DEARBORN — This week the University of Michigan Dearborn (UM-D) located on Evergreen Rd. officially announced that housing units will be built across the street from the campus that will be large enough to accommodate over 500 students for the fall of 2013. For the 2012-2013 school year, UM-D currently has over 9,100 students enrolled. 

The $30 million project by Urban Campus Communities LLC (UCC), a company based in Bloomfield hills, broke ground on the development this week which will be called The Union. The location used to be a former Ford Motor Co. diagnostic center that closed in 2007.  The Union apartment complex is expected to be around 231,791 in square feet and will have over 141 units. Last year the UCC also successfully built an apartment complex near Wayne State University.

Additionally, Asset Campus Housing, one of the largest property management firms in the nation that has also managed over 75 other student housing properties nationwide, has been selected to manage the apartment property which will include studio apartments as well as two, three, and four bedroom units. Other features at the facility will include public laundry on each floor as well as a fitness center and lounge area.   

 The university is hoping that with the addition of the new housing unit, it will attract out of state students and energize campus life at the University, breaking away from the commuter vibe the university has been trying to avoid for a few years now. However the subject of student housing had been met with slight hesitation from some students, who where concerned it would affect the continued upward trend of tuition increases. Earlier this year the university was boasting that for their 2012-2013 school year, their tuition would see the smallest increase since 2004-2005. 

It’s still unknown if the plans for housing students would affect tuition rates, but University Chancellor Daniel Little is hoping that with an unaffiliated company heading the project, he can continue to remain optimistic about minimal tuition increases. 

“Our students have expressed an interest in housing for many years, so we are pleased that this development allows students the opportunity of adjacent housing to enhance their university experience,” Little said. “With the reduction of state funding and our commitment to minimizing tuition increases, this public-private collaboration will allow the university to continue to invest in its academic mission, while transforming the campus experience for all students.  The Union at Dearborn also will provide greater access for students wishing to pursue a Michigan degree in southeastern Michigan.”  

The UCC purchased the property from the Ford Estate on September 13, which will be privately owned and operated by the company. The property will not be owned or operated by UM-D, according to their press release. Under a contract with the city of Dearborn, the majority of the land located on Evergreen Rd. in Dearborn, including UM-D, as well as neighboring institution Henry Ford Community College is owned by the Henry Ford Estate. According to a comment issued by the Ford Estate, they are pleased with the development.

“We are proud to be a part of this effort and to see these buildings being reused to serve both the community and student body,” said Donna Inch, Ford Land chairman and CEO. “The level of teamwork and dedication from everyone involved in this project has been impressive.”

Also happy about the news of the housing is Dearborn Mayor Jack O’Reilly. As he stated earlier this year, the city would be looking for new ways to attract outside business into the city to b the local economy. Along with the construction of the new Dearborn Train Station being built on Michigan Ave near the Henry Ford Museum, which is expected to provide services to and back from Chicago, the Mayor hopes that with housing for UM-D students, it will attract out-of-towners to Dearborn’s local businesses. The Union will be in walking distance to Fairlane Town Center as well as less than a mile away from Downtown Dearborn. 

“This is such an exciting development for the City of Dearborn,” said Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly, “We are thrilled that UM-Dearborn students soon will be able to call Dearborn home throughout the year and we look forward to welcoming them to our community.”

A public breaking ground ceremony for the development will take place on Monday, September 24 at 3 p.m. Final leasing agreements and renting rates are also expected to be available in the coming weeks. Additional information on The Union housing complex is available at www.unionatdearborn.com.