Drexel University is building Chestnut Square for the fall semester and breaking ground on another unnamed project expected to open in fall 2015. Drexel has teamed with American Campus Communities to complete this task and officials said they hope to immediately impact student housing with these projects. The chief purpose of these projects is to provide students with retail and residential opportunities on campus.
“We are trying to get the word out about the city’s new zoning laws in relation to our projects and how it impacts Drexel University and its surrounding area,” said Dimitrios Boufidis, director of business and city affairs at Drexel University.
Between Lancaster Avenue and 34th Street, new student housing is expected to host about 1,300 students and bring commercial retail to the area. For Drexel and its Texas-based partner, this is about adapting to Philadelphia’s new zoning laws in an appropriate manner and making campus the safest residential option for students.
“The goal is to encourage students to live on campus and get them out of the neighborhoods into a more secure environment. We are trying to create more opportunities, through both retail and housing, to accommodate the various lifestyles and income situations of Drexel students,” said Jason Willis, vice president of American Campus Communities.
Last week’s display at ExCITe Center laid the foundation for Drexel’s future, the expected spike in enrollment and the need to house more students on campus.
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