The demolition of buildings along State and Chestnut Street is under way to make room for WKU’s new Academic Complex.
WKU plans to remove roughly 20 buildings to make room for the new building, according to documents obtained by the Herald in October. The Chinese Language Immersion House, Zuheir Sofia-Dero Downing Building and the Restaurant and Food Services building were torn down along with other structures in between Kiss Me Quick Avenue and the Environmental Science & Technology Building.
Chief Facilities Officer Bryan Russell said in an email there is “consideration being given to proceeding with the demolition of a couple of additional properties on the opposite side of Kiss Me Quick Avenue that are vacant to further clean up the area.”
Russell said WKU is involved in litigation and negotiation to gain ownership of some buildings that were planned to be demolished. In October, the university filed eminent domain against six properties along State and Chestnut Streets.
The properties include:
- 1546 State St., owned by Skye Properties LLC
- 1544 State St., owned by Skye Properties LLC
- 1546-16 State St., owned by Skye Properties LLC
- 1548 State St., owned by Skye Properties LLC
- 1550 State St., owned by Skye Properties LLC
- 1543 Chestnut St., owned by GWP-I LLC
The campus greenhouses have also been fenced off for demolition, and Russell said “Academic Affairs is continuing discussions regarding the greenhouses, and PDC (Planning, Design and Construction) remains in a holding pattern pending further direction.”
