The University of Iowa will keep housing students in the 56-year-old Mayflower Residence Hall for at least one more year despite having announced last year its plans to sell the “last-chosen and first-transferred-from residence hall.”
The need to keep the eight-story former apartment building in the residence hall rotation for the upcoming 2024-25 academic year became evident when the current application process opened for admission to the university.
Although the university didn’t immediately provide specific numbers, officials reported a “record level of applications for fall 2024” and that more than 1,500 returning students — those going into their second, third or fourth years — have applied to live on campus.
In fall 2023, the university counted 1,281 returning students living in its residence halls.
“The university announced in February 2023 that it intended to sell Mayflower,” according to the UI Office of Strategic Communication. “However, when the housing application process for 2024-25 opened, it became clear the space would be needed next fall.”
Mayflower can house 1,032 students in suite-style rooms that include kitchens and bathrooms — although it currently has 888 student residents and, being more than a mile from the main campus and its amenities, is the least popular dorm.
The university “plans to discontinue use of Mayflower Hall and is considering the construction of more desirable spaces closer to campus,” administrators told the Board of Regents in February 2023, when the university anticipated its total residence system capacity would dip from 6,376 to 5,679 beds next year “without Mayflower.”
“The number of returning students will need to be closely managed, with not all returning students able to return to live in the residence system until new beds are constructed,” officials said at the time.
With the university’s decision to keep Mayflower open to accommodate returning students, officials Thursday reported, “Campus leaders are working with students to determine what additional supports and amenities may be offered.”
For starters, the university is adding study spaces and more single rooms. Officials also are promoting it as “optimal for students who desire additional privacy and independence but still prefer campus housing.”
“Cambus routes service Mayflower, enabling students to easily get to campus locations such as academic buildings, dining halls or campus cafes, athletic facilities, and other residence halls to visit friends.”
The university told The Gazette on Thursday it still is planning to sell the 326,287-square-foot property, about 40 years after buying the former apartment building.
“Because we have an immediate need for the building, any sale would be conditional upon the university occupying the building for the upcoming academic year,” spokesman Chris Brewer said.
The university has listed Mayflower, with its 523 rooms, for sale for $45 million. The Iowa City Assessor’s Office last summer performed an updated property-value assessment estimating its worth at $30.7 million.
A real estate broker on the project last August said interest in buying the property was strong — with eight to nine groups in talks, including one local prospect and other national collaborators.
UI officials have said they plan to use the Mayflower sale proceeds — plus any borrowing they need to do — to build a $40 to $60 million residence hall just for returning students.
www.thegazette.com
The need to keep the eight-story former apartment building in the residence hall rotation for the upcoming 2024-25 academic year became evident when the current application process opened for admission to the university.
Although the university didn’t immediately provide specific numbers, officials reported a “record level of applications for fall 2024” and that more than 1,500 returning students — those going into their second, third or fourth years — have applied to live on campus.
In fall 2023, the university counted 1,281 returning students living in its residence halls.
“The university announced in February 2023 that it intended to sell Mayflower,” according to the UI Office of Strategic Communication. “However, when the housing application process for 2024-25 opened, it became clear the space would be needed next fall.”
Mayflower can house 1,032 students in suite-style rooms that include kitchens and bathrooms — although it currently has 888 student residents and, being more than a mile from the main campus and its amenities, is the least popular dorm.
The university “plans to discontinue use of Mayflower Hall and is considering the construction of more desirable spaces closer to campus,” administrators told the Board of Regents in February 2023, when the university anticipated its total residence system capacity would dip from 6,376 to 5,679 beds next year “without Mayflower.”
“The number of returning students will need to be closely managed, with not all returning students able to return to live in the residence system until new beds are constructed,” officials said at the time.
With the university’s decision to keep Mayflower open to accommodate returning students, officials Thursday reported, “Campus leaders are working with students to determine what additional supports and amenities may be offered.”
For starters, the university is adding study spaces and more single rooms. Officials also are promoting it as “optimal for students who desire additional privacy and independence but still prefer campus housing.”
“Cambus routes service Mayflower, enabling students to easily get to campus locations such as academic buildings, dining halls or campus cafes, athletic facilities, and other residence halls to visit friends.”
Mayflower sale
The university told The Gazette on Thursday it still is planning to sell the 326,287-square-foot property, about 40 years after buying the former apartment building.
“Because we have an immediate need for the building, any sale would be conditional upon the university occupying the building for the upcoming academic year,” spokesman Chris Brewer said.
The university has listed Mayflower, with its 523 rooms, for sale for $45 million. The Iowa City Assessor’s Office last summer performed an updated property-value assessment estimating its worth at $30.7 million.
A real estate broker on the project last August said interest in buying the property was strong — with eight to nine groups in talks, including one local prospect and other national collaborators.
UI officials have said they plan to use the Mayflower sale proceeds — plus any borrowing they need to do — to build a $40 to $60 million residence hall just for returning students.
UI’s Mayflower still for sale; will house students another year
The University of Iowa will keep housing students in its 56-year-old Mayflower Residence Hall — at least for one more year — despite having announced a year ago plans to sell the “last-chosen and first-transferred-from residence hall.”
www.thegazette.com
