OU announced Thursday it would not build new student apartments at the Yorkshire Apartment complex, a move neighborhood homeowners call good news.
OU President David L. Boren said in a press release he made the decision because many in the nearby housing addition were opposed to it.
"While we felt that our proposal was a good and reasonable one, we have decided to withdraw it as another affirmation of our commitment to the total community," Boren said.
The Broad Acres Home Owners' Association wrote letters to the university and hired attorney Stan Ward to represent them.
Yorkshire Apartments, 2730 S. Chautauqua Ave., is aging, and OU has been trying to build a new, bigger complex in its place, Ward said. The new complex would have included a section of disputed, undeveloped land to the north of the Yorkshire Apartments.
The city of Norman has a protective covenant dating back several decades that prevents that land from being used for anything other than single-family homes, Ward said. The covenant can only be overturned by a majority vote of Broad Acres residents, which wouldn't happen, he said.
Ward said the only other way OU could have broken the covenant was by bringing the issue to court and using imminent domain.
"I think OU has made a terrifically good decision," homeowner Dave Smeal said.
Neighborhood resident Mike Gentry said this shows what people can do when they band together to save their homes.
"It gets stuff done," Gentry said. "It's been a long fight, and it's unbelievable that we've won."
Resident Marge Liesenfeld said the decision was the will of all her neighbors.
"We're all greatly appreciative," Liesenfeld said. "It really reaffirms my faith in the university to listen to citizens' concerns."
Boren said OU has worked very hard to protect the quality of the neighboring community.
"We have tried to demonstrate over and over again that we want to be fair to our neighbors," Boren said.
Mayor Ron Henderson said he is glad the issue has been resolved without a long conflict.
"OU is really trying to be sympathetic to people in the neighborhood," Henderson said. "I applaud their efforts to work with the neighborhood."
Boren said there is still a huge demand for more student housing, and he isn't sure where it will be built. It is too early to tell whether upgrades will be made to the Yorkshire complex. He said OU should have a final decision on the project in a few weeks.
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