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December 3, 2007 New complex caters to student needs New property located on 48th Avenue, set to open in August 2008, will resemble community village with free cable television |
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November 18, 2007 WEB EXCLUSIVE: Student housing expo simplifies apartment search Looking for a new place to live for next fall can seem like a daunting task, but the members of one student organization at Grand Valley State University have created a one-stop apartment shopping event for their classmates. The Seidman Real Estate Group is bringing representatives from about 15 off-campus apartment complexes and property management companies together this week for the first-ever Student Living Expo at GVSU. Instead of driving from complex to complex, students can stop by Henry Hall and gather information for local apartments and houses for rent in one place, said Events Coordinator Rob Deverna. The expo will last from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Henry Hall Atrium. During the expo, students can collect informational pamphlets and handouts from properties located downtown and in Allendale while they walk around and talk to property managers, Deverna said. Free pizza and pop will be served to those who arrive early. |
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November 14, 2007 48 West adjusts for students Construction has begun on a new downtown style apartment community in Allendale and leases are being signed before the cement foundations have time to dry. The Village at 48 West is not much more than gravel roads and cement foundations right now, but a total of 11 buildings are scheduled to be ready for the fall of 2008 and students are beginning to show interest. All of the two-bedroom apartments that have yet to be finished in 48 West are spoken for. About 37 individual leases were signed as of Tuesday out of about 430 beds, said Regional Property Manager Jamie Springer. |
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June 13, 2007
Ground will soon break for 48 West
Allendale Township Board approves plans for Investment Property Associates development Plans for a proposed student housing project got the final nod from the Allendale Township Board Monday to begin breaking ground. The township board unanimously voted to give approval to Investment Property Associates, a development company from Grand Haven, to begin construction on The Village at 48 West. IPA will start the project this summer and possibly have some apartments ready for occupancy by Fall 2008. “(IPA) could tell from the first meeting that there was resistance,” said Allendale Township Supervisor Jim Beelen. He said he had expected the board to give IPA the approval they needed. “Something that has been really unique about this project is the cooperation between the developers and the township staff,” he said. The project will be completed in two phases, with the first phase being the larger of the two and the only one currently approved. To get approval for phase two, which would increase the number of occupants, IPA must construct a new entrance to the property for safety reasons. Student housing offered by 48 West will include apartment buildings and townhouses. The developers’ vision of 48 West is to resemble a portion of downtown Holland. The project will include an outdoor multi-purpose sports court, a convenience store and lots of outdoor patios. There is even the possibility of a bookstore and a classroom for Grand Valley State University Students. The new housing will be located west of 48th Avenue next to Meadows Crossing. The 48 West buildings will be neighbors with Winding Creek Circle condominiums and Grand Valley Estates. Residents from both of the single-family complexes attended the township meeting and gave their final opinions of the project. Previously, residents had concerns about the increase in noise levels that high density student housing would bring to their neighborhood. In an attempt to move the project’s approval to a special vote, Grand Valley Estates resident Thomas DeBoer started a petition with his wife in April. Their efforts fell 500 signatures short. However, those who spoke at Monday’s meeting praised IPA for their cooperation. “(IPA has) listened to our concerns and our comments, and it’s very reflective in their master plan,” said Winding Creek Circle resident Dwayne Thomas. 48 West began as a three phase development with 1,856 beds, but the two phases left the number of beds whittled down to 1,368. After eliminating the last phase of their project, IPA also reduced the size of seven buildings by one story. The buildings were lowered in response to the residents’ concerns about noise carrying from 48 West into neighboring properties, IPA principal developer Bill Fettis said. Also, the space between 48 West and the existing housing was increased. In addition to addressing concerns about the project at township board meetings, IPA associates also held separate meetings with residents. “It was a group effort on their part and on our part,” said Township Treasurer Pierce Roon. |
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