CAMPUS BRIEFS: Thursday, December 11, 1997

Trammell Crow sends job offers to U. workers Trammell Crow last Friday sent out overnight letters offering jobs to 122, or 81 percent, of the 151 University employees who interviewed with the Dallas-based real-estate services company, according to University officials. The University, seeking to improve management of its buildings and construction projects, outsourced those services to Trammell Crow, the country's largest commercial property manager, under a controversial 10-year agreement signed October 8. The transition is effective April 1. Trammell Crow interviewed 104 facilities management employees and 47 staff members of University City Associates, Penn's for-profit real estate arm. Eighty-three Penn employees and 39 UCA employees received job offers. They have until tomorrow to tell Trammell Crow whether they will accept the offers. Under the agreement -- believed to be the first of its kind in higher education -- Trammell Crow is paying the University at least $26 million up front. Penn will pay Trammell Crow at least $5.25 million a year to manage the properties. -- Scott Lanman Blackwell near decision on vending ordinance City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell is scheduled to meet with representatives of vendors and consumer groups December 19 to discuss concerns over the latest version of a controversial ordinance proposal that would relocate vendors on and around campus. Two weeks ago, University officials sent Blackwell a revised version of the ordinance, which was first proposed last May. At the time, Blackwell delayed introducing the bill in response to heavy criticism from vendors and consumers such as students and staff members. After the December 19 meeting, Blackwell will continue to review the proposed ordinance and decide whether or not to introduce it to City Council. If she decides to introduce it, Council would then schedule public hearings on the issue. University officials recognize that "there may be further minor modifications to the ordinance as we move forward with the legislative process," said Jack Shannon, Penn's top economic development official. -- Lindsay Faber