With the addition of the Grand Forest apartments in June, the population center of campus has begun to shift eastward.
Now housing 129 students licensed under Residence Life contracts and more than 100 residents leased under the former owners, the complex of 132 apartments has added to the apartment-style housing options, said Argyle Wade, director of Housing Operations.
“We’ve been able to be more flexible in accommodating what the students want,” said Wade. “The people I have talked to since move-in have been very happy with the apartments.”
Unlike the Village Apartments and Marchetti Towers, the Grand Forest apartments are not furnished, and students are responsible for providing gas, electricity, phone, cable, Internet connection and furniture.
Currently, Residence Life has 165 spaces under its control, but not all of these are completely renovated yet. By May, that number is expected to rise to a maximum of 396 if the apartments are triple-occupancy or a minimum of 264 if double-occupancy.
The building, purchased June 8, 2001, was formerly managed by Apartment Exchange. Saint Louis University is honoring all leases that were in place, but will not be renewing any as they expire. Residents of the apartment complex under old leases were given the option of extending their leases until May 2002.
In order to fill the spaces that opened from expiring leases, all campus residents were informed through the mail this summer that spaces were available in the new complex.
“Anybody that contacted us got a spot,” said Wade. In addition, when the entire housing system did not reach capacity this year, he was able to offer those living in Grand Forest the option of living in a double-occupancy apartment rather than a triple-occupancy apartment, at a higher rate.
The composition of those students falling under the Residence Life contracts is the following: 23 freshmen (second year students with less than 30 credit hours), 60 sophomores, 32 juniors, seven seniors, two graduate students and five unclassified students (non-degree seeking students).
In addition to offering housing to those currently in the housing system, Wade said the department was able to offer housing options to transfer and commuter students.
“This is the first time in three years we could actually have that conversation with transfers and commuters and even graduate students,” Wade said.
As a result of the mix of both Residence Life-licensed apartments and leased apartments, transitional issues have occurred as the building switched over from privately owned to University-owned.
“The staff has done a great job in making the transition from private management to University successful,” Wade said.
One issue of the transition is that of disciplinary procedures. According to Wade, every SLU student, whether under SLU contract or a lease, is subject to the SLU code of conduct.
“As far as how they behave, there is not a separate standard,” said Wade. Wade added that only a few complaints have come from residents who had lived in Grand Forest for several years now.
He added that for those individual residents, Wade meets with them and discusses the transition with them.
Throughout the year, additional apartments will open up as leases expire and renovations are completed. Wade said that anyone interested in moving into these spaces should contact Residene Life during the room change process.
As the year progresses, Wade expects to have discussions with residents of Grand Forest and the Student Government Association to determine the level of amenities that Grand Forest will provide-whether full-service like the Village and Marchetti or whether to be more independent like it is now.
