Spent $5 million to purchase 41 acre facility; anticipates spending $6 million to renovate; will operate its own sewer and water systems and supply adjacent 40 acres owned by developer with water and sewer when homes there are established
The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board expanded its footprint by 41 acres on the west side of Mingus Mountain when it unanimously approved the purchase of the Prescott Pines Christian camp from a developer at its April 23 Board meeting. This was the largest expansion of the College on that side of the County since it was created more than 50 years ago. The purchase price of the property is about $5 million. The Community College intends to immediately spend an additional $6 million to renovate some of the 66 buildings and improve the infrastructure.
According to the Community College press release, the primary purpose of the acquisition is to allow Yavapai College to address student and employee housing needs. The facility, opened in 1941, has 66 structures, 12 RV hookups, two large cafeterias, a large gymnasium-like activity center, and a chapel. There are 12 houses, and cabins plus lodges that will accommodate approximately 110 students and about 240 campers.
While the College has apparently closed on the sale of the property paying $5 million using reserve funds, the $6 million needed for immediate renovation is contingent on the Board approving a $16 million revenue bond at its May 2024 meeting.
The College does not anticipate the project becoming a place for low income housing.
The camp is located at 855 East School House Gulch Road, about seven miles from the Prescott based Campus on Sheldon Street.
If you want more details regarding this major expansion of the Community College on the west side of the County, please click here and you will find a 25 minute video clip prepared by the Blog of Governing Board members discussing the project prior to unanimous approval.
In addressing the budget for the upcoming fiscal 2024-25 academic year, Vice president Dr. Clint Ewell estimated the replacement cost of the current system to be approximately $1.5 million, with an additional annual expenditure of $400,000 to maintain operations to most likely begin in 2025-2026.
Yavapai Community College is entering the period of the year when it recognizes the major accomplishments of its students, faculty, staff and others. One of the first major events is an “Evening of Recognition” set for Tuesday, April 23, 2024 on the Prescott Campus.
Yavapai Community College announced in an April 15 press release that the top students in the Verde Valley’s and Prescott airport based Career and Technical Education Center’s workforce development programs were honored at an “Evening of Recognition” dinner and ceremony held April 12. The night’s highest honors, the Provost Award for Excellence and the President’s Award for Excellence went to George Smith and Joshua Nomland, respectively.
The Yavapai Community College District Governing Board will hold what is described as a “Study Session” and then a “Business Meeting” at the Yavapai Community College Prescott Campus on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m. and run until 4:00 p.m. It will be held at the Rock House on the Campus. The study session normally precedes the business meeting.
The “much and learn” free OLLI program on Thursday, April 18 at the Verde Valley Campus will feature Boston University Physics Professor Dr. Shri Srikanth, who will present, “A Guided Tour of Mars.” The program runs from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m., in room M-137 of YC’s Verde Valley Campus.