FBM’s Post

The Importance of Community and Social Spaces in Student Housing European student housing has evolved from basic accommodation to comprehensive living environments, focusing on community and social spaces, fostering well-being, academic performance, and sustainability. Read More: https://lnkd.in/g_jUQB2P #StudentHousing #CommunitySpaces #SocialInteraction #Wellbeing #StudentExperience #SustainableLiving #HigherEducation #PBSA #MentalHealth #InnovativeDesign

A new massive student housing project is going ahead at The University of British Columbia's (UBC) Vancouver campus, following the provincial government’s confirmation of a significant infusion of funding to cover a majority of the cost, reported Daily Hive. "The existing low-rise structures on the large lot currently occupied by St. John’s College on the western end of the campus will be redeveloped into a total of 1,508 student housing beds. The development site is framed by Northwest Marine Drive to the west, University Boulevard to the north, Lower Mall and the existing Ponderosa Commons Residence to the east, and the existing Marine Drive Residence to the south. This entails building 1,333 net new student beds, plus 175 new one-for-one replacement beds of the existing St. John’s College buildings. These beds will be primarily dedicated to graduate students." https://lnkd.in/gGJ8tFUQ #vancouver #studenthousing

In my spare time, I occasionally venture down historical rabbit holes. Recently, I came across several articles that outlined significant public infrastructure spending by the Town of Jasper Place in the early 1960s. For those of you not aware, the Town of Jasper Place consisted of approximately 38,000 people and was amalgamated into the City of Edmonton in 1964 (more on that later).    “For better or for worse, the Town of Jasper Place dreamt big and there’s perhaps no better embodiment of that than Jasper Place High School.” During this period, the Town embarked on spending millions of dollars on the “largest school between Vancouver and the Great Lakes” (Jasper Place High School), a dozen other schools including an architecturally experimental  junior high school (Hillcrest Junior High) and the development of Meadowlark Shopping Centre.  This resulted in a debt burden of greater than $8M (quite a significant sum at this time). We can agree that a number of these facilities significantly benefited the community and have long legacies. However, the end result was that the Town teetered on the brink of bankruptcy and it forced their hand to amalgamate into the City of Edmonton. So why am I bringing this up? Beyond general curiosity, I see some parallels with our current municipal spending. I am fully supportive of spending public dollars towards catalyst projects and major community amenities, however, do we need the 2024 version of the “largest school between Vancouver and the Great Lakes” or a 2024 version of an “architecturally experimental junior high?” Without picking on specific 2024 projects, it strikes me as unnecessary to over design certain projects such as rec centers and fire halls (for instance) when we can get 95% of the utility from something that could be delivered at 75% of the cost.  Let’s not think like the Town of Jasper Place circa 1960. Let’s think about delivering community amenities in a fiscally sustainable way. https://lnkd.in/g9P2zq2d https://lnkd.in/gYt2bCu8

Paul Quinn College is set to receive a $1.5 million grant from the T.D. Jakes Foundation and Wells Fargo for a campus expansion. The project aims to not only increase student housing but also create a mixed-use space for the surrounding community, including shops, restaurants, and parks.

Lark Group wants to build a 24-storey mixed-use tower that would include 397 student dormitories totaling 944 beds. The project is a partnership of Lark Group, ICT Group, and Western Community College.

Another great piece of work from Infrastructure Victoria was released today - Getting more from school grounds. https://lnkd.in/gJaSMCsm The research shows that there are already 1.7 million Melburnians who cannot access a community sports field within a 10-minute walk. As population grows, these gaps will worsen, as there simply aren't enough large parcels of land to accommodate the many new community sports fields that are needed to keep up with demand. Schools have a role to play in opening up the gates to share their grounds with the broader community - and about two-thirds already do, in some form. But more support is needed to maximize their use and community benefits, in the form of funding that incentivizes shared use and/or supports the additional maintenance costs, and direct engagement with school principals to facilitate a shared use arrangement, prioritising where accessibility gaps have been identified. Eventually, schools should be another community hub. It'll take more policy, funding, design, and management changes, but there are already some great examples out there, including the NSW Share Our Space and Schools as Community Centres programs, and an entire book co-authored by researchers, architects, a Catholic schools Diocese, and two Australian state governments: https://lnkd.in/gUdRqfrR

The University of Rhode Island is moving forward with a plan to construct additional housing on the Kingston Campus that will provide more than 1,100 additional beds for undergraduate and graduate students at the state’s flagship research university. The University announced that it has selected Gilbane Development Company as the University’s development partner in a new public-private partnership. Partnering with a private developer represents an innovative approach to housing more students on campus in University-supervised buildings. #UniversityofRhodeIsland #construction #housing #Kingston #Campus #undergraduate #graduate #university #GilbaneDevelopmentCompany #development #privatedeveloper #buildings #realestate #institutionaldevelopment #moonrise.

Homes near top schools cost 78.6% more due to the demand for quality education, boosting property values. Buyers often compromise on size or features. High premiums are seen in cities like LA and the Midwest. Location remains key for investment growth in these districts. 🏫💰🏡 #RealEstate, #Education, #HomeBuying, #PropertyInvestment, #SchoolDistricts, #HomeValue, #LosAngelesRealEstate, #MidwestHousing, #AffordableHomes, #RealEstateTrends

Our latest article, titled "Affordable Housing for Students: Balancing Quality and Affordability " was co-authored with Catella and explores the topic of balancing quality with affordability. The article showcases Catella's approach to affordable student housing which focuses on strategic locations, essential amenities, and studio apartments to navigate this balance of creating quality student accommodation while maintaining affordability. We also explore how the implementation of feedback and data from the European Student Living Monitor (SLM) can guide improvements, ensuring that housing meets students' evolving needs with regards to their living environment to promote their academic success and personal growth. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dh-bzWzd #PBSA #StudentWell-being #MentalHealth

If you’re relocating to Brisbane with school-aged children, the right school is likely your top priority. For families seeking an excellent public school education for their children, the school catchment zone can be a make-or-break factor when buying a home. For investors, buying a property within a school catchment zone of a highly ranked public school can drive demand and attract premium prices. What’s a school catchment? In QLD, it’s a geographic area around a state school. Live in the zone, and your child is guaranteed a spot! Why it matters: 1️. Fair access to local schools 2️. Manages school capacity. Top Brisbane public and private schools draw huge demand to the area in which they’re located, so understanding catchment zones and best places to buy is critical. 🌟 Read more via our blog link below: https://lnkd.in/gcRJXaT8 Need help navigating Brisbane school catchments? 📧 sandra@homescouts.com.au 📞 0419 992 873 #SchoolCatchments #BrisbaneProperty #BuyersAgentBrisbane #BrisbaneBuyersAdvocate #RelocationBrisbane #QLDSchools #HomeScout