As The University of Mississippi continues to increase its student body, a greater need for off-campus student housing has developed. Housing projects have begun springing up all over Oxford, including The Retreat, The Hub and Highland Square. But as these housing developments continue building, the move-in dates are quickly approaching and some students wonder whether or not they will have a home by Aug. 26.
Highland Square, a new development located on Molly Barr Road, appears to be behind in its development progression.
“They have repeatedly pushed back the date for us to see a model, and for us that’s frustrating because no one wants to move into a place they can’t see,” said Amanda Simpson, a junior English major from Oxford. “They’ve obviously taken on more than they can handle.”
Simpson, who is set to move into the complex Aug. 12, said the disorganization of the project has proven the unreliability of the Highland Square management.
“When we signed our lease in February, we were told we could get out of the lease if we wanted to. But when we went to get out of our lease in June, they wouldn’t let us,” said Simpson. “They changed management and changed their policy.” Simpson added that there will be no early move-in, which was scheduled for Aug. 1, and that only those whose housing is finished will be able to move in on Aug. 12.
A representative of the company did release this statement: “Highland Square is on schedule to open prior to the start of fall classes. As with any project this size and scale, completion of the project occurs in phases with some parts of the project completing earlier than others. We are contacting students to let them know when their unit will be ready for move-in and will do our best to accommodate any students who need to move in before their unit will be completed.”
The Hub at Oxford, located off Anderson Road, is also scheduled to open this fall semester and will house 582 residents. Student and future Hub resident Corinne Vance knew she wanted to live there before her virtual tour was over.
“Honestly I chose The Hub because I started looking late in the game,” said Vance, a integrated marketing communications major from Clarksdale. “My options were limited, but then I heard The Hub had a few openings left. I knew that’s where I wanted to live even before I’d finished the virtual tour.”
The Hub also confirmed to its residents that the project will be complete on schedule for move-in day in August. However, Vance stated that she was informed that while the interiors of the houses are finished, the exterior of the houses are still under construction.
“If I am not going to be able to move in August 1, I am going to be very upset,” Vance said. “I haven’t really thought of a back-up plan, so I really hope they are finished on time. As long as I can move in, I don’t have any problem putting up with a little work outside.”
Michelle Carswell, general manager, said “construction at The Hub is progressing as scheduled and our team looks forward to welcoming Hub residents to their new home on August 15.”
Carswell also said that they are proud to report that they are able to accommodate residents in need of an August 1 move-in.
The Retreat, located on Anderson Road, is a 168-unit neighborhood-style community which will house 668 students.
The office of The Retreat confirmed that they will be completed right on schedule for the residents to move in on time.
“Driving through the neighborhood made me feel a little bit better about it,” said junior Bradley Bynum, a future resident of The Retreat. “It looks really good. Seems like they‘re almost done.”
The Retreat is owned and managed by a company called EdR, or Education Reality. EdR is located in Memphis, Tenn., and the company’s close proximity to Oxford allows it to keep track of the city’s market and trends for the future.
“EdR is always watching the growth of Ole Miss,” said Hannah McEuen, The Retreat’s community manager. “We are familiar with the university and know it is a popular place for college-bound students.”
Before EdR made the final decision on its $37.6 million investment of The Retreat, the company went through a “rigorous investigation” of the city and university.
“Having done the investigation, we were convinced that The University of Mississippi is a great market for growth and, in particular, a cottage-style collegiate community,” said McEuen.
One problem that can come with opening a new property for college students is they don’t have anything to show while under construction, making it harder to convince students to live there. To combat this problem, The Retreat focused its marketing and leasing strategy on the internet, giving digital renderings and construction updates as the project progressed.
“The simulations we created in our virtual tours were so life-like that potential residents got a realistic view of what it would be like to live here,” McEuen said. “Coupled with construction updates on Facebook and Twitter and on-site ‘dusty boot tours’ with our leasing staff, students and their families had the confidence needed to sign a lease on an unfinished building.”
