OSU to Demolish 18% of Buckeye Village for New 3,700 Seat Arena

Ohio State University has decided to demolish part of Buckeye Village to replace it with an athletic center, according to an OSU press release.

“The facility will be built east of Fred Taylor Drive and combined with the Jennings Family Wrestling Practice Facility to achieve efficiency in design and construction. It will seat approximately 3,700 spectators and will serve as the home for men’s and women’s varsity volleyball teams and include home and visiting locker rooms for the competition. It will be the home competition site for men’s and women’s fencing and gymnastics and men’s wrestling. Trustees approved professional services and construction contracts totaling $49.7 million, to be provided by development funds.”

But it’s not empty units they’re demolishing — these are units slated for married couples, many of whom are attending grad school while managing a family.

Trustees voted last Friday to replace the 50 demolished units (or 18% of Buckeye Village) with the Covelli Multi-Sport Arena. They’ll be letting students out of leases early if they fear disruption from the construction, but no plans to replace the units or provide alternate housing for grad student families has been announced.

The Covelli Arena will be a nearly $50 million project and will seat approx. 3700 spectators according to an OSU press release. 

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