On Feb. 28, Nicholls will make a recommendation to the Board of Regents for a privatized housing project on campus property. This on campus meeting will be open to students and faculty.
The privatized housing project has been a continuing process to find a company to represent Nicholls State, hire someone to survey property lines, test the soil, lease the land, collect documents and get privatized housing on the agenda for the upcoming board meeting in February.
“We are still in the negotiating phase and, until the board meeting, the names of the companies who put in bids will not be released to the public,” Mike Davis, assistant vice president for business affairs and for procurement and plant operations, said.
Six companies have put in bids to Nicholls. Each company was required to submit to the University a view of the site from the exterior and a layout from above to visualize how the site would look from inside. Two companies that were evaluated by Nicholls have been chosen to make a presentation in front of the Board of Regents. The board will make the final decision to hire a contractor.
“We are optimistic, and we should break ground some time in May if all approvals are obtained from the Board of Regents,” Davis said.
By the spring semester of 2004 the housing complex consisting of 400 apartments should be open.
The University will be leasing the land to the company to develop, design, finance, construct, furnish and manage the privatized housing. After thirty years, the University will have the option to take over the apartments or require the contractor to tear them down.
“Once a company receives the Board of Regents’ approval, the company will have focus groups and layout suggestions, survey random students for ideas and have public forums about the privatized housing,” Eugene Dial, vice president of student affairs, said.
Students will then have the choice between the traditional residence halls or private housing.
“I would prefer the privatized housing because it is my house, it will be quiet, I will have time to study and make better grades.” Dwight Johnson, criminal justice freshman from Harvey, said.
The apartments will follow the same basic rules of the University. Only students, faculty or other people with ties to the University will be able to reside in the new apartments. The apartments will be just like any other apartments in town except located on campus.
“I think students will like having the type of privacy an apartment offers and yet still be close to campus,” Dial said.
University police will handle all disturbances or complaints. Students or faculty residing in the apartments will purchase a parking decal that is different from the regular parking decals. From 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. the University police will enforce parking violations on anyone parked in the apartment parking lot who does not have the proper decal visible.
The amount of rent will be based on the number of rooms per apartment. The co-ed apartments, available in two or four bedrooms, will be fully furnished with cable television, a telephone, a washer and a dryer.
“Once we are able to release information about rent, I think the students will be impressed by the availability of privatized housing on campus and the competitive rent,” Davis said.
Unlike the dormitories, which students pay per semester, the residents will lease the apartments for nine to twelve months.
Married couples will be given the two bedroom apartments while single students will be placed in same sex apartments. There have been no discussions as to whether children will be allowed to reside in the apartments.
Residents will pay $350 per semester for a declining balance to use in the convenience store and deli located inside the complex as well as elsewhere on campus. The deli and convenience store will also provide students with employment opportunities.
“I find first time freshmen tend to favor the traditional residence halls, while juniors or seniors who wish to remain on campus would prefer apartments,” Davis said.
Long Hall will be shut down in three to four years. Davis said the building is old and would need to have the heating, cooling and piping system upgraded.
“I might be living in the private housing than the dormitories; it would be a better place to live,” Brandon Thomas, history freshman from New Orleans, said.
The shutting down of Long Hall will provide more spaces for future privatized housing projects.
“There is a demand for apartments. With privatized housing we will reduce that need,” Davis said.