A new apartment complex could replace the old University Inn that has turned into a local eyesore.
The Emporia-Lyon County Metropolitan Planning Commission approved a request of Merchant Street Redevelopment Group, LLC, to rezone 1839 Merchant St. from C2, restricted commercial district to R3, high-density residential district at Tuesday night’s meeting.
The Emporia city commission will act on the planning board’s recommendation at its meeting Oct. 15.
The request from Ben Eastep and Pat Sherman would let the company tear down the vacant University Inn to build an 18,000-square-foot apartment complex on the property.
According to Eastep and Sherman, they want to build a 49-unit “Grade-A” apartment complex on the site to accommodate students at ESU.
“What we want to do is, we want to build a Big-12 complex at a Division II school,” Sherman said. “So if a student were to be deciding between Pittsburg State and ESU, this might help in the process.”
Added Eastep, “We’re looking to make this into a resort-style place. They’ll be four-bedroom apartments, there’ll be a pool, tanning beds, an indoor movie theater, a 24-hour fitness center, and there’ll be lighting and cameras for high security.”
The commission approved the request with the conditions that a six-foot fence be installed to separate the complex from the Emporia Country Club property behind it and that storm-water issues be taken under consideration.
University Inn has been vacant since it closed Jan. 1, 2005. A Jordanian citizen and his son purchased the property in September 2005 with plans to renovate it into a luxury hotel. Immigration problems forced a halt to the project and the property was put back on the market in February of this year.
madpoet (anonymous) says...
Wow, just we need, more overpriced apartments. Sorry to sound so cynical but I vividly recall the choices I had when I went to ESU. Not being wealthy, I could get a rundown place in a decent neighborhood or a decent apartment in crackville east of Exchange Street. All the really nice ones were way too expensive for a lot of the students. I was hoping they would put up some nice reasonably priced apartments there. At least they will get rid of the current mess. I agree it is an eyesore. And it's right there by the interstate for all the world to see. Yuck.
September 24, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MelissaGarrison (Melissa Garrison) says...
this sounds like it's going to be a really nice place, but sorry to say, the price isn't going to be reasonable for a town like emporia.
our best landlords are cory and harry haag; their apartments are always clean, cory always takes care of things right away, and the prices are reasonable.
no college student is going to pay the price it would take to live in an apartment with an indoor movie theater...
September 24, 2008 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
4Jayhawks (anonymous) says...
It says they will have 4 bedrooms so if 4 students split the rent it may be affordable.
September 24, 2008 at 9:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Bjnemp (anonymous) says...
I think you might be surprised what some college kids (their parents) can afford. When I was in college in the sixties, several of my friend's parents purchased homes near campus for their kid to live in while in school. They then either gave the home to the kid as a graduation gift or sold it for a fat profit. I suspect they will fill that complex if built.
September 24, 2008 at 10:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rmbcollege (anonymous) says...
That is how I was able to afford Chapel Ridge. One of the better apartment places in town, however, it comes with a pretty price. For college students, its almost impossible to pay 5-800 in rent by themselves. But each time I lived there I had 1-2 other roommates to make the cost more affordable after splitting.
That building is a huge eyesore to the community of Emporia so anything that goes up in its place will be better than what is there right now.
September 25, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )