Houstonian: SHSU buys property along 17th Street

From the Houstonian:

Sam Houston State University officials are moving forward with a plan to develop a freshmen-housing facility on the corner block of Sam Houston Avenue and 17th Street after purchasing the property on April 15.

SHSU officials have discussed purchasing properties on this block for the past few months with a real estate company.

Huntsville area businesses, which will be affected by the property purchases are, Zach's Bar and Grill Restaurant, Quarter's Sports Bar, and Taboo Tattoo.

"We now own the block," [Jack] Parker [SHSU vice president of Finance and Operations] said. "(The housing) is going to be for freshmen use; for construction of freshmen housing very similar to the White Hall (housing facility)."

The undisclosed amount was determined with the approval of The Texas State University System Board of Regents and the Higher Education Coordinating Board with the approval from two appraisals, he said.

The university housing fund balance funded the new housing development that is expected to be in operation by fall 2004.