Ball State Drops Bid for Eminent Domain; Hiatt Safe

Tony Proudfoot, associate vice president of marketing and communications, told the student newspaper in an e-mail that the school will study alternative locations for McKinley Commons or “turn to other strategic priorities.”

The printer and the school attempted to negotiate a selling price, but Hiatt owner Chris Hiatt reportedly asked for $1.25 million while Ball State offered $400,000. Proudfoot said the gap could not be reconciled and felt it was in the school’s best interest to stop the eminent domain proceedings.