A 'private dorm' on North Campus
896 bedrooms planned for apartment complex
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The complex, developed by the Education Realty Trust and called The Courtyards, will consist of three five-story buildings near the intersection of Plymouth Road and Broadway Road, across from Bursley Residence Hall.
Each bedroom in the new complex, which is being billed as a private dorm for students, will have its own bathroom but will share a common area and kitchen.
The complex will have 896 individual bedrooms, which will be leased in units ranging from one bedroom and bathroom to four bedrooms and bathrooms. It is slated to open by the fall of 2008 and will include amenities like a washer and dryer in each apartment, a cyber café, a mini-movie theater, an outdoor badminton court and tanning beds.
Education Realty Trust spokesman Bob Hetherington said that leasing rates have not been finalized. The company owns apartments near 59 campuses around the country, including three complexes at Michigan State University and one at Central Michigan University and Western Michigan University.
While some students welcomed the project as providing more housing options for students others questioned whether the complex's amenities will be enough to attract students from Central Campus.
Students in the College of Engineering, School of Art and Design, School of Music, Theatre and Dance and College of Architecture and Urban Planning, are the most likely to want to live near North Campus, because many of their classes are there.
Engineering sophomore Dan Zhang said that as long as The Courtyards are not too expensive, "it would definitely be something I'd like to check out."
He added that there are few options in off-campus housing on North Campus, and "a lot of them are pretty overpriced."
Engineering sophomore Jordan Bradley said that although price and location are what he looks at first, he does find the complexes' amenities appealing.
"North Campus is not really close to anything," he said, adding that sometimes it's hard to find things to do or places to eat on North Campus at night.
Hetherington said it has been many years since there has been new development on North Campus and that he thinks that students will find the facilities attractive.
"We think that it will be very well received," he said.
University Planner Sue Gott said while the University is not directly affiliated with this project, it did grant two easements - legal agreements that allow construction access across University property - east of the construction site for vehicular access and south for pedestrian and emergency access.
"I think (The Courtyards) will add to the student population on North Campus," she said.
Gott said the new apartments may cause an increase in the demand for transportation to, from and around North Campus. She said the University may consider adding more buses to the existing routes to handle the increased population.
The CourtYard
Education Realty Trust broke ground on a private dorm-style apartment complex near North Campus last week. Under its subsidiary Allen & O'Hara Education Services, Inc., the company operates similar complexes near over 59 campuses nationwide. Some of its locations include:
Michigan State University
Properties: The Club at Chandler Crossings, The Landings at Chandler Crossings, The Village at Chandler Crossings
Lease rate for two bedroom / two bathroom unit in The Club at Chandler Crossings: $595
Central Michigan University
Property: The Village at Bluegrass
Lease rate for two bedroom / two bathroom unit: $450
Ohio State University
Property: The Commons
Lease rate for two bedroom / two bathroom unit: $630
Penn State University
Property: The Pointe
Lease rate for two bedroom / two bathroom unit: $515
Oklahoma State University
Properties: Players Club Student Apartments, The Commons, The Village on Tharpe
Lease rate for two bedroom / two bathroom unit at the Commons: $440
source: Allen and o'hara education sevices inc. website (aoinc.com)