As the University experiences a campus housing shortage for the 2008-2009 school year, alternative housing in the campus area continues to be in high demand.
Developers have been working recently to build at least four new apartment complexes in the West University area. Nearly all of them are at full capacity for fall 2008.
Stephanie Graham, the resident manager at Hilyard House Apartments, said the apartments filled up a lot quicker this year than in years past. She said normally the 2-bedroom units don’t fill up until August, but they are not completely full.
Graham partly attributes the high numbers to the lack of campus housing for incoming freshmen.
“We’ve had a lot of parents freaking out, wanting their kids close to campus,” said Graham. “We usually don’t have any freshmen but next year we have at least 10 to 15.”
A two-bedroom unit at Hilyard House costs anywhere from $1,045 to $1,145 per month. Graham said this includes water, sewage, garbage and Internet service, and tenants pay for their own electricity.
Graham said that student interest was much greater this year and consequently, Hilyard House does not have much left on the market.
“We have three one-bedrooms left, and that’s it,” said Graham.
Graham said she believes the new apartment complexes will enhance the neighborhood substantially.
“I think it’ll bring a lot more to the area,” said Graham. “It will definitely make the area a little nicer.”
Eugene trial attorney Dan Neal has two construction projects underway. The Coho Apartments have been completed and are already full for September. His Steelhead Apartments will be completed in August.
“I know students have found these properties to be appealing because they’re fully leased for the fall,” said Neal. “And we could have filled them several times over because the demand was so high.”
Neal said tenants had committed to the property by mid-April. Both properties are three-story townhouse units and both have 36 bedrooms.
Neal decided to undertake such big projects because he was enthusiastic toward learning about sustainable building methods and because he wanted to build something “more appealing” than the old properties.
“There were older properties that were in need of upgrading,” said Neal. “There reaches a point where you have to make sense of it and replace the old with the new.”
With his private architect, Richard Shugar of 2 Form Architecture, who has also done some guest lecturing at the University, Neal worked to achieve two goals.
“The important thing is with both Coho and Steelhead, I’m trying to build unique properties that are special for two reasons,” said Neal. “I want them to be visually striking, like some urban properties in the Pearl District or Seattle.”
Neal’s second goal was to create buildings that were environmentally sustainable. He worked to include solar power and corrugated sheet metal siding, which lasts for 50 years and doesn’t require painting. He also scrapped the vinyl windows on the properties and opted for fiberglass or aluminum windows, which can last about 200 years.
“I think that when new multi-family properties are constructed in a neighborhood in which they replace old, unattractive properties, everyone benefits,” said Neal. “The neighborhood, the students … the nearby businesses benefit because you have higher population density and less reliance on automobiles.”
T. Dean Hansen, a banker and senior vice president at Pacific Continental Bank, has also been developing properties on the side. The Calvin, his property at 1762 Hilyard Street, will be done this fall.
“I have owned campus real estate since 1988,” said Hansen. “I’ve just slowly been able to pick up a few additional units. My goal is to always have properties that are safe, that have the amenities students want like a washer and dryer and features that are environmentally energy efficient. Any time I buy something, I try to remodel and bring it up to the standards of EWEB’s energy efficiencies.”
Hansen agrees that the change will significantly help the business climate in the west University area.
“I think it’s very positive,” said Hansen. “Being within walking distance is wonderful for students.”
Hansen said tearing down old, almost uninhabitable buildings and converting them to newer, more densely populated spaces will be an important change for the housing around the University area.
“I tore down one little old house and built a unit with 24 bedrooms,” said Hansen. “Instead of a couple students living in this old house, I now have 24 students. You can imagine how that positively affects the business district.”
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