Kent State’s expansion of its campus has locals fearful that their house may be bought out. Tyler Trill has more.

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Fences are beginning to become a part of the neighborhood on South Lincoln Street in Kent.

The fencing  marks off the future homes for the architecture building and an alumni relations headquarters.

“They’re coming closer,” Judy Smith, Lincoln Street resident said. “I think there’s about four properties that they do not have.”

Smith owns two houses on the street. One being her residency, the other being her business, Professional Typing Services.  She said that officials have inquired about potentially purchasing her estate, twice.

“I figure, I’m going to give them two years and they’re going to have to maybe come knocking on my door again. They’ve knocked once, they’ve knocked twice and I’m sure they’re going to come knock again.”

Living in her Lincoln street home for the last 37 years and operating her business for 29, Smith said she is not nervous about selling her home, but she does not want that day to come.

“I can live here until I drop, that was the intention when we bought the property in 1977,” Smith said. “We can rent these, we can live here, it will be my retirement. I really don’t want pick up and move somewhere else.”

Smith is not the only occupant who does not want to move.

Positioned next to the future alumni relations headquarters is Rosewood Investments, a real estate agency.

Lisa Huckill, Rosewood Investments secretary, said no officials have asked about purchasing the property, but, eventually, she thinks they will come knocking.

“I’m sure it is just a matter of time,” Huckill said. “They’ll probably take the whole street, but they haven’t said anything yet.

Huckill said it would be detrimental for the business to leave Lincoln Street.

“Obviously, this is a great location for student housing. We get a lot of traffic over here, and all of our houses are a couple blocks away. So not to have this house would be, you know, hard to decide where we could go.”

As long as Rosewood Investments keeps the house, Huckill said it is good for business, making the street a more inviting place to walk on.

“I think it is really great, getting rid of all these businesses and old buildings,” Huckill said. “It’s going to be a lot nicer.”

Smith is in the same boat. She said the new structures will only bring more students past for typing service.

“As long as I am staying here, this has been location, location, location.”