University Of Texas Cancels Houston Expansion Plan

In what must be seen as a major setback, The University of Texas System announced today that is would no longer pursue plans to establish a 300-acre campus in Houston.

Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Chancellor William McRaven conceded defeat and took responsibility for the decision.

"I was not able to develop a shared vision," McRaven said. "I wasn't able to get the stakeholders necessary to move forward."

“I also offer my deepest apology to those members of the Houston Task Force who selflessly dedicated countless hours to develop a bold vision for the future of UT’s investment in Houston," McRaven wrote in a memo to Paul Foster, the chairman of the UT Board of Regents. "I am incredibly appreciative for their support and friendship throughout this process. While we will not implement this plan in Houston, I am confident that some of the great ideas that emerged from the Task Force will be worth considering on other UT campuses."

The system announced its plans in 2015, when it approved the purchase of more than 300 acres about 4 miles from the Texas Medical Center. According to reports, the property acquisition was expected to cost nearly $215 million.

The plan had from the onset been controversial, and received criticism and pushback from University of Houston officials and various lawmakers.

"My greatest concern regarding the UT land deal has always been about the nontransparent method by which the land was acquired and by the system's inconsistent explanations for how the land was to be used," Sen. Borris Miles, whose district includes the property on which UT had planned its campus, said in a statement on Wednesday. "I am encouraged that UT listened to the voices of concern and decided to pull the plug on proceeding with the Houston development. I understand UT will now sell the land gradually to an entity or entities that will bring economic development and jobs to the surrounding community."

It is expected that the UT System will sell the land.