The Office of Capital Projects is currently researching potential plans to renovate several units of the Charles River Apartments in order to expand student housing options. Vice President of Capital Projects Dan Feldman presented this research to the Physical Facilities Committee of the Board of Trustees at two meetings Oct. 28 and 29. According to Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer, "Our biggest concern, moving forward over the coming years, is the large number of juniors and seniors who will not receive on-campus housing assignments and will have to seek beds elsewhere."

At last Thursday's faculty meeting Student Union President Andy Hogan '11 presented the Office of Student Life's figures on housing capacity for up until fall 2014. According to the presentation, for an enrollment figure of 3,395 students in fall 2010, 618 students will not be housed; 761 students will not be housed in fall 2011 if enrollment increases to 3,538. In fall 2012, 850 out of 3,627 students will not receive housing; in fall 2013, 880 out of 3,657 students will not be housed; and in fall 2014, 891 out of 3,668 students will not have housing.

Jeremy Leiferman, the director of Community Living, said that the Charles River Apartments were chosen because of their close proximity to campus. "My hope is that Charles River can become the best of both worlds for students-the conveniences of on-campus housing partnered with the independence and experiences that comes with living off-campus," Leiferman told the Justice.

The research Capital Projects is currently conducting, in cooperation with the Office of Facilities Services, Vice President of Students and Enrollment Jean Eddy, the Department of Student Life and Lieferman, involves the renovation of a "test unit" at the Charles River Apartments. Capital Projects is surveying the "condition of the infrastructure" in the apartments, according to Feldman. "If good options emerge from this study perhaps we will come up with a proposal [for renovation]", Feldman told the Justice. Since no definite plans have been made yet and research in ongoing, Capital Projects has not set a timeline for renovation.

The current state of the economy is a crucial factor in plans for expanding housing options, according to Feldman. During the research phase, Capital Projects is exploring "how can we make most difference in most efficient, most cost-effective way," Feldman said.

"It's hard to say whether this research will lead to a project-we are hopeful," Feldman said. "It is a high priority. Now we're trying to figure out how to do this in the current financial environment."

The question of student housing is especially significant considering the University's goal to increase enrollment by 400 undergraduates by 2014. Sawyer insisted that the University "will be able to accommodate additional students." Still, Sawyer told the Justice, "We will not be doing any 'overcrowding.' We have a finite number of beds on campus, and that is the number that will be used."

According to Hogan, the Student Union sent out a poll to the student body recently with questions about Charles River. The results of the poll were included in a recent presentation to the Board of Trustees. "Surveying of students done recently confirms that a renovated Charles River will be attractive to our students," Sawyer said.

"It is clear that increasing the amount of students on campus will bring about consequences," Hogan told the Justice. "The Student Union is making sure that student life concerns, including access to housing, are addressed [by the administration]. Overcrowding affects all facets of campus. It is necessary that students have multiple, quality options for housing."



-Nashrah Rahman contributed reporting.