowledge and resources for identifying and acting upon business opportunities.

 

“This tremendous gift from the Sedlers will allow us to create a physical space that is much more interactive and dynamic for our students,” says Ali Malekzadeh, dean of the Williams College of Business. “It will also directly impact the program and the types of outreach opportunities that are so critical to enriching the academic experiences. The Sedlers are literally helping these students’ entrepreneurial dreams come true.”

 

The Center for Entrepreneurship will be one of the features of a new facility for the Williams College of Business. In addition to the Center for Entrepreneurship, the new high-tech facility will include:

 

* Center for Investment Research: This state-of-the-art “trading room” will allow for analysis of stocks and securities as well as portfolio management.

 

* Institute for Business Ethics: In keeping with its Jesuit tradition, the institute guides students in recognizing and incorporating ethical and values-related issues in the workplace.

 

* Institute in Healthcare Informatics: Designed to advance the development and use of information technologies and digital information resources in the delivery of health care.

 

“I’m so impressed with the people and the programs at Xavier,” says Sedler. “Our four sons went to school there and Xavier is just a part of our lives. We’re entrepreneurs who have grown a business and we want to help Xavier students realize their potential.”

 

For more information go to www.xavier.edu/greatwonders.

 

http://www.xavier.edu/news/news.cfm?news_id=4866&archive=no

 

This could be VERY good for that part of the city...not to mention, it would be particularly advantageous for XU to capitalize on a location that could be the future transit hub of the city.  It would also be great for XU to expand a bit, and really give Cincinnati two quality/large universities!

 

XU buying up land

BY CLIFF PEALE | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

June 5, 2007

 

NORWOOD - Xavier University is accumulating property for a massive “East Campus” development that could cover up to 20 acres extending from its Evanston campus to Montgomery Road in Norwood.

 

The university has hired Covington developer Corporex Companies and it continues to buy the remaining parcels it needs to complete a site bounded by Dana Avenue, Cleneay Avenue and Montgomery Road, extending west toward the 140-acre XU campus.

 

Click link for article

Xavier definitely needs some stores, restaurants, and bars within walking distance of campus.  This will definitely be a big boost for the XU area!

Corporex to build Xavier's East Campus

BY LAURA BAVERMAN | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

June 6, 2007

 

NORWOOD - Xavier University has hired Covington real estate developer Corporex Cos. to transform 20 acres at the intersection of Dana Avenue and Montgomery Road into an East Campus village.

 

Preliminary plans include a mix of residential units, retail and a hotel. No timeline has been set for the project's groundbreaking.

 

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Great news for Avondale.  Having the Reading Rd projects and the Dana project together mark this as good news for the community.

Xavier, Corporex plan mixed-use development

 

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/09/24/daily54.html?surround=lfn

 

A former industrial area in Walnut Hills will be redeveloped as a residential/retail/office project, Xavier University said Thursday.

 

Click link for article

This is awesome news - if Xavier actually gets a "college town" area they will be even more successful.  It really seems like both city schools are stepping up to raise their profile.

Including the Zumbiel plant, this is quite a bit of land, and the CL&N ROW runs directly through it.  When the Victory Parkway I-71 interchange was canceled, it doomed Xavier to being visited via the small industrial area to its east.  But with good highway access and the potential of being located at a major transit hub, this site is one of the best in the city.     

 

Also, I believe the Zumbiel plant in Norwood is still operating in some capacity. 

I just really hope that XU doesn't tear down that gorgeous warehouse across from Cintas Center.

Xavier buys more properties

 

Xavier University has bought two more properties for development.

 

Click link for article

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071206/NEWS01/312060010/1056/COL02

Xavier to debut prototype 'learning commons'

January 2, 2008 | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER

 

CINCINNATI - The former library at Xavier University has undergone a metamorphosis, the school said Wednesday.

 

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Zoning change needed for Xavier University academic complex

BY KEVIN LEMASTER | SOAPBOX CINCINNATI

March 11, 2008

 

Cincinnati City Council's Economic Development Committee will consider a zoning change today that could pave the way for a new academic complex on the campus of Xavier University.

 

The Hoff Academic Quad, to be built along Ledgewood Avenue between Dana Avenue and Bellarmine Chapel, will create a new main entrance to campus and will consist of a multi-purpose Learning Commons, a new facility for the Williams College of Business, a new central utility plant and parking and greenspace improvements.

 

The rezoning would change the property from residential and manufacturing use to institutional-residential.

 

The Evanston Community Council voted to approve the change on January 16, and the Cincinnati City Planning Commission approved it on February 1.

 

At the heart of the 9.5-acre quad, the Learning Commons will provide Xavier students with a high-tech, highly social educational environment that will include:

• Magis Plaza, the technological hub
  
• Center for Student Excellence
  
• Center for Teaching Excellence
  
• Center for Community Engaged Learning
  
• Institute for Jesuit Education
  
• Information Resources Center
  
• Renovations to Alter Hall and University Library
  

 

The new business school will house new classrooms, a trading room, a data-mining laboratory, a studio for taping and reviewing sales presentations and centers for business ethics, entrepreneurship and investment research.

 

Funding for the project will come from To See Great Wonders: The Campaign for Xavier, the university's $200 million capital campaign.

 

The Hoff Academic Quad is named after former Xavier president James E. Hoff, S.J., who died in 2004.

 

*Images with article link

The Zumbiel Packaging plan was imploded today to make room for Xavier Square - with video included.

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Dato=20080322&Kategori=VIDEO&Lopenr=80322001&Ref=AR

 

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080322/NEWS01/303220025

 

Down with a 'boom'

BY HOWARD WILKINSON | [email protected]

E-mail    |    Print    |    digg us!    |    del.icio.us!    |    Click-2-Listen

 

It took only seconds this morning to bring down the six-story Zumbiel Packaging plant in Norwood, to make way for a new development at Xavier University.

 

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I REALLY hate that XU felt the need to tear that building down.  That building could have been a fantastically cool rehab into dorms.  Thanks XU.

Yeah it would've been good housing but we'll see what type of crap they put up in its place

 

Xavier demolition begins

By Cliff Peale • [email protected] • August 27, 2008

 

Workers will start demolishing houses on Ledgewood Drive on the Xavier University campus as soon as next week, the beginning of two years and $250 million of construction that will transform the campus and surrounding blocks.

 

Click link for article

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080827/NEWS01/808270345/1055/NEWS