Following an in-depth feasibility study that engaged students, residents and other university and community stakeholders, MSU has selected a new site to build student and family apartments – the former Michigan State Police Post at the corner of Harrison Road and Kalamazoo Street.
At the heart of the project is the academic success of students, said Vennie Gore, vice president for Auxiliary Enterprises. Enhanced access to campus resources, improved circulation paths and upgraded modern amenities were themes cited in the study by stakeholders.
Other considerations in the project include the safety and security of residents, play and recreation space for families and access to campus resources. Three campus sites were considered for the new development by the feasibility study team: the current Spartan Village site, the former Cherry Lane and Faculty Bricks locale and the State Police post.
“Based on the feedback from residents, students, the university community and campus planning, this site was ultimately selected,” Gore said. “It best meets the needs expressed by all of our constituents and will allow MSU to provide the best possible connections to campus for these students, alongside the amenities that are now in demand.”
The 2008 Residential and Hospitality Services Strategic Plan cited the need to close the current Spartan Village Apartments, which houses student families along with single students. The 2013 update to the plan reaffirmed that initiative, as the buildings (opened in 1956) have outlived their useful life and needed major improvements to meet current standards.
In the fall of 2013, the Board of Trustees authorized the administration to move forward with planning for redevelopment, as the need for student and family apartments is crucial to support the residential experience of the university. This summer, the board endorsed the site selection.
The project will serve as an opportunity for the university to create a comprehensive plan for the property.
“We will investigate other potential adjacencies and synergies for the site,” Gore said. “We are excited to plan for the future of campus living while exploring other resources that may be centralized to support university activities.”
The cost of the project and the future of the current Spartan Village site has yet to be determined. An architectural firm is currently in process of being hired, with the project to now move into schematic design. Trustee approval will be sought on the plan in 2015, with construction to follow and an anticipated completion date in 2017.