The University of Wyoming will move forward in negotiations on a public/private agreement to develop apartments that meet the needs of today's students.
The UW Board of Trustees today (Friday) approved entering negotiations with American Campus Communities of Austin, Texas. The firm was selected following a review of responses to a request for qualifications and a request for proposals to develop housing in an area previously occupied by the Summit View Apartments.
Occupying a 23-acre site north of Grand Avenue and east of 22nd Street, the cinder-block apartments were constructed in the early 1950s. Deconstruction of the buildings is scheduled to be completed by the end of December.
According to UW's Long Range Development Plan (LRDP), approximately a third of the Summit View Apartment site has been identified for future housing development. UW is pursuing a partnership with a private firm to develop the site under a ground lease. The number of proposed new beds is similar to that being lost with Summit View's removal.
The LRDP designates this area for Living and Learning and calls for housing that meets a demand for space to support upper-division undergraduate residents.
"Providing housing that supports student's needs throughout their educational experience is an important consideration in UW's Housing Plan," says Beth McCuskey, UW executive director of Residence Life, Dining Services and the Wyoming Union.
The next stage of the process will involve detailed feasibility studies as well as further development of the design.
"The opportunity to develop the apartments without a significant university investment will permit further improvements to the stock of student housing such as renovations to White Hall," says Douglas H. Vinzant, UW vice president for administration.
