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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

U. of C. agrees to sell historic Yerkes Observatory site to N.Y. developer for $8 million

Published June 7, 2006, 8:54 PM CDT


Ending years of hand-wringing over what to do with a glorious part of its history that had become obsolete, the University of Chicago on Wednesday announced a contingency-filled plan to sell its historic Yerkes Observatory.

The deal with a New York developer would provide more than $8 million to the university while safeguarding the future of the century-old stargazing center along Lake Geneva in southern Wisconsin, U. of C. officials said.

But the transaction depends on a small lakefront village overcoming local opposition and establishing a special exposition district to take over the one-time research hub.

The village of Williams Bay, Wis., already is preparing for hearings on the proposal, which calls for a luxury resort and dozens of homes to be built on the property. President Don Weyhrauch predicted that public review will take at least a year.

"It's not going to be cut and dried," he warned.

The university's decision to put Yerkes on the block last year touched off an outpouring of concern among residents opposed to large-scale development around the lake. It also worried astronomy buffs who regard Yerkes as something of a shrine, where Edwin Hubble and other giants of science once plied their trade.

The University of Chicago needs to sell Yerkes to redirect resources into teaching and cutting-edge research, said President Don Randel.

"Modern astronomy long ago moved on, and the university needs to stay focused on what we do best, which is advancing the frontiers of knowledge," he said.

Proceeds from the sale will help fund a new building on the Hyde Park campus to house the university's astronomy department, and pay for research using state-of-the-art telescopes far from population centers. Yerkes' famed 40-inch refracting telescope dates from the late Victorian age, and its use is hampered by the relatively cloudy and light-polluted skies over southern Wisconsin.

While Yerkes has been obsolete for years, the university's Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics has long debated what to do with it, said Angela Olinto, department head. "It's taken decades," she said. "People have been talking about this since the '70s."

As it considered its options, the university struggled to balance competing interests, said Hank Webber, vice president for community and government affairs.

"This is really a hard problem," he said. "There will be people who say, 'I wish it was the way it was.' If we did that, it would raise questions about whether we're being responsible as a university."

Mirbeau Cos.' plans call for a luxurious 100-room spa and 72 new homes on a portion of the 79-acre property. That would provide tax revenue needed to maintain the castle-like Yerkes structure and some 30 acres of park-like grounds immediately surrounding it, which would go to the village.


More here: www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-060607yerkes-observatory,1,3075954.story?track=rss

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I think it's a very bad move, and putting the fate into the hands of a profit based developer and the surrounding citizens may prove it's doom.

Yerkes Oberservatory...Soon to be auctioned off at Ebay... #shootme#

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Sky and Telescope is on this story already...

skyandtelescope.com/news/article_1738_1.asp

June 7, 2006 | The University of Chicago has reached an $8 million sale
agreement with a private developer to preserve the venerable Yerkes
Observatory, one of the world's great astronomical landmarks. Under the terms
of the agreement, Mirbeau Companies of Skaneateles, New York, will develop 45
acres of land around the historic observatory, but the observatory's three
major telescopes will continue to be used for research and education.

Faced with the observatory's low level of scientific productivity and
$300,000 annual maintenance costs, the University of Chicago has been
entertaining offers for several years. Mirbeau's owners, Gary and Linda
Dower, offered a reported $10 million to purchase the facility and
surrounding land in 2004. In October 2005, Illinois-based Aurora University
offered $4.5 million for the observatory.

The university has decided to accept the Mirbeau offer largely because the
tax revenue can support the observatory. The agreement allows the company to
build a 100-room inn and 70 to 75 small houses adjacent to the observatory.
But the deal also preserves the observatory itself and 30 acres of
surrounding land, by deeding the property to the town of Williams Bay, which
will create an Exposition District. It preserves the entire 522-foot strip of
land along the shore of nearby Lake Geneva. Proceeds from the sale and future
property taxes will provide $400,000 of annual funds to support the
observatory as an education and outreach facility. The $8 million from the
sale will support astronomical research at the university. Mirbeau has agreed
to abide by the International Dark-Sky Association's lighting guidelines.

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University of Chicago president Don Randel said in a press release. "But modern
astronomy long ago moved on, and the university needs to stay focused on what
we do best, which is advancing the frontiers of knowledge.

I think the best thing for the frontiers of knowledge to appoint another University President, for the sake of astronomy of course.

The fate of the refractor lies with an idiot...

[Brownewell]

It's easy to have a gut reaction that this is a terrible move and criticize those responsible. Fortunately the situation is not as it seems. Mirbeau contacted me last year and I spent a considerable amount of time talking to them about this. I also have discussed this with UC board members. The facts of the situation are:
UC has not operated this as a productive research facility for a long time.
The money being spent maintaining the place has been taking away from facilities that are viable.
Mirbeau is the only investor in this situation willing to put up continuing funding to keep the place going.
Amateur groups will now have access to actually using the facilities, something we have never before been able to use.

When the facts of the situation are looked at closely, and I'll tell you that not all of them are widely publically known, it is a win win situation for both professional and amateur astronomy.

