Sounds like The Knoll is a dump

[Nor'MidWester]

Why would everyone know where the Knoll is? I sure was never invited there for lunch or ever had any interaction with the president . Except maybe to be handed a diploma at graduation.

Maybe I'm a whackco but I assumes other people were curious what the house next to the MU is lol. I guess I thought it was sort of common knowledge.

Plus I remember the student mob that walked to the presidents house after bin laden died in attempt to convince the president to cancel finals the next day.

 

[Kinch]

If I remember right, when the Hoks played their first game at Iowa State in the early 80s, a bunch of students gathered at the Knoll to welcome their rivals to town. In fact, I think Blum might have posted a photo.

 

[VeloClone]

If they could renovate Old Botany and Morrill Hall which were vacant dumps when I went to ISU, they can renovate the Knoll.

 

[psycln11]

Has anybody ever been in this place? It is absolutely just a house. I can’t fathom what we lose by tearing down a house that nobody has ever been in and will never walk into. It’s not like this is the Capitol building in Des Moines or something that had a ton of foot traffic. This is a very old house that will consume 2 million of public money in 10 years to maintain it.

President's Leadership Class - Office of the President

www.president.iastate.edu

My daughter goes to the Knoll every Tuesday evening from 5-6 PM for the President's Leadership Class that she was selected for. 30-35 first-year students get selected each year.

I asked her about the condition. Here's her quotes, "It's really nice inside." and "The areas I've been in are pretty."

 

[FLYINGCYCLONE]

I think we provide a top quality space for our President to live in. That seems better than a front page pic and story in a certain paper about this person living in Des Moines in a $10M shack. That was owned by someone we don’t need to know.

 

[Cyclonsin]

VEISHEA - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

"
In later years, rioting and disturbances tarnished the VEISHEA celebration. Riots marred the event in 1988, 1992 and 1994.[14] During the 1997 VEISHEA festival, Harold "Uri" Sellers, a VEISHEA visitor was murdered in a stabbing on the front lawn at Adelante Fraternity by another VEISHEA visitor, Michael Runyan.[15]

In 2004 a riot occurred during the early morning hours of April 18 after Ames Police dispersed about 400 people at a nuisance party.[16] This crowd grew, intensified, and eventually became violent, ultimately causing over $250,000 in damage to public and private property.[17]
...
In 2014 a riot occurred in the early morning of April 9, with one reported injury.[23] In response, Iowa State president Steven Leath suspended the remainder of the 2014 VEISHEA celebrations and created a task force to discuss the future of VEISHEA.[24]"

So 11 years ago. Got it. Definitely a cause of concern for anyone living near campus.

 

[psycln11]

I doubt Wintersteen "lives" there. My guess is they have another house and she commutes in. I see it as the high school athlete who "moves" to town as they missed the open enrollment deadline.

Personally I would fix it up and treat it as another venue for the president to host parties for diplomats or business ceo's who are visiting.

In full speculation: I think this is exactly what they are using it for today and the president is not in fact living in it.

Actually, I'm pretty sure they do live there. My daughter was walking back to Buchanan after class the day after meeting Dr. Wintersteen and her husband. Her husband recognized her and waved as he was pulling out of the Knoll driveway that next morning.

 

[BryceC]

Yeah, should probably tear down the White House too. Afterall it is over 200 years old.

The knoll and the White House, definitely on par with one another.

 

[VeloClone]

The knoll and the White House, definitely on par with one another.

Clearly.

But your point is well taken. The White House will never live up to the standard the Knoll has set.

 

[David Freshman1982]

In the early 20th century, it was common practice for a college president to live on campus, the housing provided free by the college; ISU is one of those schools.

 

[2speedy1]

Seems to me it would probably be a better idea to turn it into a museum and build a new home for the President more fitting modern needs.

 

[cyclones500]

If they could renovate Old Botany and Morrill Hall which were vacant dumps when I went to ISU, they can renovate the Knoll.

I continue to think Old Botany should've been renamed New Old Botany.

 

[Three4Cy]

I doubt Wintersteen "lives" there. My guess is they have another house and she commutes in. I see it as the high school athlete who "moves" to town as they missed the open enrollment deadline.

Personally I would fix it up and treat it as another venue for the president to host parties for diplomats or business ceo's who are visiting.

In full speculation: I think this is exactly what they are using it for today and the president is not in fact living in it.

Wendy and Robert live in the Knoll full time, just as President Geoffroy and President Leath lived there. Leath's wife was very particular about what went on there and President Geoffroy walked from the Knoll to his office daily vs. driving so he could converse with students as he made his way across campus.

There is a lot of entertaining done on the main level on the home.

All three regent university have homes for the President, and it is a requirement of their appointment to live in the home.

Request Rejected

Wintersteen and her husband, Robert Waggoner, expect to move into the Knoll, the campus home for Iowa State's first family, sometime in December. Actually, it's a required condition of her appointment. They plan to sell their Ames home, which overlooks Veenker golf course.

 

[norsemen]

They did a 3,000 square foot addition not all that long ago that included expanding the garage with a living room, family kitchen, and dinning area above. I haven't been in the private residence portion of the Knoll either, but would guess at least that portion has a layout that would feel similar to any other modern home.

The private residence of the president and family is on the upper floors a portion of which is above that addition. This portion is modern in design and quite nice. The first floor serves as location for meetings and social gatherings and is more formal in its design.

 

[aeroclone08]

Yeah, should probably tear down the White House too. Afterall it is over 200 years old.

They basically did that in the late 40's/ early 50's.

 

[NWICY]

Seems to me it would probably be a better idea to turn it into a museum and build a new home for the President more fitting modern needs.

Man, I can't imagine pulling the funding together for that.

 

[SeventhSon]

This is a very old house that will consume 2 million of public money in 10 years to maintain it.

Given how much a brand new home costs these days, you're making this reno sound like a downright bargain.