Highrise Demolition Likely to Begin This Summer (04/26/24)

April 26, 2024

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Winthrop University Board of Trustees voted earlier this year to spend $7.2 million on the abatement and demolition of the two aging halls.
• Workers are expected to begin tearing down the two buildings this summer to make room for other buildings yet to be determined.

ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA - With abatement on the Wofford and Richardson residence halls now completed, Winthrop University will soon consider bids on the demolition of the two high-rise buildings that face Cherry Road.

The Winthrop University Board of Trustees voted earlier this year to spend $7.2 million on the abatement and demolition of the two aging halls. At the quarterly meeting held on April 24-25, members learned that bids on the demolition were supposed to open April 23 but that the opening date is in flux due to additional information needed by potential bidders, according to James Grigg, associate vice president for facilities management.

The state of South Carolina has committed $6 million for the project, while Winthrop will use $1.2 million from its auxiliary net position.

Workers are expected to begin tearing down the two buildings this summer to make room for other buildings yet to be determined. Winthrop also is in the process of studying the realignment of Alumni Drive to intersect Cherry Road at the existing Camden Avenue traffic light, to improve vehicle and pedestrian safety in the area. This project would mean closing the current Alumni Drive entry, and possibly the Ebenezer Avenue entry, to direct traffic to the Camden intersection.

In other news from the two days of meetings, board members:

· Adopted a strategic plan centered on five pillars to give direction to the university.

· Set housing rates for the 2024-25 academic year. With an increase in students living on campus anticipated for the fall, Winthrop will contract to provide a mix of two- and four-bedroom units.

· Established a scholarship program aimed at schools in the Charlotte partnership area with which Winthrop has articulation agreements in order to offer their students in-state tuition.

· Created or modified 12 academic programs in education, accounting, music, fine arts, theatre, professional studies, business and pre-law.

· Heard that the likely new cafeteria site will be the gravel lot at the corner of Founders Lane and Alumni Drive, near the amphitheatre and Little Chapel. The $2.5 million cafeteria building will be Winthrop's newest building in 14 years.

· Agreed to use leftover funds from the Lee Wicker residence hall roof project to go towards the Phelps residence hall roof replacement, which will be completed by next summer.

· Voted to work with the Rock Hill school district on a pilot initiative to provide Winthrop professional development credits to teachers in the elementary, middle and high schools.

· Approved increasing the health services fee for students by $10.

· Heard that more than 1,000 donors gave to the Day of Giving on April 16-17, including 117 students. The most popular areas for donations were the Winthrop Fund and the Richard W. Riley College of Education, Sport and Human Sciences.

For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at [email protected].