COLUMBUS, Ind. — Ivy Tech Community College — Columbus is planning to sell about 16 acres of land at its Franklin site to a commercial real estate management company and use the funds for campus improvements.
The Columbus Campus Board of Trustees approved a resolution Friday recommending that the state trustees approve the sale of about 15.9 acres of vacant land at the Franklin campus. In a memo to staff, Chancellor Steven Combs said the state board will likely meet next month to consider this recommendation.
The resolution states that Sunbeam Development Corp., which owns and has developed nearby property, has offered $1.5 million for the land, and the campus board seeks to use the proceeds “for the benefit of the future of the Franklin campus.”
“These funds would create a repair-and-replacement reserve for the Franklin site, upgrade the Franklin building, conduct a campus master plan for the both Johnson and Shelby counties, and enhance programming at both locations,” said Combs in his memo.
Some of the funds might go toward the ongoing creation of a “brand-new advanced manufacturing training area for the two counties and possibly some collaboration with the high schools and C9,” Combs said. Minor campus improvements such as cleaning and landscaping are also potential uses of funds.
Combs said that the property Sunbeam seeks to purchase is located south of the Franklin site at the corner of State Road 44 and Jim Black Road.
For the complete story, see Saturday’s Republic.
