Regents will consider University of Iowa demolitions, hear Price Lab update

University of Iowa officials will seek state Board of Regents approval next week to demolish three UI-owned properties.

The demolitions requested are: three duplexes at 2220 Crosspark Road on the Oakdale Research campus; a house at 711 Melrose Ave.; and a house at 15 Melrose Place.

The duplexes on the Oakdale campus have been used for faculty, staff and visiting scholars since the 1960s, but are unoccupied two-thirds of the year and no longer serve needs and require repair, UI officials said. The area would be returned to green space. The 711 Melrose Ave. property will be razed as part of the surface parking lot planned for that location. And the vacant house on Melrose Place has outlived its economic use and has significant deferred maintenance, officials said.

Other items on the regents agenda for their meeting Wednesday and Thursday include:

* A progress report on the Malcolm Price Lab School closure at the University of Northern Iowa, approved by the board in February after a recommendation from UNI President Ben Allen. The research and development school is slated to close June 30. Educators, parents and residents wanting to keep the lab school open filed a lawsuit in March arguing the Legislature would have to change the Iowa Code to shutter the school.

* Increases to residence hall rates for next year at the UI, UNI and Iowa State University. The proposals for double-occupancy rooms with full board are a 3.74 percent increase, to $8,343 at the UI; a 1.33 percent increase, to $7,722 at ISU; and a 2.3 percent increase, to $7,597 at UNI. The residence systems are self-supporting and don't receive state funds for operations or improvements.

* Approval of the design and $36.6 million budget of phase two of the UI Football Operations Facility. The building would be immediately adjacent to and south of the new Indoor Athletics Practice and Recreation Facility, now under construction. The Football Operations Facility would include spaces for strength/conditioning, squad meetings, video editing, lockers for players and coaches, coach's offices and reception space. No general university dollars or increased student fees would be used as a revenue source. Construction is scheduled to start in spring 2013, with completion in summer 2014.

* Election of a president and president pro tem of the board. Officers typically are elected prior to May 1 in even-numbered years to two-year terms. The current leadership terms of President Craig Lang and President Pro Tem Bruce Rastetter began July 1, 2011, and will expire on April 30.