APSU is prepared to purchase the Jenkins and Wynne Honda dealership property for further expansion of campus.

Roughly one year ago, Jenkins and Wynne approached the university with plans to relocate the dealership, asking if APSU would be interested in buying the property. In October 2014, the proposed property acquisition was submitted to the Tennessee Board of Regents, then the State Building Commission approval was secured in December 2014.

While there are currently no specific plans for the property, APSU will discuss options with key stakeholders and develop a plan based on campus priorities.

“Our new Vice President for Advancement, Communication and Strategic Initiatives [Derek van der Merwe] will guide the campus community through a strategic planning process, and the resulting plan will serve as a guide to the property development,” said President Alisa White.

White said the priorities right now are to develop the Jenkins and Wynne property, then build a fine arts building that complements the Trahern Building. She said if the state legislature approves Gov. Bill Haslam’s proposed budget, APSU will be able to begin construction on the fine arts project in the fall.

The process of purchasing the Jenkins and Wynne property will take time, said Vice President for Finance and Administration Mitch Robinson.

First, “a request is submitted to the TBR requesting approval to acquire property,” Robinson said. “TBR submits the request to the SBC for consideration and approval. A phase one environmental survey is performed, and, in some cases, such as this one, a phase two environmental survey is also performed. The State Department of General Services, Real Estate Division, secures an appraisal from a State Certified Real Estate Appraiser, an option to purchase the property is executed with the seller, a land survey is obtained, a closing date is determined, and the transaction to acquire the property is completed.”

Until the appraisal is completed and the option is signed, it is unknown what the property’s total cost will be.

“[This purchase] is the opportunity of a lifetime,” White said. TAS

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