Ohio State temporarily transforming two apartment buildings into dorm rooms
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Almost 200 Ohio State students are adjusting their living arrangements for the upcoming school year after their anticipated apartment buildings were repurposed as dorm rooms.
Off-campus student housing company StateHouse Columbus entered a partnership with Ohio State this month allowing the university to use two apartment buildings as residence halls next school year. StateHouse's Lane and Norwich buildings are being repurposed, altering housing plans for around 175 students who had signed leases to live in those properties.
Ohio State and StateHouse Columbus signed an agreement this month to lease the building for the next school year. Dave Isaacs, communications and media relations manager for OSU's Office of Student Life, said the 2024-2025 freshman class was the largest in OSU history. Ohio State requires students to live in on-campus housing for their first two years, so OSU needed more residential space to accommodate its many undergraduate students.
Although it was set to house 175 students as an apartment complex, Isaacs said the buildings will be able to accommodate 500 students as dorm rooms. The apartment chain's Director of Operations London Hazuka said reassigning residents is allowed under their leases, but the company is offering options to ensure residents are comfortable.
"Everyone who wants to be assigned to a sister property will be, and we are doing everything we can to accommodate their needs and make it as easy as possible for them to stay with us," Hazuka said.
Hazuka said residents had the option to relocate to another StateHouse building with added benefits or terminate their leases. StateHouse Columbus is offering students comparable units at a newer building near campus at their same lease price. Students who choose to move will receive earlier move-ins, up to a $750 rent credit and a promise they will stay with the same roommates. Hazuka said they do not yet have a final count of how many students chose to relocate or terminate their leases.
Despite StateHouse efforts, some parents and students were still frustrated with the change. One parent told NBC4 their daughter had planned a year in advance to live in the building, and they are now left "scrambling" to find housing.
Isaacs said all affected students were given options and said entering leases with nearby apartments when needed is standard practice. Dorm rooms at the StateHouse locations will use OSU's standard Rate 1 residence hall pricing at $5,045 per semester. Isaacs said OSU is working to make these buildings true to the dorm experience.
"Student Life is providing the same support in these properties that is offered to others living in on-campus housing," Isaacs said. "This includes all utilities and internet service provided as part of their contract."
The on-campus housing process begins this month, with self-selection for dorm rooms closing in mid-April.