Durham, N.C. — North Carolina Central University's Board of Trustees voted unanimously Wednesday to expand the school's campus to accommodate an increasing student population.
The move was called hasty by some residents who oppose the plan to add 25 acres to the Durham campus.
"There was absolutely no discussion," Larry Hester said. "It was a unanimous vote, which meant that anything we did was not going to make a difference."
About 8,300 students are enrolled for the academic year at NCCU. The university expects that number to increase by more than 5,000 by 2017.
The plan will be implemented in phases over the next 10 years and will add more than two dozen buildings, including on-campus housing, academic buildings and an athletic complex.
It also requires the university must buy more than 100 private properties surrounding the northern part of campus, and that's why some residents are opposed.
Some say they don't want to leave their homes; others think the expansion will hurt historic neighborhoods. They want the university to consider less-populated areas that are not adjacent to campus.
"I'm not happy with what North Carolina Central is doing," resident Heshima Du Ewa said Wednesday. "You can find other places to build."
The university delayed voting on the plan in February and held four public hearings on the matter.
NCCU Chancellor Charlie Nelms said that ultimately, the decision was in the best interest of students and to allow the university grow.
"We're not interested in acquiring property just for the sake of acquiring property – only those properties needed to enable us to fulfill our mission," he said.
The university will begin meeting with architects to start the first phase of expansion. It must also formally request funding from the General Assembly to acquire land.
Because NCCU is a state-run institution, the state will negotiate deals with the 136 homeowners, and if needed, invoke eminent domain.
Opponents say they will continue fighting the expansion.
"We will be pursuing this with the Board of Governors, every elected official that we can rally," said Carolyn Greenboone, whose great-grandfather, James Shepard, founded the school. "And we will seek further discussion on this matter, even though you hastily rushed into a vote."
Trustees Approve NCCU Expansion Plan
- Reporter: Erin Coleman
- Photographer: Edward Wilson
- Web Editor: Kelly Gardner
25 Comments
-
- Moisture remains in weekend forecast
Posted at 1:33 p.m. - Flooding, downed trees Hanna's 'legacy'
Updated 11 minutes ago |
- Hanna's winds whip N.C. coast
Updated at 2:23 p.m. - Blog: Hurricane Hanna updates
Latest post: 41 minutes ago - Smithfield woman pleads guilty to killing boyfriend
Posted Sep. 5 9:49 p.m.
- Moisture remains in weekend forecast
- Most Viewed Slideshows
- Images of Hanna
Updated at 1:56 p.m. - Images of Sarah Palin & her family
Sep. 4, 2008 - The week in entertainment photos
Posted at 1:43 a.m.
- Images of Hanna
-
10 questions with Crime Reporter Amanda LambWRAL Crime Reporter Amanda Lamb answers your questions about crime scenes, murder cases and much more.
-
10 questions with Wake school board memberEleanor Goettee answers your questions about teacher pay, year-round schools ...
-
10 questions with Cary EMS Chief Steve CohenSteve Cohen answers your questions about saving lives and what to do in emergency situations.
(15 votes) granville mom disappears, house catches fire
(4 votes) hanna makes landfall
(4 votes) suspect in fatal hit-and-run surrenders
(2 votes) cary investigating woman's death
-
Tracking HannaMeteorologists have been tracking Hanna, which has been a tropical storm and a hurricane.
-
Raleigh Convention Center InteractiveThe Grand Opening of the new Raleigh Convention Center is Sept. 5 and 6.
-
Campaign Trail Photos of the WeekView photos from the past week on the campaign trail from AP photographers around the country.
-
N.C. Drought Maps Time Lapse AnimationView a time lapse animation of drought conditions since April of 2007.
-
The week in entertainment photosA look at the top entertainment stories of the week through the lenses of Associated Press photographers.



STORIES
VIDEOS
SLIDESHOWS





Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.
You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.