BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Lease deals are in the works for future residents of the new Catamount Run Apartments in South Burlington, but pricing per bedroom has some questioning if it’s worth it.
In an effort to alleviate some of the pressure on the housing market in Burlington, UVM has been investing in new units across the Queen City and into South Burlington. Officials last year broke ground on Catamount Run, which will create more than 550 total beds for grad and medical students. More than 115 units will be available in August but the cost is giving some students sticker shock.
“It’s just way too expensive. Students are very concerned about just being able to work and live here, it’s just overall not sustainable,” said Madi Ingram, a UVM senior.
In an e-mail to students obtained by WCAX, the school advertises the rent as $1,800 for a studio, $ 1,250 per bedroom in a two- bedroom, and $1,050 per bedroom in a three-bedroom.
“I think that’s, you know, a big concern for a lot of us — if people will be able to afford continuing going to UVM. So, $1,800 for rent is not really affordable for a lot of people,” Ingram said.
Cara Simone with the Graduate Student Senate says that despite the cost, she’s happy to see UVM making the investment into housing. “I think that just creating more affordable housing is going to be important. I think that even new, any new housing that’s affordable is super challenging these days,” she said.
UVM’s Richard Cate says he understands the units aren’t affordable for some but says the university is doing what they can to provide more options. “I think bottom line is the university is doing everything possible to provide more housing, better housing. and as low as possible for students — both graduate and undergraduate — but at the same time we acknowledge that we live in a time when both the cost of construction and in terms of the availability of housing, the prices are difficult for some people to afford,” he said.
Catamount Run is expected to be finished by next year. There’s no word on how many units are spoken for so far.
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