UB Opens South Lake Village Student Housing Complex

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- South Lake Village, the third phase in a long-term plan to provide housing for University at Buffalo students and improve their quality of life, opened today (Aug. 15, 2000) with a ceremony at the complex on the North (Amherst) Campus.

The second apartment-style housing complex to be built on the North Campus in the past two years, South Lake Village features nine two-story buildings and seven three-story buildings with a capacity to house 552 students in studio, one-, two- and four-bedroom apartments. The complex is located on the south shore of Lake LaSalle, considered to be one of the most scenic spots on campus.

Each fully-furnished unit features a full kitchen with all appliances, including a dishwasher. Other amenities include central air conditioning, laundry facilities, access to a community building, connections to the university's telephone and computing systems, and ample parking.

The complex will be fully occupied with a mix of graduate and undergraduate residents when the Fall 2000 semester gets under way Aug. 28.

South Lake Village is another step toward UB's goal of "turning the (North) campus into what it was intended to be -- a residential campus, where students not only work but where they live," said UB President William R. Greiner.

The project, which cost $22.9 million, is sponsored by the University at Buffalo Foundation, Inc., and the UB Alumni Association. It was designed by Foit-Albert Associates of Buffalo, and built by ADF Construction Corp. of Amherst.

The public land on the North Campus was made available for private housing development due to a clause in state education law that allows SUNY trustees to work with alumni associations to develop housing on SUNY campuses.

Greiner called South Lake Village an "extraordinary partnership of the public and private sector," emphasizing that the project was financed entirely with private money.

Dennis Black, UB vice president for student affairs, echoed the partnership concept, citing the "teamwork" of the UB Foundation, UB Alumni Association and Amherst Industrial Development Agency, "the efforts of many on this campus and in Albany, and the talent of the architect and dedication of the contractor."

He also noted that "ongoing student interest and excitement" and the university's earlier housing successes were crucial to the success of South Lake Village.

The opening of South Lake Village marks the third phase of the university's long-term student-housing plan. The first phase of the plan was completed in Fall 1998 with the opening of Flickinger Court, townhouses for 230 graduate and professional students located at Chestnut Ridge and Sweet Home roads, adjacent to the North Campus.

The second phase was completed in Fall 1999 with the opening of Hadley Village, the first new student housing built on the UB campus in 25 years and the university's first apartment-style housing for undergraduates.

The university broke ground on the fourth phase -- Gateway Village -- last week at a site at Flint and Augspurger roads, adjacent to the old UB stadium. It also will feature one-, two- and four-bedroom apartments to house 540 students. Occupancy is expected in August 2001.

UB's residential housing plan also includes the conversion of the traditional dormitory-style rooms in Goodyear Hall into two-bedroom apartments, as well as a full upgrade of Clement Hall, maintaining the building as a traditional dormitory. Both residence halls are located on the South (Main Street) Campus. Work on both buildings is expected to be completed by 2004.

Also speaking at the ceremony opening South Lake Village were Randall Benderson, a UB Foundation trustee representing the foundation's Properties and Finance committees; Donald Roberts, past president of the UB Alumni Association; Jeffrey Goettel, vice president of the Residence Hall Association; Beverly Foit-Albert, president of Foit-Albert Associates; Samuel Savarino of ADF Construction Corp., and James Allen, executive director of the Amherst Industrial Development Agency.