New apartments in works
Students can look forward to a new apartment complex complete with fitness center, computer lab, outdoor swimming pool with sundeck, all season spa, enclosed basketball court and sand volleyball court.
The Mount Pleasant Planning Commission approved a special use permit for the development of a 228-unit, 744-bedroom apartment complex on Bluegrass Road.
“The Village at Bluegrass” will offer privacy in an upscale residential environment, according to developers at the Atlantis Development Group.
“Based on what’s been presented, it’s going to be very nice,” said Woody Woodruff, Union Township zoning administrator. “It will probably be amenity heavy and you may find that you have to pay for that.
“The proof is in the pudding and they’ll charge what the market compares.”
He said there will be extensive community amenities at the Village. It will be a gated community with card reader access at vehicle entrances, building entrances, apartment entrances and bedroom doors. There also will be a limited access perimeter fence and ample parking.
“I think you’re going to see a lot larger amenity package than what most complexes offer,” Atlantis Development Manager Gordon Hunsaker said. “You’re going to see all the things you would find at larger universities across the nation.
Hunsaker said the group has been successful with its other properties so timing is the only issue.
“We’re looking forward to getting construction started by the end of the month and we’ll have apartments available in May 2004 with all units being completed in August 2004,” he said.
The Village will be managed by Atlantis Asset Management and a professional on-site staff will assist residents 24 hours a day.
“I think this complex will allow students to have a wider selection of living styles,” Woodruff said.
He said the complex will have a number of effects on the community as well.
“There will be more housing, which will keep the overall cost of housing down, based on supply and demand principles,” he said. “It’ll also take some of the pressure off student housing inside the city of Mount Pleasant.”
Student housing issues can be more problematic in the higher density areas of the city, Woodruff said.
The 20-acre complex will be located on the north side of Bluegrass Road, west of Isabella Road and south of Broomfield Road. Roadways leading to each of the three main roads also will be developed.
The 228-dwelling units will be situated in 14 three-story buildings and will be fully furnished.
Woodruff said any apartment complex that will utilize buildings of four or more units requires a special units permit.
“The special use permit gives us more control over the bigger complexes as far as spacing, buffering and screening,” he said. “We require that they get together with the property owner in terms of screening with fences and plants.”
Woodruff said the formal construction phase hasn’t started yet, but could very soon. He said the developers already have done the preliminary layout and staking.
Hunsaker said construction of the roads already has started as well.
