ACCC discusses student housing complex plans

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December 10, 2010 - 12:00 AM

Allen County Community College trustees must move quickly if they want a new student housing complex built by the start of the 2011-12 academic year.
Trustees discussed at their regular monthly meeting Thursday the planning process to get a new sixplex built to relieve the college’s overflowing dormitories.
The college hopes to build the sixplex near other ACCC apartments along White Boulevard.
Steve Troxel, ACCC’s vice president for finance and operations, shared an e-mail submitted by Paul Cavanaugh of PLACES Architects, Wichita, which was hired by the college to oversee the project.
Building the housing unit on White Boulevard would require a special use permit by the city because the land is not zoned multi-tenant usage — although every structure in that neighborhood is precisely that.
Getting the city’s approval requires the matter first to be heard by the Iola Planning Commission in January, Cavanaugh said. And even then, several other steps must follow before construction bids may be sought, Troxel noted.
Trustees indicated a desire to continue pursuing the matter — cramped student housing is one of the barricades to recruiting more out-of-town students — even if the project is not complete by the start of the school year in August. Some students may need to stay at a motel temporarily until the units are complete.

TRUSTEES also agreed to continue their participation in a Humboldt neighborhood revitalization program for the next three years.
Through the program, residents or business owners on the west side of town or in the downtown business district, qualify for tax rebates if they improve the value of their properties through new construction or renovations.
The college will not receive any less tax revenues, but the added tax benefit to ACCC will be deferred over the next 10 years until the rebate plan expires.

THE COLLEGE will create a new position for an administrative assistant secretary in its financial aid office, necessary because of increased demands on the employees already in that department.
Trustees also will advertise for a coordinator of adult education. Vivian Copsey, who holds that position, is retiring at the end of the school year.
Trustees hired Nicci Denny as an online learning coordinator and Stephanie Vest as a custodian.

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