[1]WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP)–Construction is set to begin by mid-November on two seminary housing projects following action taken by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s board of trustees Oct. 14.
Trustees finalized plans for construction of nearly 200 seminary housing units to be built within about a two-mile radius of the seminary’s Wake Forest, N.C., campus.
A 76-unit apartment complex, called Fletcher Village, named after Paul Fletcher, Southeastern’s vice president of administration, will be built off Stadium Drive, west of Richland Creek. Plans call for building 69 two-bedroom units and seven three-bedroom units. The new housing units are scheduled to be completed and ready for lease by fall 1998.
Trustees voted to request approval from the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee to acquire a $2.65 million loan needed to complete the funding of the planned Fletcher Village. The seminary has already secured a $2.3 million loan to finance the project’s first phase of construction.
In another development, trustees approved the purchase of a three-acre tract adjacent to the planned Fletcher Village at a cost of $190,000 to be financed over the next 15 years. Southeastern officials said the seminary purchased the property for future expansion of Fletcher Village where 25 more units could eventually be built.
Construction on another 100-unit complex is also scheduled to begin by mid- November off White Street about a mile from the seminary campus. Construction plans call for 60 two-bedroom units and 40 three-bedroom units.
In other business, trustees expressed appreciation to Richard and Gina Headrick of Centennial, Wyo., for donating $250,000 to Southeastern. The Headricks are members of the seminary’s board of visitors.
Trustees honored Southeastern President Paige Patterson and his wife, Dorothy, in recognition of their five years of service to the seminary. Since the Pattersons’ arrival at Southeastern in 1992, student enrollment has increased by more than 115 percent and several new degree programs have been added, as well as a college program and a doctoral program.
Five newly elected trustees were introduced: Jimmie R. Herring of Bastrop, La.; Philip T. Mercer of Columbia, Md.; Jim E. Merritt of Easley, S.C.; Roy P. Taylor of Elon College, N.C.; and Gerald G. Wessels Jr. of Louisville, Colo.
Trustees also elected Jerre L. Brannen of Gainesville, Fla., to serve as vice chairman and Jimmy R. Jacumin of Icard, N.C., to serve as treasurer. Dale Thompson of Fort Smith, Ark., and Charlie W. Waller of Warrenton, Va., were re-elected to serve as chairman and secretary respectively.
Bobbie Horton of Simpsonville, S.C., wife of the late Southeastern trustee W. Gregory Horton, was presented a gift in recognition of her husband’s service on the board of trustees. Greg Horton served as a trustee from 1993 until his death Feb. 18 following surgery to remove a cancerous growth from his esophagus.