Washburn University plans to use $1M gift to build new presidential mansion next to campus

Washburn University plans for its next president to live in a new mansion, to be built across the street from the northwest corner of its campus.

An anonymous donor contributed $1 million to arrange for the new presidential residence to be constructed at the proposed site at 1709 S.W. MacVicar Ave., the Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation announced Tuesday.

The location is a "perfect fit" for Washburn, said Marshall Meek, president of the Washburn University Alumni Association and Foundation.

"There are a lot of people out there, anonymous or otherwise, who care very deeply about Washburn University, and I think this donor saw an opportunity to make a real impact."

Washburn was known largely as a commuter school when current President Jerry Farley became its president in 1997.

More: Marshall Meek will be Washburn University's interim president after Jerry Farley retires

But Washburn over the past two decades has transformed into a "bustling residential campus," making it increasingly fitting for the president to live closer to campus, Meek said.

"The university has become more of a residential campus over the years, and this idea of having the residence in very close proximity for entertaining students, donors and the alumni community is something I think will enhance the overall experience at Washburn," Meek said.

Meek will become Washburn's interim president when Farley retires Sept. 30. The Washburn Board of Regents is in the process of finding a permanent president, who would live in the mansion.

Farley's separation agreement calls for he and his wife, Susan Farley, to continue to live for five years after his resignation in Washburn's current presidential mansion at 3130 S.W. Shadow Lane in west Topeka's Westboro community. That building has been owned by Washburn since it was donated to the university in 1970.

More: Jerry Farley's $762K exit agreement includes presidential house, country club dues, statue

Meek, who is already preparing to become the interim come Oct. 1 by meeting with campus stakeholder groups, said he knows he has big shoes to fill, but he will focus on creating an atmosphere of stability while the Regents find and hire the next permanent president. He will not pursue a permanent presidency, Meek said.

'Full-acre lot with mature trees'

The planned presidential mansion site was described as a "beautiful full-acre lot with mature trees" by Shelly Buhler, chairwoman of the Washburn Board of Regents.

“It is the ideal location for a presidential residence directly across the street from the main campus,” she said in Tuesday's news release. “We are grateful to the donor who is making this vision a reality for us as we transition to a new leader.”

More: Jerry Farley and Washburn University have been together for a generation. What comes next?

Tuesday's announcement marks the beginning of planning for the new residence, and much of that process will be decided by the Washburn Regents and handled by university administration, Meek said, and he hopes the next permanent president can be a part of those conversations.

It's still too early to put a timeline to any construction, but Meek said he imagines the end product will be something that complements the rest of the west campus neighborhood.

"We haven't engaged an architect, so we don't have an idea (of what it will look like) yet, but I think it will be important to be aware of what is across the street on the campus," he said. "I also think it will be important to be aware of what is up and down that street and around the neighborhood.

"This neighborhood has a certain flavor, and the campus has a certain flabor, and we will want to bring the two together and make something the whole community can be proud of," he added.

Former house at the site was razed

The Washburn University Foundation last year bought the property at 1709 S.W. MacVicar Ave. and gifted it to the university, Meek said.

Tuesday's announcement of the gift will allow the university to begin the planning process, it said.

Washburn University has owned the property involved since Nov. 5, according to the website of the Shawnee County Appraiser's Office.

The property formerly was the site of a house, and had an assessed valuation of $146,140, that website said. It included a photo of the property taken last May showing the recently razed residence in the background.

Tim Hrenchir can be reached at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Washburn to use $1 million donation to build new presidential mansion