University of Rhode Island to open two new residence halls by 2028
KINGSTON, R.I. (WJAR) — University of Rhode Island students will soon have more modern housing options on campus.
Two new residence halls and the redevelopment of apartments will add more than 1,100 beds by 2028.
Construction will include two new undergrad residence halls with apartment style suites on Flagg Road, and the reconstruction of Graduate Village Apartments, for graduate students.
The first phase of the project on Flagg Road is set to be complete by Aug. 2027.
"This is really an incredible step forward," said President of URI, Marc Parlange.
President and CEO of Gilbane, James Patchett, said the project pays for itself, and won't cost taxpayers a dime.
"The students pay a regular part of their tuition that includes the cost of residences, and by having more students live on campus, that's what covers the cost of building these fantastic new dorms," said Patchett.
Students welcomed the construction.
"There's no other place that you can do, really tap into that scholarly state, other than being close to the source and close to the community that URI has here," said graduate student, Justin Watkins.
The increase of on-campus housing could alleviate frustrations in surrounding communities, that have dealt with off-campus housing issues, like in Narragansett.
"We've often heard from residents about the concerns about students living in the community and what this burden means for the whole community, even though no one on the council, including myself, has ever considered students to be a burden," said Narragansett Town Council President, Alex Menzies.
Menzies said the additional dorms would cut down on part-time rentals, and bring full-time, taxpaying residents to town.
"By bringing students back to the URI campus, this will lead to hopefully more year round residents, more families coming into the Narragansett community," he said.
Patchett promised the first phase of the project, which are the dorms on Flagg Road, would be complete by Aug. 2027.
