The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors voted in April to acquire the La Maison du Bayou apartment complex from Collegiate Management Services, which will be managed by the University through Residence Life beginning in August. Mike Davis, assistant vice president of administration, said the board is exercising an option in the original lease documents with the present owner of La Maison, Collegiate Management Services, which allows it to acquire the property. He said the board would then lease the property to the NSU Facilities Corporation, a non-profit corporation formed to assist Nicholls with projects such as this.
Davis said once the NSU Facilities Corporation completes more than $600,000 in repairs, the corporation will lease the property back to the University for a period of 32 years, after which the property will belong to the University.
“With the building of new residence halls, we feel it would be in our best interest, and our students’ best interest, to have all of the residence facilities under the management of the University,” Davis said.
Davis said the improvements, which include repainting walls and replacing the flooring and some appliances, will be scheduled to minimize the inconvenience of residents, and though there are no major projects planned, some inconveniences may occur.
There is an existing plumbing problem at La Maison, Davis said, that resulted in several apartments in building five flooding, but Collegiate Management Services is responsible for fixing the problem before the Board of Supervisors acquires the property.
Eugene Dial, vice president of student affairs and enrollment services, said though the apartments will be receiving improvements and new furniture and appliances in some cases, these will not be the biggest changes students see.
“I think the biggest thing students will notice is that the University will make sure the [building] will be maintained,” Dial said. “I think you’ll see a much better plan and response to maintaining the physical plant.”
Dial said the rent will not be changing, as of now. The rates will be what was posted on Residence Life’s Website in January.
Dial said the day-to-day operations will not change, and there will be no major rule changes restricting visitation times or who can visit residents, but rules already in place will be enforced.
Dial also said the University will be allowing freshmen to live in the apartments this fall.
“We decided to allow freshmen to go to La Maison this fall because there was a demand for quality housing we weren’t able to meet because Babington, Calecas and Zeringue were full, and we had spaces available at La Maison,” Dial said.
Dial said until now freshmen were not allowed to live in La Maison because the University felt they would be better encouraged to participate in campus life and have a more fulfilling college experience living in the community atmosphere of dorms rather than the isolated living style of an apartment complex.
“We are requiring freshmen that move into La Maison purchase a regular meal plan, because that will make sure that they are actively involved on campus,” Dial said.
