Western Kentucky University’s Board of Regents has authorized steps toward acquiring six privately owned parcels near the Hill through condemnation after negotiations stalled, according to board materials posted by the university’s news office and meeting agenda at wku.edu/regents.
WKU’s Eminent Domain Moves Stir Local Tensions
On a shaded block where student foot traffic meets porch lights, certified letters landed like thunder. Several property owners near WKU say they were notified the university plans to seek eminent domain—government-backed acquisition for a public use with just compensation under Kentucky law—if voluntary sales can’t be reached.
Board materials describe condemnation as a last-resort option after “good-faith negotiations” failed, with any filings to proceed in Warren Circuit Court. Kentucky’s process is governed by Chapter 416 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes, which requires a court to determine public use and necessity and to ensure just compensation, according to KRS 416.
For Bowling Green, what happens at the campus edge rarely stays there. This move could shift how adjoining neighborhoods function—affecting home values, rental supply, traffic, and the daily balance between a growing university and long-time residents.
WKU's Land Acquisition Standoff
WKU is targeting six parcels on or near its borders after purchase talks fell apart, per the Board of Regents’ meeting summary and attachments. If the university files condemnation petitions, judges in Warren Circuit Court would first weigh whether the takings serve a public use and are necessary before addressing compensation through court-appointed commissioners, as outlined in KRS 416.
That sets up a familiar collision between institutional ambition and personal stake. “I’m not opposed to progress, but this house isn’t just a number on a spreadsheet,” said one nearby owner who asked to remain unnamed until any case is filed. “We planned to be here another decade.”
Because the parcels sit in the seam between campus and city, the outcome will resonate beyond the immediate blocks. It’s here—along streets that feed State Street, Normal Street, and College Heights—that town and gown meet most tangibly through small businesses, rentals, and family homes.
Immediate Impact on Residents
Uncertainty arrives first. Once an institution signals intent to condemn, deals can freeze and lenders may grow cautious until a court rules. Even before dirt moves, tenants can face shorter leases and owners field tougher questions from insurers and buyers.
“Neighbors are calling, asking if they’ll have to move by summer,” said a renter who lives two blocks from campus. “We don’t have answers, and that’s the scary part.” While renters don’t receive condemnation payouts, they’re often the first to feel upheaval through non-renewals or construction staging.
Residents who want to track next steps can monitor the WKU Board of Regents calendar at wku.edu/regents, City of Bowling Green public notices via the City Clerk at bgky.org/city-clerk, and zoning or development items through the Warren County/City-County Planning Commission. For neighborhood alerts, sign up with Neighborhood & Community Services.
University Objectives and Justifications
WKU has framed the potential acquisitions as part of long-term campus improvements—projects tied to modernization, pedestrian safety, and better connectivity at the campus edge—consistent with past planning priorities referenced in university facilities and campus planning materials at wku.edu. In meeting documents, officials presented condemnation as a last resort when negotiations fail to secure key parcels for projects deemed in the public interest.
Eminent domain is an extraordinary tool, but public universities can use it in Kentucky when the taking serves a public purpose and meets statutory requirements, according to KRS 416. WKU has previously emphasized that consolidating fragmented parcels can reduce long-term costs and improve safety around heavily traveled routes to class.
Community leaders, meanwhile, are urging transparency. Neighborhood association representatives who spoke with Bowling Green Local say they want WKU to share specific project scopes and construction timelines before court filings. “Show us the map, the timeline, and how you’ll mitigate noise and parking,” said one association organizer. “That’s how you keep trust.”
Broader Implications for Bowling Green
The near-campus housing market is already tight, and removing even a handful of parcels can ripple through rents and availability. Owners worry about losing intergenerational homes; renters worry about losing affordable options. Appraisers and brokers say condemnation proceedings can temporarily dampen nearby sales until outcomes are clear.
Local businesses along campus gateways could see mixed effects. A new facility might bring more foot traffic in the long run, but construction can deter customers in the short term. “We depend on students walking by,” said a store manager near State Street. “If sidewalks close or parking goes, we feel it right away.”
There’s also the intangible layer—Bowling Green’s town–gown relationship. A process perceived as rushed or opaque can fray trust; a transparent, well-justified plan with robust engagement can set a constructive precedent for future growth.
Conclusion: Finding Common Ground
Paths to compromise exist. Early, detailed project disclosures, fair-market-plus compensation offers, relocation assistance for tenants, and construction mitigation plans can soften the blow. Mediation prior to filing—sometimes used in public projects—could narrow disputes and avoid court altogether.
If the university’s goals include safety and modernization, neighbors say they want a seat at the table to shape how those goals land on their blocks. The question ahead is less whether WKU grows, and more how it grows alongside the people who call these streets home.
What to Watch
WKU’s next Board of Regents meeting agendas at wku.edu/regents will signal whether and when filings move forward. If petitions are submitted, watch Warren Circuit Court dockets and City-County Planning Commission agendas for related land-use actions and traffic or construction plans.
