Statement From Texas A&M University on Why They are Elbowing Out the Elbow Room

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Elbow Room
by Cody Neathery
Special Contributor

Texas A&M University has released a statement explaining why they may be seeking eminent domain (as a last resort) to elbow out The Elbow Room: to protect the taxpayers of Texas and help eliminate the shortage of dental care providers in the state… yeah, there is a shortage, they say:

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY STATEMENT REGARDING COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY EMINENT DOMAIN

As a public institution, we are committed to serving Texans and making judicious use of the money we receive from taxpayers. This has been our guiding philosophy throughout our negotiations regarding the property currently occupied by the Elbow Room.

The expansion of our dental school, which was approved by the Legislature in 2015, will enable us to better serve Texans, especially those in need, in the Dallas region and beyond. As a result of these new facilities, our capacity for patient visits, which currently number approximately 100,000 per year, is expected to increase by up to 40 percent. Additionally, there is a shortage of dental health care providers in the state of Texas. Our goal in increasing the dental school’s enrollment is to train more dentists while maintaining our position as the nation’s most diverse dental school, so that we can close the dental health care gap and ensure that Texas residents have access to the best and brightest oral health professionals in their own communities throughout the state.

In January, conscious of the importance of protecting the taxpayers who support us, we began negotiations with the property owner. We believed and continue to believe that an offer of fair market value would be fair to the property owner and consistent with our obligations to Texans.

The appraiser chosen by the property owner actually came in lower than our appraiser’s value. We offered to pay the higher of the two. Unfortunately, our offer was not accepted.

When the property owner demanded significantly more than the appraisals could justify, we were duty-bound to reluctantly explore eminent domain, a last resort option.

As for the tenants who operate the Elbow Room under a lease, we recognize that this puts them in a difficult position and have offered to pay reasonable relocation expenses should they decide to move their bar. In addition, we have promised to give them adequate notice before any move would be necessary.

As this matter moves through the legal process, it is important not to lose sight of the public need and the public good that can be accomplished with the expansion of the dental school. Thousands of Texans will benefit for generations to come.

Thank you.

 

 

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6 Comments

  1. Jon Anderson on July 28, 2016 at 6:54 pm

    So to protect Texas teeth, A&M doesn’t feel it has to pay a premium to force an owner to sell at their price, they’ll get the government to force the land owner to sell up. NICE. Imagine if that was how residential real estate worked? “Knock-knock, I want to buy your house for $X.” “No?” “Well, I’ll petition the state to force you to take my price” Because there is no where else in the Metroplex that could house their dental school? Puh-lese!

    As for the Elbow Room, A&M should pay at the very least a cancellation fee equal to the remainder of their 20-year lease. Or, if everything is so “market value” they could offer to purchase a plot of land of similar size and relocate the bar (lock, stock and Elbow).

    • Candy Evans on July 28, 2016 at 11:01 pm

      The dental profession is highly lucrative and attractive now compared to medicine due to the constraints of managed care etc. There are dental clinics on every corner. I have been offered so many free whitenings I could be glowing. And don’t even get me started on the medicaid fraud that has been perpetuated on the children of this state by SOME dentists and taxpayers footed the bill. Yes, SOME dentists. That’s all I’m going to say…

  2. Bob Stoller on July 29, 2016 at 12:34 am

    Drive around Baylorville and see how much open space there is within shouting distance of the present dental school. Most of the land adjacent to the hospital and dental buildings is owned either by Baylor or the Texas A&M System. Much of it is open space, parking, or parking structures. Why is it necessary to purchase (or condemn) more private land when that open space, parking, or parking structure land could be utilized for this expansion. Just build on that land and incorporate the lost parking into the new structure.

  3. Keith on July 29, 2016 at 9:14 am

    you must sell at a price we like or we are “duty-bound” to use our legal army to steamroll you.

    the silence from our elected officials is deafening.

  4. Gmit on July 29, 2016 at 10:27 am

    Sounds closer to an actual legit use of eminent domain use, than say…. tearing down homes for a professional football stadium. The State of Texas has gotten way off track of the actual intentions of eminent domain.

    This dental school will not become public space or right of way, these “schools” have gotten extremely competitive with each other and they are driven by growth and money just as private business. U of T, UNT or someone else must be proposing a dental school around the corner

  5. Really? on September 5, 2017 at 1:37 pm

    Baylor is just being BAYLOR! If there was such a shortage of space, wouldn’t you use our State of Texas “tax dollars” to ensure the new “dental school” was housed in the brand new facility that was built across from the main hospital less than a year ago instead of leasing it to Potbelly, Plains Capital Bank and Grabba Green? (not to mention they forced out Metro Diner in 2011 after being in business in the same location 42yrs.) I’m actually shocked the city has allowed Baylor to demolish the building as most of those structures are historical to Deep Ellum….But then again….Look what’s happened to Farmers Market.

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