Housing near UA is reborn

Housing near UA is reborn

Updates at buildings are aimed at students; site formerly home to low-income renters

By Katie Byard
Beacon Journal business writer

Published on Monday, Sep 20, 2010

The newest student housing near the University of Akron is actually some of the oldest.

Area developers Herb Newman and his son, Ed, are spending nearly $13 million, transforming former low-income housing built about four decades ago into comfortable apartments for today's demanding students.

''We took these buildings down to the brick walls,'' Herb Newman said of the five red-brick structures at Grant, Sherman and Wheeler streets, south of Exchange Street.

''Now they have granite countertops in the kitchen and the bathroom . . . Wi-fi, all central heating and air-conditioning . . . a gym and study lounge (boasting a large flat-screen TV) in each building.''

In all, there are 111 two- or three-bedroom units in the five buildings that initially opened in the 1960s. Previously called East Crown, the complex's new name is EnVision Apartments.

Ed Newman said 36 units will open in January, in time for UA's spring semester. The remaining units will be finished in July.

Rent — including utilities — will range from $625 to $675 per person per month.

All units are furnished. Each building has a laundry room and an area to stash bicycles.

Akron Planning Director John Moore is impressed with the project.

''The investment in there is pretty incredible. There's on-site parking, a lot of open space with mature trees,'' Moore said.

''I'm hoping the competition this brings will inspire other landlords to make similar investments.''

The Newmans join other private developers taking advantage of the demand for student housing near campus.

One of the more high-profile private projects is 22 Exchange, owned by Richland Communities of Middleburg Heights.

With the second phase opening last month, this complex houses more than 400 students. Rent at 22 Exchange starts at $599 a month per person for a four-bedroom unit and can go as high as $769 a person for a two-bedroom corner apartment. As with the Newman housing, students pay by the bed and are not liable for their roommates' rent.

Herb Newman said he began thinking about revamping his apartments — near UA's Gallucci residence hall — when he saw ''the amazing growth of the university happening.''

''This is not just your local university anymore,'' he said.

This fall, UA's enrollment is up 4.8 percent, topping 29,000 at the main and Wayne campuses. The sour economy is helping to buoy college enrollments across the state.

Aiming to attract more students, UA's main campus has long been trying to become less of a commuter school and more of an urban residential university.

In the last decade, the school has opened a new student center, fitness facility and four new residence halls, among other projects.

The Newmans plan to team up with UA and Signet Development Group of Akron to build another residence hall near the EnVision project.

This complex with 735 beds — and eventually up to 2,500 — would be built on Grant, between Wheeler and Exchange streets.

The Newman apartments were constructed in the 1960s as privately owned subsidized housing. The Newman family — along with a silent partner — bought them some 30 years ago.

This year, the contract with the federal government to provide affordable housing ended and ground was broken on the rehab project.

The Newmans' Summit Management Services Inc. owns and manages more than 3,000 apartments.

Herb Newman, along with developer Robert Stark, owns the Shops of Fairlawn on West Market Street, as well as the West Market Plaza, also in the Montrose area.

Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com. Construction continues on renovating former low cost housing into EnVision apartments near the University of Akron. (Paul Tople./Akron Beacon Journal) View more photos>>

The newest student housing near the University of Akron is actually some of the oldest.

Area developers Herb Newman and his son, Ed, are spending nearly $13 million, transforming former low-income housing built about four decades ago into comfortable apartments for today's demanding students.

''We took these buildings down to the brick walls,'' Herb Newman said of the five red-brick structures at Grant, Sherman and Wheeler streets, south of Exchange Street.

''Now they have granite countertops in the kitchen and the bathroom . . . Wi-fi, all central heating and air-conditioning . . . a gym and study lounge (boasting a large flat-screen TV) in each building.''

In all, there are 111 two- or three-bedroom units in the five buildings that initially opened in the 1960s. Previously called East Crown, the complex's new name is EnVision Apartments.

Ed Newman said 36 units will open in January, in time for UA's spring semester. The remaining units will be finished in July.

Rent — including utilities — will range from $625 to $675 per person per month.

All units are furnished. Each building has a laundry room and an area to stash bicycles.

Akron Planning Director John Moore is impressed with the project.

''The investment in there is pretty incredible. There's on-site parking, a lot of open space with mature trees,'' Moore said.

''I'm hoping the competition this brings will inspire other landlords to make similar investments.''

The Newmans join other private developers taking advantage of the demand for student housing near campus.

One of the more high-profile private projects is 22 Exchange, owned by Richland Communities of Middleburg Heights.

With the second phase opening last month, this complex houses more than 400 students. Rent at 22 Exchange starts at $599 a month per person for a four-bedroom unit and can go as high as $769 a person for a two-bedroom corner apartment. As with the Newman housing, students pay by the bed and are not liable for their roommates' rent.

Herb Newman said he began thinking about revamping his apartments — near UA's Gallucci residence hall — when he saw ''the amazing growth of the university happening.''

''This is not just your local university anymore,'' he said.

This fall, UA's enrollment is up 4.8 percent, topping 29,000 at the main and Wayne campuses. The sour economy is helping to buoy college enrollments across the state.

Aiming to attract more students, UA's main campus has long been trying to become less of a commuter school and more of an urban residential university.

In the last decade, the school has opened a new student center, fitness facility and four new residence halls, among other projects.

The Newmans plan to team up with UA and Signet Development Group of Akron to build another residence hall near the EnVision project.

This complex with 735 beds — and eventually up to 2,500 — would be built on Grant, between Wheeler and Exchange streets.

The Newman apartments were constructed in the 1960s as privately owned subsidized housing. The Newman family — along with a silent partner — bought them some 30 years ago.

This year, the contract with the federal government to provide affordable housing ended and ground was broken on the rehab project.

The Newmans' Summit Management Services Inc. owns and manages more than 3,000 apartments.

Herb Newman, along with developer Robert Stark, owns the Shops of Fairlawn on West Market Street, as well as the West Market Plaza, also in the Montrose area.