Anchor intro: It might be hard to believe…but it’s almost time to start looking for next years house or apartment. There might be a lot of choices for students, but TV2’s Lauren Mazza has your first look at a new apartment complex that might be getting built next year.

Students have many choices on where they want to live, but if you want to live close to campus, your options are somewhat limited.

Columbus-based Edwards Communities is trying to change that.

SOT (Lauren Mazza, Reporter): THE COMPANY IS TRYING TO CHANGE THIS VACANT FIELD NEAR DARTMOUTH PLACE APARTMENTS INTO THE SITE OF HIGH-END APARTMENT COMPLEXES.

The apartments, located on Lincoln Road, would be very similar to the Campus Point apartment complex but much closer towards campus and downtown Kent.

All rooms would have a bathroom in each bedroom, would be fully-furnished, include washers and dryers, and students would only be responsible for paying their electric bill.

Rent prices have yet to be decided.

The project would cost a total of 25 million dollars, and Edward Communities would foot that bill.

Many students on campus think the apartment complex is a great idea.

SOT (Kyle Buttermore, KSU Student): I THINK IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO BUILD THE APARTMENTS BECAUSE…UM BECAUSE STUDENT’S NEED MORE HOUSING AND PLACES TO LIVE.

SOT (Mike Caparanis, KSU Student): WE NEED SOMEWHERE, A NICE PLACE THAT’S CLOSE TO CAMPUS THAT PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO LIVE.

Despite what students may think, Edward Communities has tried to get this project started for SEVEN YEARS but has never gotten approval from the city of Kent Planning Commission.

I attended an open meeting on the project where many permanent residents of the surrounding area are oppose d to the project, but none were willing to comment on camera.

One citizen at the meeting voiced the concern that the project would ruin the character of the community.

Another concern is that if the project is approved, the area will have to be re-zoned and classified as a university district. This has some community members worried about more student traffic, noise, and trash.

The project will either be approved or denied at the next planning commission meeting on November 16th.

For kentwired, I’m Lauren Mazza.