Trustees press administration on Toon property sale, space-use finding and state control

Trustees spent a sustained portion of the Sept. 11 meeting questioning administration and outside consultants about the potential sale or disposition of the John C. Toon Airport property and the legal steps required before a sale.

Trustees asked whether the university had formally determined the property was not needed for academic purposes and whether that determination had been memorialized in a space-utilization study or master plan amendment. One trustee said that, according to materials discussed the prior day, "the state of Tennessee could take the property for no value" if it is formally declared nonacademic — a concern trustees said warrants formal documentation. Administrators and planning staff responded that the space-utilization study and an independent review by Hyatt Brown informed the determination and that those materials have been provided to the board portal; Will Radford, assistant vice president for planning, said the property had been used for warehousing and technical training and was not part of TSU's recent academic footprint.

Administrators cited a market appraisal of $15.5 million and said proceeds from any sale would be limited to capital improvements rather than general operating funds. Trustees questioned negotiation strategy (negotiating only with the airport authority versus a competitive process), the timing of board review and whether additional legal opinions should be sought before further action. Will Radford said he recommended selling the property: "Without question," he said, explaining the space-utilization findings.

Why it matters: If the property is sold, proceeds are intended for capital uses (housing, deferred maintenance) but trustees said they need clarity on formal academic-use determinations, the appraisal basis and potential state actions that could affect TSU's ability to monetize the asset.