Fort Lewis College added 20 apartment units and 68 beds to its student housing inventory in Durango on Tuesday when it closed on a $12 million purchase of the apartment complex at 1304 Florida Road.
The two-story, multibuilding apartment complex called the 1304 Apartments is located at the corner of North College Drive and Florida Road across the street from J. Bo’s Pizza and Rib Co.
The apartment complex formerly housed both students and nonstudents, but after FLC’s purchase, it will become student- and college staff-only housing.
FLC Interim President Steve Schwartz said in a news release student accessibility will be prioritized, but FLC is honoring current nonstudent leases for a smooth transition into student and staff housing going forward.
The apartments range from studios to four-bedroom units. Some units feature walk-in closets and renters can rent covered car ports. A city bus stop is located along College Drive outside the apartments.
The Durango Herald asked FLC spokeswoman Nardy Bickel and FLC Chief Financial Officer Samantha Gallagher in an email what the rental rates at the 1304 Apartments will be, but had not receive an answer as of Thursday.
FLC Student Government Vice President Carmen Hall, who also lives at 1304 Apartments, said she currently pays $1,250 in rent, which includes the cost of special amenities, including a sliding door and balcony, a covered car port and a walk-in closet.
She said she’s a “nontraditional” student, as in she’s lived with nonstudent roommates off the college campus. But student housing is a great option and she appreciates FLC’s administration helping students navigate housing and connect with potential roommates.
She said 1304 Apartments’ location is “perfect,” with the only exception being that she wishes there was a transit route that went uphill on College Drive to FLC.
“Right now, from (the apartments), you have to go all the way downtown and then up the other side of the hill, but to go up college on the back way, I think would be great too,” she said.
But that’s only a 40-minute ride, she added.
J.Bo’s across the road often employs college students, she said, which makes the 1304 Apartments’ location even more appealing.
Gallagher, who also presently serves as FLC’s interim vice president of finance, said the college entered into a letter of intent with the previous owners of 1304 Apartments in August, but it’s been evaluating potential options for deepening its student housing supply over the past year and a half.
“We continue to work on our three-pronged housing strategy, which includes the current mortgage assistance program, expanding options for student housing (which the 1304 acquisition works toward), and looking for additional collaboration opportunities to increase affordable rental housing for faculty and staff,” she said.
FLC’s $12 million purchase of the 1304 Apartments was financed through tax-exempt revenue bonds, according to an FLC news release.
In the news release, Gallagher said a significant demand for bond issuance made it possible for FLC to purchase the apartments and ensure it remains financially sustainable.
Hall said all students should be in student housing, which she considers a priority because it not only gives students the experience of living with peers, but it provides an amount of financial and physical safety.
Falling behind in rent doesn’t result in an immediate eviction, she said. Students are required to pay back the difference they owe before they can resume school, but the FLC administration is there to guide them.
FLC helps students work out leasing or payback programs, job searching, and its connection with the community enables it to do so, she said.
“Renting anywhere, regardless of rural or urban setting, can be super difficult,” she said.
Renting is “outrageous” and the job market can be “volatile,” Hall said, but student housing could encourage more people to go back to school for a higher education.
“I’m a huge advocate for education, and everybody deserves education, and I don’t think that housing should be a barrier to attending college,” she said.
She said Grub Hub, which FLC describes as its basic needs and food pantry, deserves recognition for its work with students facing evictions, homelessness and other forms of housing insecurity.
“They work closely with the Manna soup kitchen to be able to provide housing assistance and get students on benefits, which I think is just absolutely great, so students have more of the opportunity to focus on their academics,” she said.
The Grub Hub is open to students, staff, faculty and even community members, according to FLC.
cburney@durangoherald.com
