AUSTIN – The special task force charged with evaluating the uses of the land in Austin known as the “Brackenridge Tract” submitted its report and recommendations to The University of Texas System Board of Regents on Friday (Oct. 12) at a special called meeting in Austin.
Five hundred three acres of land along the Colorado River were donated in 1910 by Colonel George W. Brackenridge of San Antonio, a former UT System regent, for the benefit of The University of Texas at Austin. Since that time, some acreage was conveyed for streets and similar public purposes and for residential development. Today, the tract consists of approximately 345 acres of undeveloped and developed land that includes a municipal golf course, UT Austin student housing, a biological field laboratory for the campus, a youth sports complex, and various commercial buildings and enterprises on property leased from the board.
Over the years, the Board of Regents has arranged for periodic reviews of the tract’s utilization. The task force – announced last year by Regents’ Chairman James R. Huffines – held 13 meetings, nearly half of which were open to the public. The task force heard from a broad range of stakeholders – students, faculty, individual residents and interest groups – and from consultants who provided impartial information, expertise and evaluations of best uses for the tract.
“Given the significant changes in the City of Austin that have occurred and the time that has lapsed since the tract was last comprehensively reviewed in the late 1980s, the Board recognized the importance of revisiting its approach to fulfilling its legal and fiduciary responsibilities to UT Austin and Colonel Brackenridge’s wishes,” Task Force Chairman Larry E. Temple of Austin said. “The task force has worked diligently to meet the charge given to us by the Board of Regents while also taking the time necessary to hear from many groups and individuals who share a common interest in the future of this land. I believe the report and recommendations reflect this common interest, and it is an honor to submit it to the Board of Regents for its review and consideration.”
The Brackenridge Tract Task Force Report may be found online (PDF - large size)
“We are confident this report will provide the guidance necessary to outline the best uses of this irreplaceable university asset,” UT Austin President William Powers, Jr., said. “The university community is indebted to this task force for its tireless attention and work, and we are very grateful for its service.”
Following the formal presentation by Chairman Temple, Regents’ Chairman James R. Huffines praised the task force members for donating their time, expertise and energy to the project. “On behalf of the Board of Regents, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Chairman Temple and the distinguished members of the Brackenridge Tract Task Force,” Huffines said. “Their commitment to ensuring excellence in higher education and advancing the mission of UT Austin is clearly evident in this report. Furthermore, the task force’s findings and recommendations will be tremendously helpful as the Board moves forward to make decisions about the use of the Brackenridge Tract. The report will also be an important historical record for both The University of Texas System and UT Austin, and it is greatly appreciated.”
Huffines announced that the Board will accept public comments on the report at its next meeting on Nov. 9 at 1:30 p.m. – prior to discussion of the Task Force report and recommendations at a later meeting. Individuals interested in providing public comment to the Board of Regents should submit a request in writing by e-mail to bor@utsystem.edu or by mail to: Office of the Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, 201 W. 7th Street, Austin, Suite 820, Austin, Texas 78701. Written comments may also be provided.
The University of Texas System is one of the nation’s largest higher education systems, with nine academic campuses and six health institutions. The UT System has an annual operating budget of $10.7 billion (FY 2008) including $2.3 billion in research funded by federal, state, local and private sources. Student enrollment exceeded 190,000 in the 2006 academic year. The UT System confers more than one-third of the state's undergraduate degrees and educates nearly three-fourths of the state's health care professionals annually. With more than 80,000 employees, the UT System is one of the largest employers in the state.
