Tuesday, April 1, 2014
FAYETTEVILLE — Ward 4 residents got a look Monday at plans for a student housing development on land owned for decades by Fayetteville's Marinoni family.
John Acken, executive vice president for Capstone Collegiate Communities, spoke to residents for more than an hour about the project that could go in on roughly one-quarter of the 112-acre Marinoni land southeast of Wedington Drive and Interstate 540.
At A Glance
Capstone Collegiate Communities and Capstone Development of Birmingham, Ala., have finished 13 student housing projects in university towns throughout the U.S. since 2008. The projects, with roughly 8,800 bedrooms in the following cities, represent nearly $467 million in total development costs.
• Auburn, Ala.
• Clemson, S.C.
• Gainesville, Fla.
• Hattiesburg, Miss.
• Columbia, Mo.
• Lubbock, Texas
• Norman, Okla.
• Baton Rouge, La.
• Birmingham, Ala.
• East Lansing, Mich.
• Kennesaw, Ga.
• College Station, Texas
• Durham, N.H.
Source: capstonecollegiatec…
The Birmingham, Ala.-based company wants to build a 702-bedroom complex with 150 cottage-style units. Each cottage -- made to resemble a single-family house -- would have three, four or five bedrooms. Students would lease individual bedrooms, and each cottage would have a shared kitchen and living room. A central clubhouse would feature amenities like a sauna, steam room, tanning beds and gym.
"We tried to design a neighborhood that's more than just a big box and a sea of parking," Acken said. "What we're trying to do is create a community."
Most of the residents who spoke at Monday's Ward 4 meeting weren't thrilled with the idea.
"My biggest concern with this project is the five (bedrooms)," said Tim Kring, who lives nearby on Halsell Road. "I think it's too dense."
Kathy Short, a homeowner on Loren Circle, said traffic only got worse on Sang Avenue and Cleveland Street as more students cut through neighborhoods to get to campus.
"We don't have the roads; we don't have the capacity," Short said. "We need some infrastructure there to handle something like that."
Acken said developers plan to incorporate a Razorback Transit bus stop in the project. He said, if there's not adequate bus service, Capstone will look at providing a private shuttle.
And, he emphasized, there's no direct access planned at this time connecting the development to neighborhoods to the east. The only access would be on Wedington Drive, Acken said.
Ward 4 Alderman Alan Long correctly noted, however, that the city's master street plan envisions a two-lane street one day extending from the development to Sang Avenue at Archer Drive, south of Temple Shalom.
Long, who lives on Archer, asked if Capstone would sell the development once it's built like it has with projects in other cities.
Acken said that depends on a number of factors, such as interest rates and construction costs. But, he added, "With the way the market looks, this would be more likely to be a longer term hold."
He emphasized that Capstone would have a five-member management staff. One employee would be on-site at all hours of the night to respond to noise complaints and other problems, Acken said. Tenants could be fined for leaving trash in green spaces in front of the cottages, he added.
"Management of course is extremely important when it comes to student housing," Acken said. "Our goal is to create a unique, nice place to live for everyone."
Stacey Park, who lives in the University Heights neighborhood, suggested city officials include specific management practices in zoning and development plans for the property that would govern the development regardless of if it is sold in the future.
NW News on 04/01/2014