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ACC Announces Contract for Land in North Hays County, Bringing Total Land Acquisitions to $35 MillionPosted 06/29/201096 acres under contract in the Plum Creek area
AUSTIN, Texas (June 29, 2010) – The Austin Community College District announces it has entered into a contract for the purchase of approximately 96 acres in Kyle, as Hays CISD voters consider joining the ACC District. The land is located in the Plum Creek area, near the intersection of Kohlers Crossing and Kyle Parkway (FM 1626). The property is adjacent to a future commuter rail line. The cost was $9.84 million; the seller is Mountain Plum, LTD. “North Hays County is a rapidly growing area, and ACC’s Master Plan calls for building a campus in that community to expand higher education and training opportunities,” says Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow, ACC president/CEO. “Acquiring that land now is a good investment for the future.” The North Hays purchase is the last real estate negotiation among recent land-banking efforts, totaling approximately $35.4 million. In addition to the Kyle property, that sum includes land in Bastrop, Elgin, Leander, north central Austin, and San Marcos. ACC has been undertaking land-banking as a proactive strategy to address growth needs within the college’s 7,000-square mile, eight-county service area. ACC’s Master Plan calls for campuses to be constructed in Bastrop, Elgin, San Marcos, and the north Hays County area, subject to successful annexation votes in those communities. Bastrop ISD, Elgin ISD, McDade ISD, Hays CISD, and San Marcos CISD are all currently considering joining the ACC taxing district. Only registered voters within each area will be eligible to vote in their community’s election this November. The Master Plan also includes the future construction of a campus in Leander, which is already part of the ACC taxing district. Other areas in the taxing district include the city of Austin and the Austin, Manor, Del Valle, and Round Rock independent school districts. Recent purchases and contracts were announced via press releases which stated the purchase prices for all properties would be released after the final negotiation to ensure the best fiscal bargaining position for ACC. “We firmly believe the college saved a significant amount of money by waiting to release the prices until the negotiations were complete,” Kinslow says. “Our chief concern is always to be good stewards of public funds.” The locations, prices, and announcement dates of ACC’s recent land acquisitions are as follows.
ACC also has an existing agreement for land in San Marcos contingent upon a successful annexation effort. The property consists of approximately 72 acres near SH 123 and includes a partial donation of 51 acres. The approximate selling price is expected to be $2.3 million, based on fair market value. “As changing demographics and increasing demand for workforce degrees and certificates drive dramatic enrollment increases, community colleges are more vital than ever,” says Kinslow. “ACC must proactively plan for the future in order to continue meeting the vast and growing educational needs of the region we serve.” ### About the Austin Community College District (austincc.edu): ACC, Central Texas’ community college, is the primary gateway to higher education and career training for residents in eight counties. The college provides access to affordable, quality education. ACC enrolls more than 40,000 credit students, offering university transfer courses, two-year associate degrees, certificates, Early College Start, access programs that get students “college-ready,” and continuing education. At ACC you can “Start here. Get there.” |
