New apartments in works

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Students can look forward to a new apartment complex complete with fitness
center, computer lab, outdoor swimming pool with sundeck, all season spa, enclosed
basketball court and sand volleyball court.

The Mount Pleasant Planning Commission approved a special use permit for the
development of a 228-unit, 744-bedroom apartment complex on Bluegrass Road.

“The Village at Bluegrass” will offer privacy in an upscale residential
environment, according to developers at the Atlantis Development Group.

“Based on what’s been presented, it’s going to be very nice,”
said Woody Woodruff, Union Township zoning administrator. “It will probably
be amenity heavy and you may find that you have to pay for that.

“The proof is in the pudding and they’ll charge what the market
compares.”

He said there will be extensive community amenities at the Village. It will
be a gated community with card reader access at vehicle entrances, building
entrances, apartment entrances and bedroom doors. There also will be a limited
access perimeter fence and ample parking.

“I think you’re going to see a lot larger amenity package than what
most complexes offer,” Atlantis Development Manager Gordon Hunsaker said.
“You’re going to see all the things you would find at larger universities
across the nation.

Hunsaker said the group has been successful with its other properties so timing
is the only issue.

“We’re looking forward to getting construction started by the end
of the month and we’ll have apartments available in May 2004 with all
units being completed in August 2004,” he said.

The Village will be managed by Atlantis Asset Management and a professional
on-site staff will assist residents 24 hours a day.

“I think this complex will allow students to have a wider selection of
living styles,” Woodruff said.

He said the complex will have a number of effects on the community as well.

“There will be more housing, which will keep the overall cost of housing
down, based on supply and demand principles,” he said. “It’ll
also take some of the pressure off student housing inside the city of Mount
Pleasant.”

Student housing issues can be more problematic in the higher density areas
of the city, Woodruff said.

The 20-acre complex will be located on the north side of Bluegrass Road, west
of Isabella Road and south of Broomfield Road. Roadways leading to each of
the three main roads also will be developed.

The 228-dwelling units will be situated in 14 three-story buildings and will
be fully furnished.

Woodruff said any apartment complex that will utilize buildings of four or
more units requires a special units permit.

“The special use permit gives us more control over the bigger complexes
as far as spacing, buffering and screening,” he said. “We require
that they get together with the property owner in terms of screening with fences
and plants.”

Woodruff said the formal construction phase hasn’t started yet, but could
very soon. He said the developers already have done the preliminary layout
and staking.

Hunsaker said construction of the roads already has started as well.