LSUA Housing Project Underway
10/25/2006
(Source: Goodnight, Mandy, LSUA Housing Construction Under Way," Alexandria Daily Town Talk, October 25, 2006, News, P. 04A)
Tuesday marked the second time Chancellor Robert Cavanaugh has stood in front of a proposed construction site to mark the beginning of student housing at Louisiana State University at Alexandria.
However, there were no hard hats or golden shovels Tuesday. A backhoe turned the dirt to mark the start of The Oaks, which will be LSUA's first on-campus housing.
Cavanaugh said he expects construction to be complete, this time. The last housing project fell through because of funding, leading the university to take bids again.
The chancellor asked the crowd gathered for the official groundbreaking Tuesday if they felt a sense of dejà vu. It was two years ago this month that the university broke ground on the failed housing project.
"This one will be complete and ready for students to move in by August 2007," Cavanaugh said following the ceremony.
Construction has begun already on The Oaks. During the groundbreaking, workers stomped through the dirt surveying the land, and a trailer pulled up to be placed on-site.
"I don't mind all this background noise," Cavanaugh told the crowd of students, university employees and local dignitaries.
Bob Mills with University Housing Services, which is handling the project, said he expects to have buildings going vertical by the first of January.
"We will not let you down," he said.
The Oaks, which will be located on Acorn Drive across from the Weldon "Bo" Nipper Building, will feature 256 beds and one-, two- or four-bedroom apartments.
The $12.5 million project includes the apartments, a pool and student activity center. The activity center will have a computer lab, auditorium, game room, laundromat and concession area.
Rent for the apartments will cost $565 for a one-bedroom, $510 per tenant for a two-bedroom and $440 per tenant for a four-bedroom apartment. The apartment prices include local phone, cable/high-speed Internet, electricity and water/sewer, university officials said.
Student interest in the apartments already has spiked. More than 20 students have signed the waiting list, which did not go online until Monday at 4 p.m., officials said.
John Hebron, 18, of Ball has put his name on the list. He was the eighth person to sign up.
"That shows you how interested I am in housing," he said.
Hebron drives the 20 to 30 minutes to class and says he is always late. Being on campus, he expects to continue to be late, but be "conveniently late."
Hebron likes the idea that there will be life on the campus after the 4 p.m. classes.
"It gives us that four-year feeling that we have been trying to get," he said.
Cavanaugh said campus housing opens a world of opportunities on the LSUA campus. Recruitment can expand to students across the state and region, and students should expect more student activities, longer library hours and expanded meal services, he said.
In addition, the chancellor said there will be business opportunities in the area with the university having students living on campus.
Rapides Parish Police Juror Joe Fuller said he already can see the businesses coming to surround LSUA.
"Look at other university cities like Lafayette and Natchitoches -- the businesses come," he said. "This is a little diamond in the rough."
Fuller said there are already plans to put in a fire station and begin infrastructure projects, such as sewer lines, in the area.
LSUA students interested in getting on the apartment complex waiting list or wanting more information may log on to www.lsua.edu/housing.
The site also has an operational Web cam where anyone can watch the progress of the construction.
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