U of M plans 500-bed complex on Park Avenue Campus
The University of Memphis is still moving forward with a 500-plus bed student housing complex and a housing complex on Deloach Street, but the two projects aren’t one and the same anymore.
Plans for a scaled-down version of a previously controversial housing complex on Deloach Street were presented to the board of trustees’ finance committee this week, as were new plans for a high-density housing development on the Park Avenue Campus.
The new planned development on Deloach for faculty and graduate students will be less dense and not as tall as the originally proposed complex, which was intended to house predominantly undergraduate students.
New plans call for the existing singlefamily homes on Deloach to be demolished so a mix of one-, two- and threebedroom units can be built.
There will be gated access and parking and the university is working on traffic abatement, one of the main concerns raised by nearby residents who opposed the original Deloach Street housing plan.
Chief financial officer Raaj Kurapati said at a finance committee meeting this week the plans were not set in stone but the complex would have “adequate parking” and “relatively reasonable amenities,” though it’s not yet clear what amenities would be included.
The previous $54 million, 529-bed plan called for five, four-story buildings as well as a gym, leasing office, study area, pool, sand volleyball area, gardens, a plaza with a cafe and 265 parking spots.
Park Avenue Campus complex
A very similar complex to what was originally proposed for Deloach will now be built on the Park Avenue Campus to house student-athletes, graduate students and students in nursing or health programs.
While it won’t be a carbon copy of what was originally proposed on Deloach Street, the design for the project will be very similar and it will still be developed in partnership with Puerto Rico-based Stella Group.
Four buildings currently used for storage would be razed to accommodate the five new buildings, which will have about 500 beds split up between two-, four- and five-bedroom units. The complex will have “academic, nutrition, and study support areas included,” according to the university.
U of M will need approval from the State Building Commission and Tennessee State School Bonding Authority to continue to move forward.
Neither project was discussed at the university board of trustees meeting Wednesday.
Corinne Kennedy covers economic development, soccer and COVID-19’S impact on housing for the Commercial Appeal. She can be reached via email at Corinne.kennedy@commercialappeal. com or at 901-297-3245.