900−Plus Bed Facility Will Significantly Expand On−Campus Housing at KSU
4/18/2007
Writer: Jeremy Craig‚ 770−423−6203 or jcraig19@kennesaw.eduKENNESAW‚ Ga. (April 18‚ 2007) — More than 900 additional Kennesaw State University students soon will have the opportunity to live on campus‚ thanks to the Board of Regents’ approval today of a ground lease allowing the university to build a much−anticipated new residence hall.
The regents approved the request for a ground lease and site license for the second phase of KSU’s University Village housing complex on Wednesday‚ at its meeting in Statesboro‚ Ga. The board’s action allows KSU officials to now move forward in expanding housing opportunities on campus by the fall of 2008.
The newly approved 913−bed‚ $50 million residence hall will be located off of Campus Loop Road near Frey Road. The new phase of suite−style housing for freshmen students will feature private bedrooms‚ kitchenettes and shared bathrooms. An art gallery and exhibition space on the second floor of the lobby area are additional amenities planned for the new facility.
Kennesaw State University President Daniel S. Papp said he is extremely appreciative that the Board of Regents gave careful consideration to the institution’s request and proposed timeline for the project. “We were very pleased to gain the regents’ support for this important project‚ because on−campus housing is becoming increasingly important to the student experience at Kennesaw State University‚” Papp stated. “This additional housing further solidifies our transformation into a residential university and will allow us to expand student participation in campus life‚ which ultimately improves retention and graduation.”
Presently‚ more than 10 percent of Kennesaw State University’s 19‚854 students reside on campus. The new residence hall – which is anticipated to be ready for occupancy by the fall semester of 2008 – will add another 913 beds to the 2‚163 beds currently available at KSU.
The university’s housing program‚ which began during the fall semester of 2002 when enrollment at the university totaled 15‚654‚ has proved exceedingly popular among students‚ helping to boost the institution’s enrollment and desirability. Last fall‚ there were about 800 students on the waiting list for existing housing due to the 100−percent occupancy of existing housing.
Presently‚ KSU has three on−campus apartment communities:
KSU Place‚ which can accommodate 582 residents;
University Place‚ which can accommodate 700 residents; and
Phase I of University Village‚ which can accommodate 881 residents.
The new ground lease allows for the swift construction of the newly approved facility by the KSU Real Estate Foundation and University Housing Services, Inc. Construction will begin immediately upon receipt of the site license.
At the end of the ground lease‚ which is not to exceed 32 years‚ the property‚ all improvements and any accumulated capital reserves will become the property of the Board of Regents.
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