Chris Brownewell

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Chris,

Excellent on the inside track on the workings of Mirbeau, but hidden details and covert negotiations don't do much for public trust and confidence, and usually is an indication of the way business will be conducted. What is said and what is written and signed are two different things, but let's see what happens.

I hope for the better, in that amateur astronomy groups will finally have real access to the observatories at Yerkes. Although the encroached light pollution no longer provides a true dark sky there, it is still most useful for astronomical students and still a viable learning tool. CCD's and computer aided scopes may very well be the tool for professionals and research, but nothing beats peering in the eyepiece for a one to one study & relationship with your object that a monitor just cannot provide. U of C tries too hard to be at the forefront of money generating flashy research at the expense of stayed and true practices. They will blow the $8 million on administration salaries and probably nothing to show for it in the long run.

Yerkes is not and never was meant to be a profit machine, and I think that the founders of the observatory would be depressed in this new light of corporate ownership. Private corporations exist for the buck, and I fear that when Yerkes does not fulfill it's bottom line, it will do what money driven entities do best...liquidate. But it's just me, and I'm here in the Heart of Chicago reading about it like most everyone else.

And why does it cost $300,000 to maintain it yearly? Utilities and skeleton staff can't be all that much. Can't be the taxes, after all...it is still Wisconsin...

Let's hope for the resurrection of Yerkes...but I'm not holding my breathe.

Thanks for the insight...

[Al Degutis]

admin said:

Yerkes is not and never was meant to be a profit machine, and I think that the founders of the observatory would be depressed in this new light of corporate ownership.

FYI, the observatory and a portion of the adjacent grounds would not be under corporate control. Read the following message from the astro-l group and be sure to read the press release mentioned.

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: [astro-l] The proposed sale of Yerkes Observatory
From: astro-l
Date: Mon, June 12, 2006 1:18 am
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Astro-ler's.

As I indicated in last Friday's note from Sky and Telescope,
there is less to the announced sale than may seem from the popular
press. Everyone should read the actual press release from the
University:

www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/06/060607.yerkes.shtml

because some news reports have garbled some of the information given there.

It should be clear that the current news regards a letter of
intent to sell, not yet a contract for actual sale, and that there
are a variety of local
approvals still needed before development could proceed.

It is no secret that this development has strong local opposition which
could prevent local approvals. Furthermore, it is known that the Southeast
Wis.. Regional Plan Commission has indicated serious problems with a
development such as this on a primary environmental corridor. Their letter
to Aurora University is online at:

www.grantmaclaren.com/yerkes/sewrpc.html

As far as this reporter knows, neither the University of Chicago nor
the developer has publicly addressed the primary environmental
corridor limitations.

The Univ. of Chicago has expressed a strong commitment to continuation of
the current education and outreach activities (with some research) at
Yerkes, but under new management. One problem is how to fund the basic
operation of Yerkes, and the University administration and trustees feel
that this plan with funding from (largely) room taxes is the best approach.
While people may argue about this funding method, the U of C has chosen to
proceed this way. This is another part of the plan that local government
(Wms. Bay) must approve. For the near term (at least 5 years) the U
of C will continue to support basic operations at approximately
current levels. The plan is that a consortium of institutions will
be formed to actually run the Yerkes long term, though little has yet
been done toward forming the consortium.

As I know more, I will let you know.

Paul Rybski, listowner of ASTRO-L and ASTROALERT-L
--
________________________________________
Paul M. Rybski, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chair, Dept. of Physics, and
Director, Whitewater Observatory

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Al,

Thanks for the links and to further clear the air and propagate the actual letter, I have posted it here in it's entirety...

------------

June 7, 2006 Press Contact: Steve Koppes
[phone]
[e-mail]


Agreement provides for preservation of historic Yerkes Observatory
Proceeds from sale of 45 adjoining acres to support research, Yerkes outreach program

Yerkes Observatory
In the News
“Luxury resort in stars for U. of C. observatory”

June 8, 2006

Agreement Reached on Yerkes Sale
Sky and Telescope
June 7, 2006

The University of Chicago has reached an agreement to permit Mirbeau Company owner Gary Dower to develop 45 acres of land near the 109-year-old Yerkes Observatory in Williams Bay, Wisc., in an arrangement that will preserve the observatory and its telescopes as an education center for astronomy. Mirbeau will donate the observatory to the village of Williams Bay, which in turn will enter into a long-term lease with a not-for-profit entity that will operate the observatory.

The agreement would 1) preserve the historic astronomical observatory and 30 acres surrounding it, 2) create a four-acre conservation zone along Geneva Lake, including the entire 522 feet along the shoreline, 3) provide more than $400,000 in annual funding to support the observatory as an education and outreach institution, and 4) provide more than $8 million to support astronomical research at the University. The historic observatory and surrounding land would be owned by an exposition district created by the Village of Williams Bay and directed by a board of scientists, the majority of which would be appointed by the University of Chicago.

