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Schools

Dearborn College Student Housing Plan Approved

Construction is expected to start in June for apartments and a student union across the street from the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

As soon as next year, students at the could have a new housing option in Dearborn that is geared directly toward them.

The Dearborn City Plan Commission unanimously approved a site plan for student housing at their Monday night meeting.

The plan, presented by Bowers and Associates architectural firm President Scott Bowers, detailed the latest plans to renovate several former Ford Land properties on Town Center Drive into living space for local college students. The project would include not only apartments, but also a student union with a fitness center, offices, cafeteria and theater.

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Former plans integrated the two purposes more closely. But Bower explained that a market study conducted by developer Urban Campus Communities showed that students would prefer to live in new buildings, while the existing structure could be renovated for the union.

“What we did was devise a way to keep the piece for the university and demolish the remaining (building)," Bowers said. "That will keep with our campus-like feel.”

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Bowers said they hope to start construction for the project in June.

The $44 million project in Michigan Economic Growth Authority tax credits last September, as well as in August.

The construction is expected to eventually include a pedestrian bridge that will enable safer passage across Evergreen Road from the apartments to the main campus. However, Bowers said that they would "start out" with a crosswalk and construct the bridge later.

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