Item, Houstonian: HSU No Longer Interested In Army Reserve Property

Both the Item and Houstonian have coverage of the surprise announcement, released yesterday:

"Sam Houston State University is no longer interested in acquiring the Army Reserve property and will find an alternative solution to serve our ROTC and Veterans Affairs programs."

Item: HSU Denies Lease, Aims To Buy Property

The Item reported September 13 that SHSU officials said no to Maalouf Properties on an offer of a $135,000-a-year lease on property it wants on Sam Houston Avenue:

Item: City Denies ‘Property’ Meeting

The latest in the battle for the former army reverse property includes City of Huntsville personnel denying meeting with SHSU officials specifically on the property in question, reports the Huntsville Item [Sep. 11]:

Item: Gibson, Maalouf Dispute Land Offer

The Friday 6 edition of the Huntsville Item has more on the land dispute between SHSU and developer Tarek Maalouf:

Houstonian: Viewpoints: Army Reserve Center, Eminent Domain, And So On

The Houstonian's September 3 edition features letters from both SHSU President Dr. Dana Gibson and Huntsville developer Tarek Maalouf, president of Maalouf Properties, surrounding the sale of the former Army Reserve Center from the City of Huntsville.

Item: Coverage of Army Reserve Center Property, Eminent Domain

Sam Houston State University intends to acquire property at 2257 Sam Houston Avenue, recently purchased from the city by Maalouf Properties, through purchase or condemnation. The land, which contains a former Army Reserve Center, is included in SHSU’s long-range master planning for use by its ROTC and veterans’ programs. The conflict began in July.  Below is the Huntsville Item's coverage of the property, it's sale, and the aftermath from mid-to-late August.

Item: Maalouf Land Sale Now Final

According to the August 23 Huntsville Item, Maalouf Properties and the city of Huntsville have finalized the $650,000 agreement to sell 2.5 acres of land occupied by the former Military Reserve Building on Sam Houston Avenue:

Item: City Presents Budget Update

From the Huntsville Item [Aug. 20]:

Item: egents Want Negotiations On Maalouf Property

The Huntsville Item reports [Aug. 17] that the Texas State University System authorized SHSU to acquire property occupied by the Military Reserve Building on Sam Houston Avenue through negotiation and purchase:

Today@Sam: August 2013 Regents Report

Today@Sam has their report on the quarterly meeting of the Texas State University System Board of Regents:

Item: Regents No Longer Considering Property Condemnation

From the Huntsville Item, updated at 4:30 pm, central time:

Item: Regents to Consider Maalouf Property Condemnation

The latest on the Maalouf property saga continues as noted in the August 13 Huntsville Item:

Item: Purchase or condemnation: SHSU wants $650,000 Maalouf property

The Huntsville Item reports (Aug. 11) that SHSU is threatening to condemn an abandoned Military Reserve Building on Sam Houston Avenue if the winning bidder, Tarek Maalouf of Maalouf Properties in Huntsville, does not agree to sell it the land:

Item: SHSU Declines Land Donation

The Item had a follow-up on July 12 to their earlier story (July 2) regarding property that would have been used for SHSU's ROTC program:

Item: City Council Awards Property Bid Despite SHSU Contention

A July 2 Item article says at the most recent Huntsville City Council meeting SHSU made a late attempt to stop the $650,000 purchase of the Army Reserve Building by Maalouf Properties, LLC, citing needs for expansion of the university’s Army ROTC and various veterans programs: