The Texas Tech University System has acquired a historic property on 19th Street across from campus in Lubbock to serve as the chancellor’s official residence and gathering place for the university system community.
The property, referred to as The English Home at 2809 19th St., was purchased by the Tech System earlier in April after the system’s board of regents last fall OK’d plans to acquire a residence for the system’s newly hired chancellor, Brandon Creighton, according to a Tech System news release and Lubbock Central Appraisal District records.
Further details of the sale were not immediately disclosed, but the property’s appraised value is more than $2.2 million, according to appraisal district records. The property’s previous owner was Bart Reagor, who remains in federal prison after he was found guilty and later sentenced in March 2022 in connection with large-scale bank fraud scheme linked to his auto business.
The property is nearly 7,600 square feet and sits on just over an acre on a stretch of 19th Street across from the Tech campus known for unique, historic and valuable homes.
The home was built in 1938 by renowned Lubbock architect and Texas Tech professor W.L. Bradshaw. Constructed during the early development of Texas Technological College, it stands among the most significant historic homes in Lubbock, according to the Tech System news release.
The residence will serve as a strategic asset for the TTU System and its component institutions, reads the release. Its proximity to campus, along with the home’s layout and amenities, makes it well-suited to host small- and mid-sized gatherings and events for alumni, donors and key stakeholders, offering a welcoming, distinctive setting to strengthen relationships, advance institutional priorities and showcase the system’s breadth and impact.
“This residence represents an intentional investment in how we engage those who generously support and care deeply about our universities,” said Board of Regents Chairman Cody Campbell. “A Chancellor’s residence is not simply a home — it’s a working resource that supports fundraising, recruitment and external engagement. It will serve as a place to build meaningful connections, strengthen partnerships, and share the story of the Texas Tech University System in a personal and impactful way.”
Texas Tech System acquires new chancellor house
At its Nov. 14, 2025, meeting, the TTU System Board of Regents approved the purchase of an official residence, and the property located on 19th Street, adjacent to the Texas Tech University (Texas Tech) campus, was purposefully selected, according to a news release. That approval was in line with the contract for newly hired TTU System Chancellor Brandon Creighton.
In October 2025, the A-J reported that when it comes to housing, a mutually agreeable temporary housing situation between Creighton and the Board of Regents would be provided to support the transition and official duties as Chancellor. This temporary housing will only be available as “considerations are ongoing for a chancellor’s residence, which would be owned and provided by the TTUS to support donor, stakeholder and official functions.”
“Should a property be secured, the chancellor will be required to live in the chancellor’s residence,” reads the contract. “All utilities, maintenance, and other costs associated with the maintenance of the house would be the responsibility of Texas Tech System.”
According to Friday’s TTU System news release, the acquisition of The English Home aligns the TTU System with peer university systems across the state, including the University of Texas System, Texas A&M University System, University of Houston System, and Texas Woman’s University System, each of which maintains a chancellor’s residence.
It also continues a longstanding TTU System tradition, marking the fourth chancellor’s residence since the system’s creation in 1996. The TTU System has periodically maintained an official chancellor’s residence for more than a decade, serving as a central venue for hosting donors, alumni and community partners. The previous residence, located on 21st Street, was sold in 2019.
Within the TTU System, Angelo State University and Midwestern State University maintain residences for their respective presidents. Texas Tech has also utilized residential properties to support engagement efforts, including a former president’s home on campus that was later transformed into the McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center.
The purchase will initially be financed through commercial paper, with the potential to transition to a future bond issuance, according to the news release. No state-appropriated funds will be used to acquire the residence.
Additional details regarding the transition and future use of the residence will be shared as plans are finalized.
While this home represents a meaningful investment, according to the release, the Board of Regents believes the purchase and associated costs are in the best interests of the TTU System. The residence will play an important role in advancing the system’s long-term success by strengthening fundraising and enhancing stewardship.
“The Board is committed to ensuring that this home serves as a dynamic and mission-driven space,” added Regent Tim Culp, chairman of the Finance Committee of the Board of Regents. “It will reflect the excellence of our institutions while supporting the continued growth and success of the Texas Tech University System.”
About The English Home on 19th Street near Texas Tech
Plans are underway to partner with TTU System museums and heritage centers to thoughtfully curate the residence, highlighting the history, achievements and distinct identities of each system institution and creating an environment that reflects the TTU system’s mission and future goals.
The English Home, built for Lubbock surgeon O.W. English, was designated as a historical landmark in 1981. The Tudor Revival home features exposed half-timbering and steep gabled roofs, along with handmade oversized bricks to create the illusion of age.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech System buys historic Lubbock home for Chancellor residence
Reporting by Adam D. Young, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
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