New FHSU housing under construction

By JOSEPH GALANTE

Hays Daily News

The construction of four apartment buildings on the Fort Hays State University campus are taking shape for their first student-tenants next semester.

Like many other universities nationwide, FHSU's construction on four condominiums reflects a shift toward upscale student housing and away from traditional residence halls at the university.

“Students today have changing expectations about living environments,” said Dana Cunningham, the facility planning director at FHSU. “There are more people wanting to have the opportunity for apartment-style living versus the conventional dormitory space.”

The 40, two- and four-bedroom Stadium Place Apartments, which can house 120 students, are being built in between Lewis Field Stadium and Wiest Hall. They will open by the beginning of next school year.

The apartments will be fully furnished and have a washer and dryer, dishwasher, refrigerator, stove-top range, high-speed Internet and cable television. Rent per student will be $400 a month for a four-bedroom, $450 a month for a two bedroom, water and electricity not included.

The university hopes to offer more on-campus living choices for students. In the fall 2004 semester, on-campus residency dropped 11 percent (993 to 885) despite a small increase in campus enrollment.

Part of that, school officials said, is that today's students do not want to live in antiquated dorms.

“One of the concerns we we hear from potential students is quality of housing issues,” said Edward H. Hammond, president of FHSU. “If we don't respond, they're going to go elsewhere.”

But the price of the Stadium Place apartments will be high — nearly double of what any diligent apartment seeker could find in town.

The Ellis County Appraiser's office estimated the average rent for a three-bedroom apartment in the city is $485.

Split between three students, that's roughly $160 a month, utilities not included.

But the university doesn't think lower prices in town will keep students away from the higher-priced campus apartments.

“I don't think comparing us with an average facility is an appropriate comparison,” said Steve Culver, director of residential life. “I think you could find a place in town that would be less expensive to live. But then you would have to choose whether or not you wanted to live there.”

The amenities, location and pristine condition of the apartments make their quality much higher than an average place in town, school officials said.

“There are a lot of sub-standard apartments in Hays. The product that we're building is a very good quality product and we think that it will be attractive for that reason,” Cunningham said. “Our students come from a variety of backgrounds — from rural areas to metro areas. I think there's some thought that some students from urban metro areas would not find that objectionable for the price if it's a good-quality space with the amenities they want in it. They'll be willing to pay more. Not every student will be able to, but there is a group that will be willing to.”

The $5 million apartments are being built by Uniplace, a company created for the project by two Colorado businessmen and FHSU alumni Brooks Kellog and David van Doren.

Uniplace will own the complex on the college campus and transfer ownership to the university at no cost after 10 years.

“It's a really good opportunity for the university because of the quick turnover,” Cunningham said. “Normally in a development situation like this you would see the turnover occurring at more like 25 to 30 years. So 10 years is extremely short.”

The Stadium Place Apartments will replace the 170-bed McGrath Hall, which was razed four years ago. Long-term plans are to eventually phase out all conventional dormitories on the campus.

“I think what we're doing is coming in with a product that is different than what's available and it's what students are telling us they want,” FHSU President Hammond said. “We aren't changing the amount of bed options there are. We're changing the quality of the bed options. If we can ratchet up the quality of the bed options ... I think it'll make Fort Hays more attractive and students will want to come here.”

Reporter Joseph Galante can be reached at (785) 628-1081, ext. 139, or by e-mail at

jgalante@dailynews.net.