ETSU recently began an application process to secure a state bond issue intended for financing renovations at Davis Apartments and construction of two new buildings at Buc Ridge.
Davis, built in 1971, has been in need of repair for quite a while according to Harry Steele, director of Housing and Residence Life.
He said the plan is to replace windows and HVAC at Davis and begin the Buc Ridge construction sometime afterwards.
“Hopefully by this time next year we will be able to get something started at Davis,” Steele said.
Buc Ridge apartments, on the other hand, were completed five years ago, but additional buildings have become necessary. “There is a demand for two bedroom units,” Steele said.
Steele said the two new buildings at Buc Ridge will probably include a classroom he describes as a “smart classroom” where residents will have access to computers and multi-media.
The buildings may also include another room students can use for meetings, to work on projects or socialize.
However, the plan is dependent on whether ETSU is approved for the loan. Not only that but Steele said his office is constantly looking for ways to save money and with the new buildings comes the added cost of maintaining them.
“We have to make enough money to operate, manage, upkeep and pay off debts,” Steele said.
Although the rent paid by students living in the apartments goes toward maintaining the buildings, the spending cuts put on all aspects of higher education this year by Gov. Phil Bredesen, puts a strain on ETSU’s housing budget.
“When everybody else is cutting budgets, we get cut too,” he said.
Although the state has a frozen all monies being spent for capital improvements at ETSU, the renovations being done are of an auxiliary nature, meaning the repairs are not being funded by tax dollars.
A long-term plan for improving student housing all over campus is also in the works and could include renovations to other buildings.
Most of ETSU’s housing was not built for today’s students. “Because of the way some of the buildings are constructed the best thing to do,” he said, ” is to tear them down and build something else.

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