(February 20, 2008)—Southern Methodist University and the George W. Bush Library Foundation have come to substantial agreement on terms for construction of a presidential library and think-tank on campus, according to deposition of foundation president Mark Langdale obtained by the Dallas Morning News, the paper reported in its online edition Wednesday.
The Morning News quotes Langdale as saying that only “minor questions of wording remain” and that he hopes a final deal can be reached by the end of the month.
The deposition was taken in a dispute over land near the library site, the paper reported.
The Morning News quotes Langdale as saying that an announcement of an agreement would clear the way for an effort to complete fundraising, design and construction within five years.
The paper quotes Langdale as saying the library would likely be built on the corner of SMU Boulevard and Central Expressway including about 11.5 acres currently occupied by apartments.
The Morning News reports the site will likely include parts of a condo site that’s the subject of a bitter lawsuit filed by two former condo owners who claim SMU bullied them into selling their units at low prices to make room for the library.
SMU announced in December 2006 it was the sole finalist for the library, for which Baylor University and the University of Dallas were also under consideration.
The University of Dallas has since withdrawn its bid.