As part of long-range facilities planning efforts, the University of Wyoming will begin removing several of the bungalow-style Summit View Apartments this summer.
Located immediately east of War Memorial Stadium, the Summit View Apartments were originally constructed in the 1950s.
UW Facilities Planning Director Roger Baalman says improving student housing has been a priority in UW's facility planning efforts since the first Student Housing Master Plan in 2002. He says that first plan included reconstruction of the Washakie area residence halls as well as recommendations to improve all of UW student housing.
"Updating of the original housing master plan continues with the Long Range Development Plan by addressing the university's ongoing desire to develop efficient, affordable and community-oriented housing to meet the needs of the university community," Baalman says.
To solicit interest from contractors in redeveloping the site, three blocks of apartments are scheduled for removal, beginning in late June. These include Summit View Apartments 189-288, from Crane Street on the west to Soule Street on the east, and from Willett Drive on the north to Coe Street on the south. Of the 95 units affected, 79 are now occupied. The remaining Summit View apartments are tentatively scheduled for removal during summer 2010.
During the next several months, the UW Department of Residence Life and Dining Services (RLDS) will work to transfer current tenants of the affected apartments to other university apartments.
"We will make every effort to ensure that tenants wishing to remain in the university apartments will be able to do so. A plan is in place to reassign affected tenants as fairly and conveniently as possible," says RLDS Executive Director Beth McCuskey.
Current tenants of the affected apartments will be relocated by June 15 with deconstruction to begin soon after. Plans for their replacement are still in progress.
"We are fortunate to be moving forward to better meet student needs and modernize and develop a broader mix of residential opportunities," says UW Vice President for Student Affairs Sara Axelson.
For more information, visit www.uwyo.edu/apartmentplan or call or e-mail RLDS Associate Director Tony Earls at caearls@uwyo.edu, phone (307) 766-3175.
Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2009