The funding for the observatory would be generated by proceeds of the sale and taxes on a 100-room Mirbeau Retreat and 72 small homes that would be built on 45 acres of the property. The arrangement is contingent on approval by the village of Williams Bay for zoning and creation of an exposition district.

Dower’s Mirbeau Inn and Spa in Skaneateles, N.Y. was recently awarded Mobil Four Star and AAA Four Diamond ratings. The development in Williams Bay will follow the lighting guidelines of the International Dark Sky Association and be subject to approval by the University of Chicago.

“Yerkes observatory owns a wonderful place in the history of astronomy,” said University of Chicago President Don Randel. “But modern astronomy long ago moved on, and the University needs to stay focused on what we do best, which is advancing the frontiers of knowledge. This new plan meets all three of our goals for Yerkes. It provides a secure funding stream to preserve it as an outreach facility, it provides resources for future research in astronomy, and it proposes high-quality and environmentally sensitive development.”

Said Angela Olinto, Professor and Chair of the Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics: “We, in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, are very pleased with the plan to preserve the historical Yerkes Observatory as an active education and public outreach center with the financial help that the Mirbeau agreement makes possible. In addition, funds from the sale will help the University of Chicago strengthen its world leadership in Astronomy and Astrophysics through the development of urgently needed facilities on campus to support our first-rate research program.”

Yerkes observatory contains what was one of the great scientific instruments of the late Victorian age, a 40-inch refracting telescope. For a few years the telescope was the largest in the world, and it is still the largest refracting or lens-based telescope in the world, for the simple reason that larger telescopes cannot be efficiently built with lenses.

Because of great technological advances in telescopes and the relatively cloudy and light-polluted skies over southern Wisconsin, the Yerkes Observatory has for decades been of limited use for research. And because Yerkes is a large and valuable property with substantial maintenance costs, the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics has for several decades been searching for a way to use the observatory that is environmentally sensitive and consistent with its mission of cutting-edge astronomical research.

The faculty has determined that the observatory and telescope can and should make a major contribution as a center for outreach and public education, and they have made a commitment to continue to support and expand that work, and to encourage other educational and cultural institutions to join them in producing programs that will stimulate science education in Williams Bay-area elementary and secondary schools.

The nearly 80 acres of land surrounding the observatory is far more than needed to support its future educational mission, however, so the University has decided to sell some of that property for appropriate use and to use the funds obtained from the sale of the acreage to fund future research in astronomy and astrophysics and also support the observatory’s future use for education.

Under the terms of the agreement, the Mirbeau Retreat would sit a minimum of 150 feet from Geneva Lake, twice the required distance for private homes. In order to maintain the uncrowded ambience of Geneva Lake, boat slips on the lake will not be sold to homeowners in the development, and Mirbeau will not seek to increase the currently allowed number of boat slips or moorings.

Mirbeau would donate to the village of Williams Bay 30 acres containing the observatory building. This parcel contains the key landscaping components of Frederick Law Olmstead’s design for the grounds, including the entrance to the observatory, the Great Ellipse and South Lawn. Williams Bay would then, in turn, create an exposition district, which would enter into a long-term lease with a not-for-profit operating entity.

The operating entity will plan the scientific and educational programs of the observatory and will be administered by a board of directors that is expected to include leading scientists and educators from a variety of Midwestern institutions, most of whom initially would be named by the University of Chicago. Further, the University would continue to manage the observatory for a minimum of five years. During this time the University will continue to provide $300,000 annual for observatory maintenance. The University also will provide an additional $1 million to support the creation of the new Yerkes education and outreach organization.


www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/06/060607.yerkes.shtml

===========

Well, it sounds better now than what was represented earlier...

But it still doesn't pass on the bonehead statement of the President that "Modern Astronomy has moved on".

[headdunce]

Sorry to dig up an old post but is there any update on what's happened with this?

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I haven't followed up on the Yerkes situation of recent, but, as of October 2011, it looks like it's still up in the air...

Future of historic Yerkes Observatory remains unclear -

Once considered among the most prestigious observatories in the nation, Yerkes role has changed, becoming less a place for research and more an institution for education. Even so, officials at the 114-year-old observatory believe they will continue to make their marks on science.

University of Chicago, which owns and operates the observatory, has been trying to sell the center and its land since 2005. There was interest from developers who wanted to build homes on the property, but Williams Bay and a local conservancy group stood in the way.

“The community raised some really strong objections,” Cudworth said. “That’s why the developer’s scheme didn’t fly. The village made it clear that density of residential they didn’t want, but more to the point they’re not going to rezone for a resort on the lakefront.”

Cudworth said the university acknowledged it went the wrong direction trying to sell the land to a developer. It then organized a study group that included community members to review potential uses for the facility.

gazettextra.com/news/2011/oct/24/future-historic-yerkes-observatory-remains-unclear/

[Paulie pchris00]

Thanks for digging this up. I hadn't known that Yerkes was in limbo. Visiting just moved up my priority list.

Why am I not surprised that Chris had information from the inside? If it's astronomy from Wisconsin, to Illinois, to Indiana, to Michigan, either Joe, Chris, or Audrey is probably involved in it.