The Rocket

Issue date: 3/23/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Amy Kelly [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Amy Kelly [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Amy Kelly Ivy Apartments have leased several units to students for the next academic year. This model apartment, open for students and parents to tour, offers a large and private space for residents off campus. Above: model kitchen; middle: model living room; bottom: model of individual bedroom. [Click to enlarge]

The construction of new off-campus apartments is ahead of schedule, as many students anticipate the opening.

"The Ivy Apartments will be open Aug. 20 for tenets to move in," said Amy Kelly (no relation to Rocket reporter), Ivy Apartments general manager. "We have had a tremendous response and have been very busy ever since SRU's Christmas break."

Phase one of the Ivy Apartments will include 14 buildings and a Clubhouse; currently only 11 buildings have been built.

After phase two, the Ivy Apartments will have an additional five buildings, she said.

"In some of the buildings there will be mixtures of two bedroom and four bedroom apartments," she said. "Two bedrooms will cost $535 per person, per month and the four bedrooms will cost $495 per person, per month. This amount includes water, sewer, trash, basic cable, HBO, high-speed Internet and electric and use of the Clubhouse."

The Clubhouse is located near the center of the apartments and includes tanning beds, computer center, lounging areas, multi-media center and a fitness room.

"The apartments come with a stainless steel refrigerator, smooth top self-cleaning oven, microwave, garbage disposal and a dishwasher," she said. "A front loading washer and dryer as well as furniture for all the rooms are included."

Tours are provided for any one interested in the Ivy Apartments.

"We have had so many people come to see the model apartment," Kelly said. "Parents are coming and they all seem to really like it."

The name, Ivy Apartments, was decided upon after a brainstorming walk through the SRU campus, she said.

"There is so much beautiful greenery on campus that the Ivy seemed appropriate," she said.

An organization involved in development of Ivy Apartments, Campus Advantage, is focusing their attention on potential residents.

"We are very happy with the apartments," said Campus Advantage Vice President of Professional Services Michael Hanley. "Construction is ahead of schedule and all the students seem happy with the units."

Campus Advantage is trying to forge a sense of community within the complex so students interact with one another, he said.

"By providing the students with a common Community Center they will be able to connect with common interests," Hanley said.

There will be twelve community assistants living on site to help assist in bringing students from different units together.

"The community assistants will go through training on how to get people involved with each other," Hanley said.

Another incentive is that even though each resident will have their own room, the common area of the living room and kitchen will help them interact within the suite, he said.

"Because the apartments are leased by room sometimes one roommate will not know the others," Hanley said. "By interacting and getting to know each other they are meeting new friends and helping the community grow."

Frank Monteleone, owner of the Monteleone Apartments said his business is not threatened by the new apartments.

"We have a lot more houses we lease, which students seem to be more interested in," he said.

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