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Neighborhood Meeting
Proposed Future Plans for UNT’s Eagle Point Golf Course
December 10, 2002

Relationship between Radisson Hotel,
UNT ’s Golf Course and the University

• Radisson has long-term land leases from UNT
  for hotel and golf course
• Radisson says it wishes to continue the hotel
  lease, but not the golf course lease

 

Current Condition of Eagle Point Golf Course

• Golf course has been losing money for several years - rounds of play down to 16,834 currently from 26,000 in 1999. Course needs at least 40,000 rounds to break even
• Golf course losses are negatively affecting the Radisson Hotel and UNT
• Golf course is in deteriorating condition
• Experts say golf course is “functionally obsolete”
• Sprinkler system is not sufficient
• Equipment is in poor condition
• Upgrade would be prohibitively expensive and is not recommended
• Cannot compete with newer golf courses in area

Area Golf Courses (Click on image below for larger version)

 

 

Importance to UNT

UNT must expand to meet projected enrollment
growth

• Increased enrollment
  2002 - 30,000 students
  

Projected enrollments

Year	UNT’s	THECB Closing the Gaps
2005	32,000	31,842
2010	34,667	36,393
2015	37,625	41,124

 

UNT Campus Challenges

• Insufficient land for expansion to meet enrollment growth
• Existing space on main campus is needed for academic uses
• More residence halls are needed
• Demand for parking and transportation is growing
• Current athletic facilities are insufficient; new facilities are needed
• Athletic facilities needed for Title IX compliance

Need for New Residence Halls

• Since 1997, freshman and sophomore enrollment has increased by 2,096 students.
• Freshman living off campus due to shortage of on-campus housing
• Residence hall eligibility for returning students has been reduced by about 1,150 over past five years
• Residence hall demand exceeds supply; residence halls have been at full capacity during past five years

 

 

Guiding Principle in Decision to Develop Golf Course

 

 

Need to maintain the core of UNT’s academic buildings on main campus.

• New academic buildings will be needed to meet growing enrollment
• Some UNT facilities will need to be relocated to accommodate future academic buildings
• Students move between classes hourly (10 minutes travel time)
• UNT already owns the golf course property

 

 

Purchase of Liberty Christian Property

• Acquisition effective July 2004
• Use for women’s athletics in compliance with Title IX and academic programs
• Acquisition necessary because need for existing facilities such as football stadium (future soccer field), baseball field (future softball field), 2 gymnasiums and classroom facilities
• Acquisition saved University significant construction costs

 

 

Purchase of Newton Rayzor Tract

• In negotiations to be acquired
• Acquire for parking for Liberty Christian facility, remote parking and future expansion of facilities
• Important because directly adjacent to Liberty Christian and in close proximity to main campus
• Will work to improve appearance of TxDOT site
• Insures favorable development of property

 

 

Considerations in Developing Proposed Master Plan for Golf Course

• Impact on neighborhood
  • Preservation of property values
  • Preservation of green space
  • Traffic control/congestion
  • Light and noise abatement
• Benefits for Denton citizens
  • Preservation of neighborhood
  • Preservation of green space with plans for walking and jogging trails
  • Proposed access to recreation facilities
  • Proposed economic development growth

  
  

Golf Course master plan

Master Plan Timeline – Phase I

• Golf course closes - March 2003
• Ground breaking for athletic center - April 2003
• Ground breaking for residence hall - June 2003
• Construction complete athletic center - May 2004
• Liberty Christian acquisition - July 2004
• Construction complete residence hall - August 2004

Master Plan Timeline – Phase II Stadium and Parking and Phase III Additional Athletic Facilities

• To be determined by fund availability

 

 

Need for New Athletic Stadium

• Current stadium was built in 1950s and is inadequate
• Renovations to current stadium will be more costly than to construct a new stadium
• Current practice fields are not adequate
• Current athletic center not adequate
• New stadium will improve recruitment of quality student athletes

 

New Stadium (Click on image below for larger version)

 

Traffic Flow

 

 

Advantages of New Stadium

• Traffic control
• Below ground, reducing noise and lights
• Image and reputation of University will be enhanced
• Major savings (as much as $8 million) over renovation of Fouts Field
• School/community spirit and pride will be enhanced
• Recruitment of quality student athletes will be improved
• Better atmosphere for athletic fans
• UNT’s facilities will be brought up to par with peer institutions

Examples of Stadiums Next to Neighborhoods

• No Green Space as a Buffer Zone
  • Texas Christian University (TCU)
  • Southern Methodist University (SMU)

Click on images below for larger versions

 

 

Summary

• Development of UNT golf course is necessary to meet enrollment growth and keep academic buildings on main campus
• Golf course is “functionally obsolete,” and it is not feasible to upgrade it
• UNT has concern for the impact on the surrounding neighborhood
• Redevelopment of golf course is a long-term project that preserves green space and integrity of the neighborhood
• Beneficial to Denton citizens and to UNT
• Create an advisory group to work with the University to develop the greenspace area

 

Questions, comments, or suggestions:
Richard Rafes rafes@unt.edu