UNT lays out plans for future expansion onto Eagle Point Golf Course property

The UNT community may soon notice big changes at the Eagle Point Golf Course. The university recently explained its proposed plans for re-allocating the golf course land for several phases of campus expansion.

The course is leased from UNT by FHC Hotel Management Co. for the Radisson Hotel, but the UNT Board of Regents voted in November to authorize the university to amend the terms of the agreement to permit negotiations for termination of the lease. Negotiations were still in progress at press time for this issue of InHouse.

Richard Rafes, UNT System vice chancellor and general counsel and interim vice chancellor for administration and UNT interim vice president for administration, says all of the developmental planning is contingent on a mutually acceptable agreement to terminate the lease.

"Continued growth at UNT requires that the university seek innovative solutions to accommodate increasing enrollments, expanding programs, the need for student housing and state-of-the-art facilities," Rafes says.

Explaining the guiding principle that steered UNT toward the decision to propose developing the golf course, Rafes points to UNT's need to maintain the core of its academic buildings on the main campus. He says because new academic buildings will be needed to meet growing enrollment, some non-academic facilities will need to be relocated away from the main campus to make way for future classrooms, laboratories and other academic spaces.

"Keeping the academic buildings as close as possible to the heart of the campus makes sense because students have only 10 minutes to move between hourly classes," Rafes says.

He also noted that UNT is looking at the golf course because it already owns the property.

In a specially called meeting on Dec. 9, UNT regents authorized steps for the design and construction of a new $11.5 million athletic center on the golf course property. Regents also authorized the university to submit the plans to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board planning committee for approval. That approval was secured Dec. 10.

UNT's plans outline three phases for the development of the golf course property. The first phase proposes closing the golf course in March, beginning construction of the athletic center facility in April and breaking ground for a new residence hall in June. At their fall meeting in November, UNT regents approved the design and construction of the 600-bed, $29 million student residence hall and dining facility.

Rafes points out that UNT needs new residence halls because the university's enrollment hit an all-time high of 30,183 students in Fall 2002 and it is projected to continue growing for at least the next 15 years. In addition, freshman and sophomore enrollment has increased by more than 2,000 students since 1997. As a result, a number of freshman students have had to live off campus.

Phases two and three include building a new football stadium, adding additional athletic facilities and determining parking areas on and adjacent to the golf course property. Rafes says no specific construction date can be set because those phases are dependent on fund-raising efforts.

Independent experts have advised UNT that the golf course is already "functionally obsolete" and in deteriorating condition. Play at Eagle Point has been decreasing signifcantly and, as a result, the golf course has been unprofitable for several years, Rafes says.

In order for the golf course to break even, golfers must play 40,000 rounds at Eagle Point each year. The current total is below 17,000 rounds and that number is significantly down from 26,000 rounds played in 1999. This represents a significant loss of revenue that is negatively affecting both the Radisson Hotel and UNT, Rafes says.

He emphasized that UNT is concerned about the neighborhood community and the preservation of the property values. One way the university is addressing that issue is by proposing plans to create a green space between the new development and the neighborhood properties. Rafes also says the university is interested in working with neighborhood residents and the city of Denton on uses of this green space. Such uses could include walking trails, jogging trails and other amenities.

To ensure better communication between UNT and the neighborhood residents, Rafes and community members took the first steps to forming a working committee at a Dec. 10 meeting between UNT and golf course area residents.

"Of course," Rafes said during the meeting, "UNT recognizes any use would need to ensure the security and privacy of the residential community as well as the safety of UNT students."

In addition, Rafes assured golf course-area residents that the university would place a high priority on avoiding traffic congestion in the area.

BY RODDY WOLPER rwolper@unt.edu

Other web resources

• UNT golf course plans

Other featured articles in this issue

• Mean Green soars to grab bowl win
• Beautification Committee continues work on campus appearance
• Staff survey indicates individual UNT groups place high priority on students, diversity
• Weather closing information
• Faculty Senate holds final meeting of 2002
• Success of holiday drives helps local families
• Special award recognizes longtime faculty member
• UNT departments move to new locations
• Changes may be coming to faculty workload policy

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