With the addition of 290 student beds, Saint Louis University is attempting to ease the pressure of sparse on-campus housing options.
“We’ve obviously had a need for additional housing for some time now,” Director of Housing and Residence Life Alvin Sturdivant, said.
By SLU becoming the primary operator of the Flats at 374, students now have the option of living in this new apartment complex just in time for the Fall 2010 semester.
Knowledge of this addition has been public since the Dec. 22 email Housing and Res. Life sent out to students, in which the Flats was first mentioned; however, explicit details were few and far between.
First, it is important to note that SLU does not own the Flats; instead, the University will be in control of managing and operating the apartment building.
They will act as a “Third Party Manager,” according to Sturdivant.  This means that SLU has “full-reign” of facility services and operations, Sturdivant said, but due to the fact that SLU does not have ownership of the building, housing scholarships will not apply.
For those who have heard the rumor of SLU abolishing the housing scholarships and instead adding them to tuition scholarships, that is false.
“It’s a matter of misunderstanding,” Sturdivant said.
He said that this may have stemmed from the fact that, if a student applies for housing, and, for some reason, on-campus housing is unavailable, the housing portions of scholarships would be added to tuition payments.
This is reserved as a last-case scenario, and for now, housing and tuition scholarships will remain separate.
Since the Flats were opened as a separate entity, the issue of preexisting leases and new pricing rates has arisen.
For those students already involved with leases, Sturdivant states that the contracts will be respected and rates will remain the same.
Nevertheless, after SLU begins managing the facility on March 1, the rates for all new leases will be adjusted to reflect a five-five-two month, fall, spring and summer semester plan.
Currently, the Flats utilizes rates that coincide with a four-four-four month schedule.
Unlike any other available on-campus apartment or dorm, the Flats is advertised as fully furnished with a “Deluxe Modern Furniture Package,” and, according to the Flats’ website, all units include a “42” Flat Screen TV.”
These advertisements will be honored and will not change once SLU begins its operations.
“All amenities will still be included,” Sturdivant said.
This includes a full wireless facility, premium cable from Charter, multiple study rooms, a theater and a tech center.
The only item that may be removed once SLU moves in is the tanning room, due to possible maintenance issues.
Other than providing five Resident Advisors, an Assistant Hall Coordinator and a Residence Hall Coordinator, SLU’s management will also offer a full-time student desk worker, among other security measures.
In addition, the Flats will be added to the Department of Public Safety’s rounds, and a member of the Whelan security personnel will be on staff from 11 p.m. through 7 a.m.
Access to the Flats facilities will be via a SAFLOK digitized key system, and each bedroom in the apartment units will have individual locks.
Though the Flats will remain independent until SLU’s managing take-over at the beginning of March, Sturdivant makes a recommendation for interested students.
“Anyone who wants to live in the Flats next semester needs to sign up through [Res. Life’s] housing sign-up process.”