The house was off-campus. Do you still think they own it?
Team captains released a statement denying any sexual activity took place at the party March 13th in an off-campus home rented by several players.
Yes, the university bought several houses last year, I believe. Paid something like $3 mil for 12 houses, I think. I'll see if I can find the info.
Duke bought it in the fall with the specific intention of fixing it up and renting it to a family so as to avoid having students rent it. That was their strategy to reduce conflict with Trinity Park. The lax players had a prior lease for the current academic year which Duke honored. The funny thing is, by taking the houses nearest Duke off the student housing market they will only drive the rowdy students further off campus and into the community.
Duke buying off-campus housing
But the home is part of the deal. In all, Duke paid nearly $4 million for a dozen houses in the Trinity Park and Trinity Heights neighborhoods. The houses will be fixed up a bit and sold to families willing to invest in and live in the homes. They will no longer be rented by students.
“There have been some tensions between students who live in some of those properties and neighbors over large parties and noise and whatever else,” said Duke University Senior Vice President John F. Burness.
Neighbors say they're sick of loud parties, litter, and beer cans and will welcome new home owners into the community with open arms.
“Having those properties occupied by students has really degraded the properties,” said Jennifer Mannelli.