University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe is moving out of his on-campus mansion after about $88,000 worth in damages was discovered.
The 12,630-square-foot home, Providence Point, has housed UM System presidents since 1971. When preparing the home for the new president, UM workers uncovered immediate issues that needed to be addressed, said Nikki Krawitz, UM System Vice President of Finance and Administration, in a news release.
“(Issues included) the presence of mold as a result of previously unidentified leaks in several rooms; asbestos in the subflooring and on the walls as a joint filler; and code compliance issues for the fireplace, electrical system and stairwell baluster,” Krawitz said.
Though the $88,000 estimate was more than originally anticipated, grant funds or earnings from investment income will cover all costs, Krawitz said. Tuition revenue or state appropriations will not be used for the renovations.
“There are the initial issues, which are in the process of being addressed,” UM System spokeswoman Jennifer Hollingshead said. “There is also other work that has been put on hold, as the university thinks about the long-term use of the house.”
Options currently on the table for Providence Point include keeping it as the UM System president’s home or turning it into an event center or temporary housing for out-of-town guests traveling to do business with the university, Hollingshead said.
“Nothing has been taken off the table yet,” Hollingshead said. “The university has to decide the most fiscally responsible use.”
The university has long been committed to being fiscally responsible, said Board of Curators chairman David Bradley in the release.
“The university’s facilities department has identified a host of issues that need to be addressed, the extent of which will be determined by the university’s long-term plan for Providence Point, including whether to limit the overall scope of work to just make the structure functional as a place for official events, or do a more full-scale renovation so it can serve as a suitable residence for a university president,” Bradley said.
Work anticipated in the future would include exterior work to the roof, windows, doors and siding, repaving of the asphalt drive and barking areas, and updates to the bathrooms and kitchen, Krawitz said.
Though Wolfe is currently living at Providence Point, he will be provided temporary housing according to the terms of his contract, according to the release.
“If the university decides to keep the structure as a residency, Wolfe and his family have every intention of moving back,” Hollingshead said.
Wolfe’s eight predecessors have lived in the home, which now has a facility replacement value of $2.2 million, according to the release. Providence Point was expanded in 1984 and now has four bedrooms, eight bathrooms, offices, an exercise room and an outdoor swimming pool. The master bath and kitchen are the only rooms that have been renovated since its original construction.
Hollingshead said there is not yet a definite timeline for when the immediate renovations will be complete.
