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Education

HCC to consider housing project

An $18.2-million apartment complex could serve students on the college's Dale Mabry Highway campus.

By JANET ZINK
Published August 17, 2005

TAMPA - Hillsborough Community College is negotiating with an Atlanta builder who wants to put student housing on the college's Dale Mabry Highway campus.

The HCC board of trustees is scheduled to review the proposal today.

The $18.2-million complex with 144 apartments serving 414 students would be built on 7.5 acres west of the campus at Lois Avenue and Tampa Bay Boulevard.

Florida law prohibits community colleges from using state money for dormitories.

"This isn't a dorm. This is an apartment complex that's on college property," said Robert Chunn, president of the Dale Mabry campus. "It's being built and managed by entities other than the college."

HCC's Dale Mabry campus serves 16,000 students.

Place Properties has built apartment complexes for students at the University of Florida, Clemson University and the University of Tennessee.

At HCC, it proposes building a complex that would include computer labs, meeting rooms, a fitness center, laundry area and swimming pool.

Rents would range from $425 a month per person for a four-bedroom apartment to $650 a month for a one-bedroom apartment.

If the HCC board approves the deal, construction would begin this fall and be completed in early 2007.

The land is now used for parking. Development is not expected to affect parking for football games at Raymond James Stadium.

HCC spokesman John Huerta said the benefit of convenient housing outweighs the need for parking.

About eight months ago, HCC requested proposals from private developers for about 19 acres surrounding its Dale Mabry campus.

The offer from Place Properties was the only viable one, said Chunn.

"We really like the one we got," Chunn said, adding that he was surprised there wasn't more interest in another part of the campus, the acreage that fronts Dale Mabry.

The college is still open to offers.

"If someone comes and wants to talk to us about the front yard, we can," he said.

HCC is considered a cornerstone of Drew Park, identified as a community redevelopment area. That means it's a special taxing district where increases in property taxes are directed back into the neighborhood for streets and other infrastructure.

Ron Rotella, executive director of the Westshore Alliance, said the apartments fit well with the redevelopment plans for Drew Park, and the tax dollars they generate will help pay for more redevelopment.

Plus, he said, the rent structure is good.

"It responds to a nationwide problem by providing housing people can afford," Rotella said.

"In this case it's students."

Janet Zink can be reached at 813 226-3401 or jzink@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 17, 2005, 01:08:12]