APSU shares proposed plans for newly-acquired property

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University (APSU) announces that the school will have access to the Jenkins and Wynne property as soon as April of this year.

Don Jenkins wanted to give APSU the first opportunity to obtain property and held off on accepting offers from others.

During a press conference Wednesday, Feb. 10 he reminisced on his time in Clarksville and spoke about how his love for APSU has only grown over the years.

The property is about 10.75 acres that includes five buildings totaling about 90,000 square feet. Eighty-one percent of the property is parking and will be used for student, faculty or staff when the property is released to the university. The university expects parking to be accessible before the buildings are available.

The ideas discussed at the unveiling are not finalized because the mass planning process has not started yet. The university is currently looking for donors who will support the growth and development of the new property.

Mitch Roberson, Vice President for Finance and Administration, and Derek van der Merwe, Vice President for Advancement, Communication and Strategic Initiatives, spoke on the proposed plans for the property.

The short term plans for the use of the buildings will be determined by the space allocation committee and the long term use for the buildings will be determined by the master planning committee.

Austin Peay wants to create a campus identity on College Street with landscaping and an extended quad. Another objective for the university is to have a gateway to the campus so that Austin Peay stands out in the community.

The long term plans are laid out in three sections: academic, social, and community. The university is hoping to forge partnerships with the downtown community to make the proposed social plans successful.

“What we are able to offer with the new property will increase our contribution to the economy,” President White said.

In addition to the new property, APSU plans to add five bachelor programs, nine master degrees and three doctoral programs.