By Kyle Peveto, Page Editor

University-owned property on East North 19th and 20th streets will be used for future expansion, according to the administration.

Seven houses, five of which are rental property, were bought by ACU to prepare for growth; four of the houses are on East North 19th, and three are on 20th. Two other houses are used for the Pruett Gerontology Center on East North 20th and the University Relations office on 19th.

“We look at [buying] it on a case by case basis,” said Kevin Watson, chief administrative services officer, in an e-mail.

Watson said last week in the Optimist that the university considers buying property around campus if the price is “fair and reasonable.” All available property close to or bordering campus is considered.

The Administrative Services office cares for the homes, and all tenant needs are reported through assistant Nelda Griffith. ACU’s maintenance department makes the needed repairs and refurbishing.

Though no immediate use is known for the property, it may be used for parking if a proposed new residence hall is built where student parking lots sit across Campus Court from Mabee Residence Hall.

Leases for the houses are standard, and renters know the property may be needed in the future for expanding the university’s bounds.

“If something happened and they needed the property,” Griffith said, “we would give them ample time to move out.”

Students in university-owned houses refused to comment.