UA declines to condemn 6th St. home, will negotiate with owner

By Charles Ratliff
Arizona Daily Wildcat
March 29, 1996

The university decided yesterday not to initiate condemnation action against Sixth Street homeowner William Kennedy.

"He sent us a letter (Wednesday) from his lawyer stating that he is willing to sit down and negotiate," said Bruce Wright, the University of Arizona's senior officer for economic development and community affairs.

Some final details concerning the appraisal on Kennedy's house and the life estate agreement still have to be worked out, he said.

Wright called the letter a "positive step forward" and said Kennedy's willingness to talk will halt condemnation action for now.

The UA had given Kennedy, who lives at 835 East Sixth Street, until Wednesday to accept its $80,000 offer for the property or face eminent domain action. Eminent domain gives the university the power to condemn property so it can expand campus boundaries.

Wright said that if the negotiations move as planned, the UA can begin construction on the parking lot as early as this summer. The Kennedy house will remain standing during the lot's construction.

"We will have to design the parking lot around the house so that it is suitable to both the university and the Kennedys," Wright said.

Once the UA acquires the property, Kennedy and his wife will live in the house under a life estate agreement approved by the Arizona Board of Regents in January.

Kennedy asked the regents to clarify the term "life estate" last week during their meeting at the UA. He said he had consulted a lawyer and discovered the life estate was for him only and did not include his wife.

Kennedy could not be reached for comment.

"We've tried to work with him - give him as much leeway as possible," said Mercy Valencia, director of space management.

Valencia said once an agreement is reached the property will move into escrow and the UA will go through a title company to obtain a transfer of sale.

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