East Campus Developments

• Mike Westfall - VP University Advancement
• Jim Hargett - Interim VP Finance & Administration
• Boyd Farnam - Vice President Legal Affairs
• Siraj Khan - Interim Associate VP Facilities Management

• David Kramer
• Dennis Muchmore
• Bobby Schostak

• East Campus Stakeholder Committee
• Campus Development Environmental Committee
• Senate Budget Review Committee
• Senate Planning Review Committee
• Steering Committee of the Campus Alliance for Sustainability and the Environment
• Senate Steering Committee (May)
• Full Senate (May)

• Amy Banes-Berceli - Provost Office
• Rochelle Black - Government Relations
• Ethan Bradley - BOT Student Liaison
• Ashley Dewling - Golf and Learning Center
• Siraj Khan - Facilities
• Dave Dulio - Faculty, Community Engagement
• Evan Derminoff - Athletics, Subdivision
• Amy Gould - Staff, Subdivision
• Jayson Hall - Office of Legal Affairs
• Jim Hargett - Interim Vice President Finance & Administration
• Jeff Insko - Faculty
• Michelle Knox - Finance & Administration
• Bill Matt - Meadow Brook Hall
• Joe Shively - College of Arts & Sciences
• Steve Stanton - Faculty, Campus Development & Environment Committee
• Andrew Sweeder - Student
• Wayne Thibodeau - Student Affairs
• Scott Tiegs - Faculty
• Mike Westfall - VP Advancement
• John Young - University Communications and Marketing

Ultimately, we believe there is an opportunity to generate new revenue streams for the University in a way that attractively redevelops underutilized campus land and supports the mission of the University. This development opportunity is an industry best-practice with many comparable examples at campuses across the nation:

• Eddy Street Commons – a mixed-use “campus town” district at the University of Notre Dame
• Storrs Center – a similar district adjacent to the University of Connecticut
• The Crossing at KU – a mixed-use innovation district currently in planning at the University of Kansas
• The Pillars – a similar district currently in planning at Houston Baptist University

Potentially, yes. This will be a focus area, and be dependent upon the ultimate mix of activities.

No financial details have been submitted yet. OU would prioritize development proposals that are cost neutral; meaning that the university would not make a financial contribution beyond the lease of the land. This type of arrangement is a common P3 best practice.

• U. of Kansas - The Crossing at KU: Mixed-use innovation district / land monetization with office, lab, retail, housing
• U. Notre Dame - Eddy Street Commons: Multi-phase “campus town” with housing and retail on a ground lease, hotel and condo components.
• U. of Connecticut - Storrs Center: Housing, hotel, and retail
• Houston Baptist U. - The Pillars: Arena-adjacent land monetization with retail and future residential and office components
• Old Dominion U.: Campus-edge land monetization with apartments, retail, grocery
• CSU Monterrey Bay: Campus-edge retail / housing
• Redlands U.: Campus-edge retail / housing / hotel

Those will be refined if/when the RFQ is developed. However, at a macro level, relevant experience, amount of risk, level of control, mission alignment, and financial considerations will be well represented.

An extensive market assessment was completed by Brailsford & Dunlavey. The mix of activities has yet to be determined and is an important part of ongoing conversations.

Given that the corner is contiguous to the main campus, it is important that the University retain long-term control over the use of the land. So the sale of the land is highly unlikely.

No.

There is a stakeholder group (listed on the Collaboration section of this page) of twenty campus representatives that is meeting monthly to discuss project status, planning, and to offer feedback. In addition, there have been a number of meetings with multiple University Senate committees to review the project, and to seek feedback.

Yes. Representatives from Oakland County, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, and Pontiac have been invited to a May meeting. The university will share information gathered to date and seek feedback.

The market survey has demonstrated that the greatest demand, hence greatest return on investment, will likely be in upscale multi-family housing. This is the option currently being vetted to the campus community as well as community stakeholders. The preliminary focus is on non-student housing given that the OU campus master plan has identified two other main campus areas for future student housing. The ultimate target audience has not been finalized, nor has this use been determined to be the predominate use.

Given that the Village is across the street, any retail would be service focused and largely on the campus community and development tenants.

OU is unable to fully finance a PAC. However, it is hoped that via this development and through potential partnerships with the county, regional cities, and private sector, that funding could be secured. OU’s potential investment could be via donor funding and/or leveraging revenue from the overall development.

We are still in an information gathering stage. Final project direction and implementation will require OU Board of Trustee approval. If the BOT decides to advance the project, the RFQ/RFP process will be completed by the end of the summer or early fall.If the project was to go forward, an actual ground breaking of any type would be a year or more away due to the planning required. 

No. One area of understandable community concern within the concept drawing is the recommended development within the OU Faculty Subdivision on the east side of Adams Road. This area is home to OU faculty and staff, and borders several thriving neighborhoods. This was provided by a master planning consultant in 2019 as a final recommendation, however, no board action was taken at that time, or since. This area is not a part of any Oakland University development scope. The university’s sole focus is on vetting opportunities related to the corner of Walton Road and Adams Road.

While planning is still in the ideation/feedback phase, it will be a major consideration should development of the corner proceed.

No it isn’t. This is still fairly early in the process with the focus being on information gathering so that the OU Board of Trustees can make an informed decision. Building on the market study, the current stage is focused on generating ideas and feedback that once complete will be shared with the development community via a RFQ and RFP process. This will provide the OU Board of Trustees additional information related to what a P3 partnership looks like and include the potential impacts and value of a development partnership. It is following receipt and evaluation of all this information that a “go or no-go” decision would be made.

Yes. The university is committed to sustainability efforts.

There are no formal development plans at this point. Currently, the university is sharing concept information and seeking feedback from university stakeholders. Formal plans, if it advances to that point, would come later in the process and will have considered the feedback received during this current concept stage. Any final recommended formal plan will be shared for review and additional feedback in the Fall. Thus far, the university has received valuable input from a number of university groups including: the Campus Development Environmental Committee, the East Campus Stakeholder Committee, the Senate Budget Review Committee, the Senate Planning Review Committee, the Steering Committee of the Campus Alliance for Sustainability and the Environment, the Senate Steering Committee, and the full Senate in May. There are also plans to return to the Senate in September/October with additional updates. In addition, the university will continue to share information with Senate committees that meet over the summer.

If a potential conflict of interest were to arise in the course of the project, it would be addressed as provided in the Oakland University Board of Trustees Conflict of Interest Policy.

As a part of the RFP process from potential developers, there will be a conservation clause that asks that specific consideration will be given to those draft plans that preserve and add trees to the site. The university will also seek an environmental impact report from the chosen developer, if/when the project would move to negotiations. Also, additional feedback will be sought specifically from the Campus Development Environmental Committee, and the Steering Committee of the Campus Alliance for Sustainability and the Environment, as well as other groups.

The primary corner site is approximately 20.4 acres. The wooded areas are 11.4 acres nearest Walton, and an additional 6.6 acres below. Conservation of the wooded areas is a priority of any draft design.

A RFP was distributed and awarded to national consultant Brailsford & Dunlavey, with sub-consultant Hanbury. Total cost of this engagement as of April 2022 is $148,600.