After breaking ground in the spring, the Arlington Cottages and Townhomes are now leasing housing units for prospective fall 2016 residents.
The student housing complex made its leasing announcement in the wake of The Standard’s construction delays, which have displaced some students to hotel rooms for the first few weeks of classes until their rooms are ready.
However, Cody Bodin, director of leasing and marketing for Arlington, said the complex is well underway with its construction and currently on schedule. Arlington is slated to open August 2016, he said.
Arlington Cottages consists of three-, four- and five-person cottages and townhomes on 550 Ben Hur Drive. A company affiliated with Capstone Collegiate Communities, the same group that developed the Cottages of Baton Rouge, bought the 20.5 acres of land for $7 million in May.
Rumors circulated on Facebook during the first week of school that Arlington would seek out primarily members of LSU Greek Life to fill its cottages. Bodin dismissed the notion and said Arlington will cater to all students from LSU, Southern University and Baton Rouge Community College.
However, Bodin said Arlington finds its community is conducive to Greek Life because brothers and sisters who do not live in their chapter houses are able to live next door to one another.
“We’ve had great success at other universities around the country with allowing groups of Greek life … to pick their row of houses and even name them,” Bodin said.
Each of the 179 units will be either two or three stories, Bodin said, and each of the 732 beds will have its own bathroom and walk-in closet.
Each unit will be equipped with a refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishwasher and garbage disposal. Cable channels, Internet access, washers and dryers are also provided.
“We feel as though this specific product is something that students will really enjoy because they will have the luxury of living in their own house with no neighbors above or below them,” Bodin said.
The student apartment complex will contain amenity packages, including a 24-hour clubhouse with a fully stocked game room. The clubhouse is made up of multiple study rooms, a fully equipped cardio and weight room, tanning beds, a grand hall for group study sessions and a spin room.
Outdoor amenities include a resort-style pool with cabanas, a sand volleyball court, outdoor gathering areas and a pet-washing station.
“There will be a great balance of academics versus the social side,” Bodin said.
