PULLMAN WSU is exploring a partnership with the privately owned company, American Campus Communities (ACC), to consider options for revitalizing the university-owned Kamiak and Terrace apartment complexes to better meet the diverse needs of students housed there.
Constructed in the 1950s and 1960s, the aging complexes combine to provide nearly 200 units ranging from studio to 3-bedroom apartments that are used to house both single graduate students and graduate students with families.
Earlier this year, the WSU Board of Regents delegated authority to administration to negotiate one or more land-lease agreements with ACC for the purpose of renovating existing apartments and developing new units. The company is the largest developer, owner and manager of student housing communities in the United States and has considerable experience in developing similar projects at other major universities nationwide, including recent projects at Arizona State University and UC Irvine.
A main focus of WSU’s current review is the feasibility of constructing a third apartment complex at a separate location that would be used to house graduate students with families.
“Available site options, project design, the necessary mix of apartment types, and the amount of rents that would need to be charged for such a newly constructed complex are among the many issues expected to be addressed as part of the review process,” said Terry Boston, WSU senior executive director of Administrative Services.
Should WSU ultimately determine to proceed with the design and construction of a new apartment complex, Boston said demolition will not occur before summer 2011, which would allow current Kamiak and Terrace residents to relocate to other university housing complexes.
“Kamiak and Terrace residents would be asked to provide input regarding the design of the new complex that the university might construct in order to help meet the unique housing needs of graduates and families,” Boston said, adding that once plans are available for review, the current residents will be asked to provide input regarding the design of the new complex to help meet the unique housing needs of graduate students with families.
Such timing also will allow enough advance notice for current and future residents of the apartments to evaluate any other available housing options that may best meet their needs, he said.
