Starting this May, University students will be going to a place with a pool, jacuzzi, weightroom, basketball courts and game room.
No, it is not a vacation or fancy hotel; it is soon to be Bowling Green’s newest apartment complex, called the Sterling University Enclave Collegiate Residences.
“The (Bowling Green) area has never seen something like this,” said Shannon Moran, assistant manager of the Enclave Apartments.
Although Enclave began leasing in October. 82 percent of the complex on Napoleon Road has been signed out to tenants for May to May and August to August leases.
“We had a lot of excitement in the beginning, but that has since tapered,” Moran said of the number of people signing leases. “We expect to fill up, though.”
One reason that the Enclave Apartments have been popular early is because of their reputation. They have locations in college towns in areas such as Texas and Florida.
Junior Lani Goldstein, who will be living the apartment complex in August, said she was compelled to live their when she helped a friend move into the Florida apartments.
“I like them,” she said. “What apartment do you know here that has a pool, weightroom and individual washer and dryers?”
Along with providing the extra amenities to its residents, the Enclave staff also stresses community and that those who live there enjoy themselves.
Cook-outs, 3-on-3 basketball tournaments and trips will be sponsored by Enclave for its inhabitants.
“When you have opportunities like this and get to meet your neighbors, you’re going to have a lot more fun than at a conventional leasing place,” Moran said. “We want to make it a transition for those coming out of the dorms, but also want to offer something to the commuters of grad students but still allowing them to get to know their neighbors.”
The apartments come with four bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen and living room. However, unlike most places tenants are not charged for the apartment, but for the individual room. It is $325 per person for an unfurnished apartment and $345 for furnished, whether there are four people in the apartment or less. Any extra rooms will be locked.
Junior Mindy Jasper said she likes the idea that tenants pay individually rather than as a unit.
“Everybody is on their own lease so you don’t have to worry about what the others are doing or if they are paying rent on time,”she said.
Roommates may be added to fill up an apartment through roommate information cards that match a tenant with someone looking to occupy a space.
“If (tenants) want to secure they live alone, they have to rent out the entire unit (all four rooms),” Moran said.
Moran said she thinks the new apartment and all its offerings may take away business from other places around town.
“Other places will have to set higher standards to compete with us,” she said.
However, the other leasing companies have yet to feel a hit yet as they are still on the same pace as they were a year ago.
“We’re pretty much on schedule for renting for 2002/2003,” said d Helen Hernandez, manager of Newlove. We’re right where we were last year.”
Winthrop Terrace, Summit Terrace and the Stadium View Apartments also reported that they were not seeing tenants pulled away by the newer place.
The places also said they do not feel any more pressure to update in order to match the Enclave Apartments.
“We just keep (our apartments) up to date because it’s good business,” said Tammy Miller, manager of the Stadium View Apartments.
While the Enclave Apartments don’t solely rent to students, they are designed more for students than some apartments, with equal quarters for each tenant. In fact, Goldstein compared them to a residence hall without the RA and structured rules.
Jasper agreed saying, “It seems to be more set up for college kids. They are equal sized rooms so you don?t have to fight over who gets what room.”
