SOURCE: Post Research Jeremy DeLuca / THE POST

Construction on the Ohio University-owned land located across the Hocking River from Peden Stadium could slope once constructed on the site because of soil concerns, said John Burns, OU's director of legal affairs.

Land with similar soil, such as the site where Monticello Village apartments in The Plains are located, has had problems with landslides and slipping, Burns said. Ten of the 20 apartment buildings in the complex began to slope because of the soil, he said.

Construction companies have conducted studies to determine the best construction method for the land, but Burns said he does not know how the possibility of sliding will affect the apartments.

OU's Board of Trustees approved an option to lease the university-owned land to Ambling Companies, a national student housing development company based in Valdosta, Ga.

But Ambling's decision to build on the land is not final, said Matt Marshall, director of acquisitions for Ambling Companies.

"Just because we were chosen doesn't mean this is a done deal," he said.

Although 37 acres of land are available, Marshall said only 11 acres can be developed for about 180 student apartments. The project will cost an estimated $20 million.

With the option to lease, Ambling has nine months to fill terms of due diligence, which are necessary to sign a final lease, and to decide whether they will accept the university's offer and begin construction, Burns said.

The company still has to test the soil and survey the land to determine if possible landslides will cause problems for the construction, Marshall said.

Besides land concerns, some local land owners might wonder if additional university-owned housing will hurt existing independent leasers.

But Marlon Buckley, who handles maintenance work and lease agreements for about 42 Athens properties, said he is not worried about the additional housing.

"It's going to put a hamper on it a little bit, but if you treat kids right, it's not going to make that much of a difference," Buckley said.

Buckley, who has worked with student housing for about 15 years, said rising enrollment numbers will balance the extra university-owned housing.

OU's decision to lease the land was in response to a need for better and more extensive housing for upperclass students, Burns said.

"There is a significant need for more housing," he said. "Ambling was the one who did the largest proposal and thought they could do the most," he said.

The fully furnished apartments either will have a two bedrooms and two bathrooms or four bedrooms and four bathrooms. The complex also will have a swimming pool, computer facilities, fitness, game and study rooms, Marshall said.

Ambling decided to build at OU because of its steady student enrollment and the condition of existing student housing in Athens, he said.

"We found a lot of kids were staying at sub-par housing units," he said.

If the company decides to accept the offer to build, Marshall said construction would begin in August and would be completed by July 2000.