The Links undergoes expansion in order to accommodate student demand. (Photo/Ariel Ladner)
Oxford housing developers are scrambling to accommodate the increasing student population.
Last year, the university’s Oxford campus had a record high of almost 18,000 students. That has led to more demand for off-campus housing.
New housing communities were built within the past two years. Several more are under construction, and at least one long-time housing complex is expanding. The developments feature many amenities popular with students: swimming pools, tanning beds, breakfast during finals week shuttles to campus and the Square, and fitness centers.
Susan Jennings, who oversees housing units at The Retreat in Oxford, said it is 100 percent leased for fall semester.
“We have 668 beds, 160 units, and we are glad that The University of Mississippi market has heartily accepted our cottage-style concept,” Jennings said.
Highland Square offers cottage-style homes and other types of housing. Morgan Martin, leasing and marketing manager for Highland Square, said the complex has 91 cottages, 39 houses, 44 town homes and 40 flats.
“We have 686 people living here right now. We have a total of 753 bedrooms in all,’’ Martin said.
Gavin Short, property manager at Highland Square, said that his company wants to be more than just housing for students.
“People rarely remember where they lived in college, but we want to be remembered,” Short said. “You’ll remember going to the Grove, going to the football games, and we hope the students will remember living in Highland Square.”
The Links development has been in Oxford for more than a decade, and is expanding. Skip Croft, superintendent at Lindsey Construction, is overseeing the expansion.
“The Links have been full for the last two years with a waiting list,” Croft said. “There are 216 more units being built right now, including 144 two-bedroom units and 72 one-bedroom units.”
The newest off-campus housing community is Faulkner Flats on Old Taylor Road. Laurie Farris, regional property manager, said Faulkner Flats will have 264 units and nine different floor plans. She said 100 units have been leased so far.
Like other off-campus housing developments, Faulkner Flats will have many amenities for students.
“There are also going to be outside televisions where people can lounge,” Farris said. “It’s going to be really resort-like.”
Apartment complexes are not the only option for students who seek off-campus living. Many students move off campus by renting homes with roommates.
Jillian Tumblin, junior paralegal major at Ole Miss, plans to lease a house for fall semester. Last year, she moved out of a condominium to The Retreat because it was brand new.
“They had a lot of great amenities that made living there a lot better,” Tumblin said.
Ryan Joachim, a junior hospitality management major, spent his sophomore year at The Hub because he said he wanted to be in “a cool place to live.” This year, he will rent a house with friends.
Tumblin and Joachim said they found their housing on their own and had no assistance from the university. Tumblin had friends who already lived at The Retreat. Joachim found housing with The Hub from an advertisement.
The university’s Department of Student Housing did not respond to several requests for an interview. Information about off-campus housing can be found at offcampus.housing.olemiss.edu.
