The University of North Texas will work in the coming weeks to buy the Sack & Save grocery store at 1500 N. Interstate 35E to make way for a community services complex, officials said Thursday.
The Board of Regents voted to acquire the property after an executive session on Thursday. If a deal is not reached with the building owner, the university was given authority by the board to use eminent domain to acquire the building. The space would then be repurposed to house university departments and offices displaced by ongoing highway construction, as well as construction projects on campus such as the new student union.
The board authorized UNT System Chancellor Lee Jackson, or his designee, to move forward with the acquisition immediately. Jackson said he has been in talks with the property owner for a few weeks and hopes this will begin the formal negotiation process.
“We do have a pressing need for facilities during the highway reconstruction process and into the long term right at the mouth of our campus and the face of our campus,” Jackson said. “I think it will happen pretty quickly now, and it will come to a closure either through our discussion, or through the state law-provided eminent domain process.”
Gary Shelton, who owns Sack & Save but not the building, said he had not heard about the proceedings, nor had his landlord’s secretary. According to Denton Central Appraisal District records, the property is owned by “IGA Foodliners.” A call to the listed address was not returned.
Shelton provided the number for Remington Partners in Dallas, saying it was the number for the landlord. Calls to the number were not returned.
The Texas Department of Transportation is already looking at acquiring a portion of the property for the highway expansion project, both Jackson and Shelton said.
According to the appraisal district, the property hasn’t undergone any physical improvements in more than 10 years. From 2011 to 2012, appraisers dropped the property’s value from $1.2 million to $580,376. It has been appraised at that value ever since.
Jackson said he and other officials wanted to start the process before the highway expansion began to impact the area.
“We do need to bring it to a close since all those properties up and down the retail area are being affected by the highway expansion, and after the highway gets through with its acquisition other new owners may come, these properties may be sold and whole new uses planned,” he said. “So since we have an immediate, defined need, we want to get that resolved before the other decisions are made.”
Jackson said he hopes to reach a mutually agreed-upon deal in the coming weeks. If one isn’t reached, though, the university will begin the process of eminent domain. That would most likely lead to a hearing of special-appointed property commissioners for a hearing. At that point, sales are normally reached, Jackson said.
“It tends to bring parties together because it has such a tight timeline,” Jackson said. “When you know you’re going to a commission hearing, both sides get really serious and know it’s going to get resolved.”
Also at the Board of Regents meeting, the regents voted for the university to purchase another property. The university will buy a small home at 911 Maple St. for $53,000 plus closing costs. This property is adjacent to Fraternity Row, and sits on 0.18 acres.
JENNA DUNCAN can be reached at 940-566-6889 and via Twitter at @JennaFDuncan.
