Even with the addition of a third student dormitory in recent years, Allen County Community College still has a housing shortage.
Trustee Neal Barclay pointed out Thursday that even with several vacancies on various athletic team rosters, the ACCC dorms are filled beyond capacity. Eight rooms, normally built to house two students, instead have three because of a lack of space.
With that in mind, Barclay suggested the college look at building another housing complex on or near ACCC’s Iola campus.
“I’d hate to see us turn somebody away just because we don’t have anywhere to put them,” Barclay said.
The new structure would not have to be a full-fledged dorm, Barclay said. “I’m certain we couldn’t afford that.”
But a smaller unit — such as a four-plex — could easily be filled.
The housing shortage was exacerbated from the flood of 2007, which destroyed more than 100 homes locally.
“Most of those homes were the types our students would rent,” Barclay said.
At Barclay’s suggestion, ACCC President John Masterson brought in examples of four-plex or six-plex apartment structures, which would cost about $375,000, not counting other costs such as land acquisition, if necessary, or furnishings.
For comparison’s sake, Masterson Hall, the college’s newest dorm, was built at cost of about $2.25 million.
Trustees were receptive of Barclay’s idea, and directed Masterson to continue looking at adding housing on the Iola campus.
College mulls more student housing
