Construction to begin on the University Ridge Apartment Complex
Worked slated to start September 27th
Chris Geirsson
Issue date: 9/30/04 Section: News
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After nearly a year and a half of planning and organization, East Stroudsburg University (ESU) will present an apartment housing option open to any ESU students, with the exception of freshman. Total construction for the University Ridge Apartments, which will begin September 27, 2004, will conclude August 19, 2005. The construction of the apartment complex will be made possible by the combined efforts from Capstone Development Corporation and University Properties Incorporated (UPI), a non-profit organization based solely with the aim of improving ESU with the addition of a new housing experience.
ESU will offer no money upfront, as bonds generated through UPI will pay for the entire construction procedure. Site preparations will prove to be the most expensive ordeal with the construction project. The estimated cost of the construction will be in the ballpark of $28 million.
"The university is excited [over the apartment complex]. UPI and ESU will work closely with Capstone," throughout the duration of the housing project construction, Moses said.
Housing needs rose sharply over the past few years at ESU. Many residential halls are currently overcrowded; in Minsi and Hemlock Halls, for example, rooms meant to house two students temporarily house three. Monroe Hall, which has a capacity of 96 residents, currently houses 104 residents. At the start of the fall 2004 semester, the Housing Department held 220 students on a housing waiting list, placing them in temporary triples throughout the dormitories on campus.
The site of the University Ridge Apartments, which will house 541 residents, will be located on East Brown Street. The apartments will be considered within the boundaries of Smithville Township and will be approximately half a mile from main campus, Moses said. In all, there will be ten buildings within the complex. Each building will have three stories in the front with a fourth story in the rear, all of which will be used as apartment dwellings.