Southgate Towers, owned by R.W. Day & Associates, wants to expand beyond traditional apartment development. Southgate Towers is not planning to build another apartment complex, but a 10-story building of condominiums. Eric Etchison, director of sales for R.W. Day & Associates, said construction will begin this fall. “It looks like in the October/November time frame, completion one year later,” he said. Residents will begin moving in late 2007 or early 2008.The condominium project has been something R.W. Day & Associates has planned for several years, Etchison said. “This has been a long-termed project,” Etchison said. “It’s been in the planning stages a few years.” The condominium complex will consist of about 133 units that will be sold for $200,000 to $950,000. Etchison said Southgate Towers is not strictly for the college student. The towers are also aimed at older age groups who would like to live in the college area. But college students, Etchinson said, will not be turned away. “The reason we did this is because we have all ages. People like living near universities because they have energy. [Universities are] very popular with the alumni,” Etchison said. The Towers expansion is just the beginning of construction R.W. Day & Associates has planned for the area. R.W. Day & Associates also plans to build a hotel in the area. Etchison said the hotel, to be named Staybridge Suites, will be a seven-story building and have 130 rooms. Rooms will be in the $100 a night price range. Etchison said the main reason for the construction project is University events. “I would say there’s a need for hotels for LSU events and that’s what we’re here to serve,” Etchison said. Even though Southgate Towers is a recreational facility for all ages, some University students say they do not see the logic of an expensive condominium complex and a hotel built so near the campus. Balaji Nedurumalli, electrical engineering graduate student, said students often look for the cheapest apartments around. Condominiums ranging from $200,000 to $950,000 do not make sense, he said. Nedurumalli also said they are in an inappropriate place. “I do not think [Southgate] would benefit much,” Nedurumalli said. Other students think it is a good decision to build a condominium complex, but unrealistic. Communication studies senior, Jaida Thornton, said she understands R.W. Day & Associates is trying to attract customers outside of the student population. But she said it is still unrealistic to have such pricey condominiums so close to campus. “It’s another way to make money,” said Thornton. Etchison said R.W. Day & Associates are making plans for developing other University areas. “We are building more condominiums and apartments on the Burbank side,” Etchison said. “We’re also building a great new community, Pelican Lakes, two-story town home-style condominiums.”
—–Contact Chris Ballay at [email protected]