PULLMAN, Wash.–Housing market conditions in the Pullman area have placed a proposed public-private apartment development on Washington State University’s Hilltop Stables site on hold.
Developer Lorig Associates of Seattle and the university have agreed to suspend planning on the project, according to Sallie Giffen, WSU vice president for business affairs.
Original plans had called for Lorig Associates, selected in an extensive competitive process, to construct approximately 200 apartment units on 10 acres of land leased to the developer from the university. The parties had hoped that some of the units might be available by 1998, but later announced a 1999 target date.
According to Giffen, considerable private investment in apartment construction has occurred in Pullman within the last several months and additional building permits have been filed with city offices. Current vacancy rate forecasts can be met with existing inventories and planned developments, she said.
Vice President Giffen said officials will continue to monitor expansion of private housing construction and resume negotiations for the Lorig project if demand conditions dictate.
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