The College, though undecided about the future of several buildings contracted to be bought in the town of Hanover, is preparing to provide housing for any students who may be forced to leave their off-campus apartments.
Currently, the College is in the process of evaluating the buildings to make sure the physical condition of the properties are adequate and that they comply with Hanover zoning laws.
Some of the spaces in a number of these buildings are used by students as off-campus housing. These student occupants were notified that their leases would not be renewed last summer.
If inspections reveal that some living facilities do not meet residential standards, the Office of Residential Life and the Real Estate Office are working together to convert faculty apartments into rooms for evicted students.
"If we have to make a choice between [faculty and students], [we will choose] to let the students live closer and the faculty and staff live farther away," Dean of Residential Life Martin Redman said, adding that typically faculty and staff have better access to cars than do students.
Redman estimates 100 to 110 undergraduate and graduate students are currently living in the off campus apartments that the College is set to acquire.
In the worst case scenario, if none of the apartments are found to be viable living spaces, some of these students can be housed in the new East Wheelock residence hall and the 60 students who are left may have the option of renting converted faculty apartments from the Real Estate Office.
"My guess is that some of the buildings are going to be just fine, some are tear downs, and some are not too expensive to renovate," Redman said.
Director of Real Estate Paul Olsen said that once the physical inspections, surveys, and title work is done, his office will begin planning, which will probably be in the spring.
"We're on the verge of starting to plan," Olsen said.
If the buildings do not meet the College's standards, however, or if the College determines that the cost of renovations are too high for the purchase to be profitable, the College can withdraw from its obligations to buy, Redman said.
Centerbrook is the firm that is conducting the facilities audit. Centerbrook has also been hired to draw up plans to provide more social and residential options to the campus in a separate project.
The buildings the College is considering includes properties located in the block behind the Lodge, in the block between Currier Place and Sargent Place, some properties on East South Street, and the buildings currently occupied by Big Green Cuts, Ramunto's Brick and Brew Pizzeria, and Caf Buon Gustaio.
The sale is scheduled to be finalized in the summer of 2000.
