Hunter
08/26/21
Representatives with the University of Iowa met with residents of the Manville Heights neighborhood Wednesday to discuss a potential development of the former Hawkeye Marching Band practice field. The band hasn’t used the field since 2014.
The school has been charged by state Board of Regents to look at new money-making ventures, including selling off or developing property it owns away from the central campus. The 7.8 acres of land located on Park Road includes the former practice field, the former Parklawn residence hall and a plot of land west of Ferson Avene.
The Daily Iowan reports that neighborhood residents told UI Senior Vice President for Finance and Operations Rod Lehnertz that they’re not thrilled with the idea of the field being developed. They asked how much green space would remain, what kind of traffic might be generated from a development, and how upfront any developer would be with their neighbors.
Lehnertz called the neighborhood “important,” adding that the university wants to work together with residents to find a middle ground. UI Business Manager of Campus Planning and Development David Kieft also encouraged residents to voice their concerns directly to the Board of Regents.
The UI will be getting proposals from third-party architects or development teams sometime in mid-September.