University Housing Solutions has announced the development of a student-focused residential campus on 30 acres of land it owns next to Delaware State University in Dover.DSU earlier purchased the nearby Sheraton hotel in Dover as it works to ease the student housing crunch.
DSU earlier purchased the nearby Sheraton hotel in Dover as it works to ease the student housing crunch.
UHS plans to immediately build a 500-bed student residential development, with the ability to add an additional 1,500 beds. The UHS project will include a food court and retail space. UHS was described as a Delaware development firm that will focus on student housing.
According to a release, UHS will address the current student housing shortage through an expedited approval, design and construction effort, and, have sufficient remaining land to provide for future student housing needs within a master-planned, student oriented residential campus.
Another proposal that included construction of a new convocation and athletic center, an indoor track, academic, office and convention space was previously offered to DSU.
UHS stated that it remains hopeful that DSU will join forces to build the larger project.
The value of the project is about $40 million for the student housing portion and as much as $200 million if the entire project, including a convocation center/arena, is built.
DSU spokesman Carlos Holmes emphasized that the university has no ties to the project and has its own plans in addressing a shortage of dorm space. An entity, known as University Housing Solutions of Ohio, has no relationship with the developer.
Dover has not seen the upscale developments that have been built in areas around the University of Delaware campus in Newark. At the same time, DSU enrollment has been increasing.
The principal leading the development team is Arpan N. Patel, DMD, the owner of the 30 acres adjacent to Delaware State University, one of many properties he owns around the U.S, according to a release.
Martin Kimmel, principal of Kimmel Bogrette Architecture + Site is leading the effort for UHS. Martin describes the effort as “a serious attempt to bring the highest value to the Delaware State University Community, ensuring a sustainable amount of student housing in support of current needs and future growth. We also envision these additional athletic, convention and exhibition space as monumental assets vital to the future of the City of Dover, Kent County, and the State of Delaware.”
Martin added that “we remain interested in maintaining a cooperative relationship with DSU and would embrace their renewed interest in our concept, which represents a Win-Win for all parties.”
The UHS project team is led by Kimmel Bogrette Architecture + Site – planning, design and construction administration firm.
Kimmel Bogrette has completed over $1 billion in higher education and municipal projects in the region. The firm is based in Conshohocken, PA.
Skanska USA will serve as contractor. Skanska is the 3rd largest building contractor in the U.S and has been active in the Delaware market.
Asset Campus Housing will handle management, maintenance, and operations. Asset Campus Housing is the largest privately owned manager of student housing.
Delaware State University has seen growth in enrollment and physical plant. Dover is also seeing a commercial building boom after a bumpy recovery from the recession.
