SUBJECT:

Update on University House Project

In May 2005, we advised you that despite our best efforts the campus had been unsuccessful in securing sufficient private funding to proceed with the construction of a new University House, and that the UC Office of the President (UCOP) had determined the University House property would be put up for sale. Part of the proceeds of the sale would be used for the construction of a new University House on other UCSD land.

As a first step in the process, the campus, under UCOP's direction, began working with an independent appraiser to determine the value of the property. However, because of the strong sentiment for keeping the property that we heard from faculty, staff, and friends of the University, we secured UCOP's permission to continue to discuss private gifts with those supporters who offered to help us save the property.

We are pleased to report now that, thanks to the generosity of some UCSD supporters, the campus has secured sufficient private funding to allow us to retain the current University House property. We have secured gifts of $4.9 million which, together with a commitment from UCOP of $1.45 million, bring the available funding for this project to $6.35 million-only $850K shy of our estimated budget of $7.2 million. Our fundraising efforts will continue but UCOP has now suspended the sale process.

The campus will now engage the campus planning process to develop a project that will provide adequate residential and public meeting spaces for the Chancellor. For the last several months the University House Building Advisory Committee (BAC), chaired by Sr. Vice President Emeritus Wayne Kennedy, has been engaged in the development of a Detailed Project Program (DPP) that was not site specific; that work is in its final stages. Once complete, the BAC will turn its attention to other planning phases, which include a site analysis of the La Jolla Farms property, completion of an architectural design, and an environmental impact review.

We will continue keep everyone informed of the status of the project as it progresses.

John Woods Vice Chancellor Resource Management & Planning