Although representatives from Ohio University's Off-Campus Living and Athens city officials said they do not think more student housing is needed, three new apartment buildings are being built at 65, 56 and 49 Stewart St.
Bobcat Rentals owns the apartment building at 65 Stewart St. There are two two-bedroom apartments and four three-bedroom apartments, said Patrick Daugherty, property manager for Bobcat Rentals. He added that the apartments will be open September 2010.
The apartments owned by Bobcat Rentals will include dishwashers, washers and dryers, central air, hardwood floors and parking, but occupants will have to pay all utilities, Daugherty said. He added that rent is $1,500 per person per quarter.
Coady Rentals owns the apartment buildings at 56 and 49 Stewart St. The building at 49 Stewart St. offers three four-bedroom apartments for $400 to $500 per person per month, according to the Coady Rentals website. Coady Rentals refused to comment.
Although there are new apartment buildings going up on Stewart Street, Athens does not need any more off-campus housing according to the housing master plan created by the office of Off-Campus Living, said Christine Sheets, executive director of residential housing.
The housing master plan is updated every five years to determine the total capacity housing needs of Athens, Sheets said.
The plan was last published in 2005, but Off-Campus Living is currently updating the plan to include recent additions to student housing such as The Summit at Coates Run, 363 Richland Ave., she said. She added that even after the reevaluation is done, more housing will probably be unnecessary.
City Council members are concerned that new housing in densely populated areas, such as Stewart, Mill and Palmer Streets will make these areas even more overcrowded.
High-density housing is a quality of life issue
said Councilwoman Nancy Bain, D-3rd Ward. Some developments are so overcrowded with 15 to 16 people living on an eighth of an acre.
Bain said the April 24 fire in the middle of High Street during High Fest, which led to the party being shut down at about 11 p.m., is an example of problems with high-density housing, Bain said.
Daugherty said Stewart Street is densely populated, but it is a great place to have apartments, and Bobcat Rentals has not had problems in the past.
(The area) is the enclave for student activity and the focal point for student housing he said. It's the main area that people want to live.
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Alex Stuckey
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Billy Barber measures the ground in preparation for pouring cement yesterday at the new apartments being built at 56 Stewart St. The apartments have been under construction for a month and are on schedule to be completed by the end of summer. (Megan Dowler | FOR THE POST)
