new student housing complex approved for construction in flagstaff

Work could begin later this year on the construction of a new student housing complex in Flagstaff that is being developed by McGrath Real Estate Partners.

The project is set to go up on just over 14 acres in the 800 block of E. Butler Avenue and will see the building of exactly 333 apartment units.

As previously discussed, the new apartment project will be particularly geared for students attending Northern Arizona University, whose Flagstaff campus is roughly one mile to the northeast.

In the last decade, NAU has seen its enrollment increase from 23,600 to more than 31,000, fueling the need for more student housing in Flagstaff.

The planned units will vary in size from efficiencies to four bedrooms, with the Houston-based developer also anticipating construction of six townhouses to the rear of the site.

At least 10 percent of the planned units will be built for affordable housing.

The project has been in the talking stage for more than a year. Although it was initially approved by the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission, it ran into trouble in the Flagstaff City Council when members wanted to see a larger number of one and two-bedroom units as part of the plan.

With the developer subsequently making those changes, the council has indicated that it will give its final approval to a rezoning ordinance for the project this week.

By Garry Boulard

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