WINONA, Minn. – Winona State University has cleared another hurdle in expanding its row of dorms on Mark Street along the Canadian Pacific mainline. The acquisition: Two privately owned mini-dorms in the 100 block of West Mark — across from the McCown Gym parking lot. The mini-dorms, both inexensively built wood-frame structures, will be razed to make room for a new five-story freshman dorm. The project is part of a university strategy to shut down aging dorms on Hoff Street and shift student housing to the south side of campus on the Mark Street strip. The purchase was by the WSU Foundation, a corporately separate but operationally functional part of the university. Records showed the WSU Foundation paid top dollar for the new properties –$2.2 million. Their appraised value: $1.6 million. Their estimated market value: $904,800. There were no tax-raised dollars involved. The Foundation is a private fund-raising organization with its own resources.
Seller’s market. Needful of the land for a new 320-student dorm, the WSU Foundation paid $2.6 million for these privately owned mini-dorms. Image: Steve Lunde
New WSU properties. Between the campus heting lant and the pedestrian tunnel under the double-track Canadian Paciigc linking the main campus with the football stadium. The red line marks Main Street. The yellow lots on West Mark Street ae the atest WSU acquisitions that will be razed for a new five-story dorm. Parallel and south of Mark, the Canadian Pacific railroad cuts right to left between the main campus and the Warrior football field.
21st century style. Designed to attract today’s college students.No dark central central halls with gang bathrooms at the end of hall. Suites each with a common area and its own baths. WSU sees this as an essential element in reversing enrollment declines.
An eye to future
Just down the street from the new Mark Street acquisitions, is the old Milwaukee railroad freighthouse, which the WSU Foundation bought un September. Except for another mini-dorm and a barbershop, the university now controls a six-block stretch on West Mark – almost all the way from Huff Street to Lafayette Street. This includes the campus heating lant and what can be called Dorm Row.
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