New apartments will add much needed improvement

By Andrew Mell

Western Herald
It’s a well-known fact that most people like new and nice things. When it comes to living spaces, the quality and comfort of an apartment are considerable factors to those trying to decide where to live. With the recent announcement of the construction of new apartments on campus, it is evident that Western Michigan University is attempting to expand its appeal to upperclassmen looking for an improved and affordable quality of living.

Currently, Western operates three apartment complexes across campus. Elmwood Apartments are stacked along Western Avenue, Stadium Drive apartments are across from main campus at the Stadium and Howard intersection, and Goldsworth Valley is located adjacent from the valley residence halls.

These three complexes, which were completed in 1957, 1959, and 1968 respectively, represent the best options for students who wish to remain on campus but would like to graduate from the juvenile behavior of the residence halls.

However, with the increasing age of the buildings come accommodations that are typically not regarded as being desirable according to today’s standards. The inner walls of some apartments are prison-like cinder blocks — appliances are aged, heating systems outdated, and air conditioning non-existent in all but the Elmwood Apartments.

The appeal of these apartments is the affordable monthly rent, the flexible per-semester contracts, the convenience of being right on campus, and the benefit of being given a free parking pass.

Because of these factors, along with the fact that these buildings are maintained and furnished as well as they possibly can be given their age, the WMU apartments are typically filled to capacity or very close to it on a yearly basis.

The fact of the matter is, however, that at a university of 25,000 students, there are many needs that are not met with the current infrastructure. Some students desire new places for living. Some prefer trendy décor or modern accommodations.

Dozens of apartment complexes litter Kalamazoo, surrounding campus. Many of them are popular because of the lodging that they provide. Students sacrifice the convenience of free parking on campus and being only minutes away from class for the modern feel and benefits of living in a newer, more trendy place.

By constructing the new apartments, Western will now be able to attract students who otherwise wouldn’t even consider staying on campus. The university will also be better equipped to lodge a healthy population of international students looking for ease and convenience during their stay in the United States.

The first phase of the project is expected to cost approximately $12 million and provide one, two, three, and four bedroom apartments that house over 300 students. Assuming a modest estimate of 100 units at $600 per month, the project will pay for itself many times over by the time it’s only a fraction of the age of the current apartment complexes on campus.

Future plans also call for the renovation of the area directly behind the Bernhard Center to contain additional apartments. The new apartments are expected to emulate a similar architectural design as that of East Campus.

The new apartments have been extensively designed and the planning process will continue right through construction as Western tries to gauge the preferences of students as well as considering the most efficient, cost effective, and proficient method of construction and implementation.

In a country that demands new, cutting edge things, having brand new housing will be a significant selling point for Western in the future. Not only will it retain some of the student body living on campus, it will also visually enhance an area of campus that is currently only a mostly empty parking lot.

Assuming the current schedule is maintained, the new apartments are slated to open for the 2011 fall semester. When this happens Western will be well on its way toward attractive campus modernization.

Now, if we only could get them to repair all of the cracked sidewalks.
Andrew Mell, a Western Herald opinion columnist, is a senior majoring in aviation, and can be reached via e-mail at melltimejr@hotmail.com.

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Posted by heraldstaff on Feb 7 2010. Filed under Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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