New routers and a saltwater pool are a few of the upgrades residents will see at existing apartments in Kent.

This week, new wireless Internet routers are being installed at Campus Pointe, providing faster speeds and stronger connections.

“Our buildings are three years old, and we wanted to make sure we had the newest and best routers available,” Sheena Tahyi, Campus Pointe property manager, said.

Tahyi said improvements at Campus Pointe are made to provide the best experience for residents.

“We always want to offer our residents as much as we can, so if we are doing upgrades it’s because we want our residents to have the latest and greatest things,” Tahyi said.

Campus Pointe is one of two complexes offering upgrades, along with Whitehall Terrace. Property managers at both locations said changes are not being made because they feel pressure to compete with the new apartments being built in Kent.

Whitehall Terrace is making improvements that they wanted to start last year, including remodeled bathrooms in all apartments and a state-of-the-art clubhouse.

“We want to be able to offer more to our residents,” Shannon Kleinman, Whitehall Terrace property manager, said. “Because of the age of our community, we felt it necessary to do some new upgrades.”

Kleinman is excited about the changes being made to the pool; it will go from freshwater to saltwater.

“It’s more environmentally friendly, it’s easier to maintain,” Kleinman said. “We’re doing it because nobody else has it. It’s going to be like being in the ocean.”

Apartments are offering more to attract students, but not everyone will be interested.

Stacy Russ, a senior speech pathology and audiology major, plans to continue living in her apartment at Holly Park because of location and price.

She said new and exciting amenities are not essentials for her.

“If you’re willing to pay the price, they’d be nice to have,” Russ said.

The new apartments being built appeal to Russ, but that’s not enough for her to move.

“I haven’t given them a second glance,” Russ said. “I’m content with where I’m at.”

Contact Alison Adams at [email protected].

Contact Brian Thursby at [email protected].