2008 Woodie Awards
Wash U. will buy CMS property
City council approves construction
By: Jonathan Kleinow
Issue date: 10/27/05 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
|
Lehman Walker, director of planning and development for University City, named Wash U. as the buyer of the building at 560 Trinity Ave. Walker said the school plans to maintain the building as a music school for its music department.
In a statement, Wash U. spokesman Liam Otten said the university is in the process of buying the property. He said Wash U. is waiting for the University City Board of Aldermen to approve a zoning change.
At its meeting Oct. 18, the Webster Groves City Council unanimously passed a bill allowing Webster University to build a new building for the Community Music School on campus, next to the Loretto-Hilton Center. The bill passed unanimously. The only comment was from council member Robert Goldson, who said the music school would make a great addition to the community.
Workers began construction on the new building Oct. 24. Jackhammers tore up the concrete at the loading dock behind the Loretto-Hilton Center, where the new building will be located. Jane Kendall, assistant to Vice President for Finance David Garafola, said construction would begin with utility relocations and grading.
The new building, expected to cost about $3.5 million, will house a 495-seat auditorium, as well as 12 practice rooms and two large ensemble rooms, storage areas and offices.
The cost of the new building will be covered by the sale of the Trinity Avenue property. David Stone, director of facilities planning, said none of the construction costs would come from the university budget.
Webster quietly put the building up for sale this summer after the Board of Trustees asked administrators to pay off about $300,000 worth of debt on the building.