Un-built apartments appealing to students

by Rosie Lukanc
For The Post

Although the University Courtyard apartment complex is not finished yet, many students already have signed a lease to live there next school year.

No specific numbers are available, but many students already have paid their $300 security deposit, said Beth Horner, director of marketing and communications at Ambling Company Incorporated. Ambling is the development firm hired to build the apartments, which are being built on land owned by Ohio University.

When complete, the apartment complex will house 580 students. Ambling officials plan to have most of the leases signed by August, Horner said.

Even though the complex is months away from completion, Horner said she does not foresee any future delays. So far, construction is on schedule and students should be able to move in this summer.

Ambling has promised the university that the complex will be finished by Sept. 1, said John Kotowski, director of Facilities Planning and Construction at OU.

"If there are any delays, the developer is responsible," he said.

OU will not pay any reparations to students if they are not able to move in on time, Kotowski said.

The apartment sizes are larger than the minimum size required by law for rental property. This makes the complex appealing to students, said Steve Pierson, director of Athens Code Enforcement.

Coupled with other added incentives - including private bathrooms- students are willing to rent something that has not been built yet for the extra amenities Ambling is offering, Pierson said.

And, with developers offering better deals, the entire rental market should improve, due to supply and demand, he said. About 70 percent of all housing in Athens is rental property.

"Even if [students] don't want to pay more, it will improve the market place for everyone," Pierson said. "It should open up better options for everyone."

OU sophomore Susie Gallik considered the Courtyard first, but decided to sign with a less expensive lease that was closer to campus. She said the Courtyard's attributes were appealing, however.

"Compared to what's out there, it's worth getting the lease before it's built," Gallik said. "(Competition) is not a bad idea."