UCLA resolves apartment building controversy

UCLA resolves apartment building controversy

Construction site schedule altered for student tenants

By Kimberly Mackesy

On one side of the freeway, children run around a playground in
the afternoon sun. On the other side stands the skeleton wooden
frames of apartments under construction.

The University Apartments/ South housing complex for student
families lies on Sawtelle and Sepulveda Boulevards, split down the
middle by the 405 freeway. The apartments are now undergoing a $47
million three-phase redevelopment project aimed at accommodating
more student families and improving complex amenities.

Earlier this year there was concern by residents in Phase II
apartments that the Phase I would not be completed in time. Tenants
feared they would be evicted before new apartments would be built
to house them, and therefore left homeless.

The result would be that the families living in Phase II
apartments would have had to move twice. However, that problem has
since been resolved, said Brad Erickson, associate director of
Business Enterprises Real Estate. Erickson said that Business
Enterprises would avoid a double move at all costs.

"We will do everything necessary to ensure that the Phase I
units will be ready for residents (of Phase II) to move into,"
Erickson said.

He added that the cost of expediting completion of Phase I and
delaying Phase II would still be within the university’s
construction budget and would not be reflected in 1995-96 rental
rates, which have already been set.

Although officials are still negotiating with the contractor,
estimates for speeding the building schedule are between $200,000
to $500,000, said Carey Roth, administrator for the university
apartments.

This unforeseen cost will significantly deplete the budget’s
contingency fund, officials said. Depending on the added costs,
rents could be increased in 1996-97.

University Apartments/South residents are relieved by the fact
that they will not have to move twice, said Wendy Sedillo,
president of the University Apartments/ South Residents’
Association.

"(Residents) were very upset about having to move twice,"
Sedillo said. "But now they won’t have to," she said, adding that
residents had been previously displeased with the amount of
information they had been receiving from the management and the
association.

"I think everyone involved has recognized that (information) has
been lacking," Sedillo said, adding that communication has been
improving recently. "I think the (residents’) biggest concern was
the double move. Other than that, I’d say the majority are very
excited to move into the new units."

The project will add such amenities as a community center, an
entertainment center, a 15,000 square foot child care center, an
adult pool, a childrens’ pool, several half-court basketball courts
and a technology center. A 16-foot sound wall will also be
constructed, an addition much appreciated by residents living
beneath the shadow of the 405.

The rental rates for 1995-96 are set at $650/ month for a
1-bedroom, 1-bath unit; $700 for a 2-bedroom, 1-bath unit; $750 for
a 2-bedroom, 2-bath unit; and $850 for a 3-bedroom, 2-bath unit.
The rates are among the most competitive in the Westside, said
Erickson.

"We’ve been surprised by the amount of residents who want to
move into the new units," Erickson said. "I think that when
construction is completed, there won’t be an apartment complex on
the Westside that will be able to touch this place."

The three phases of construction are expected to be completed
between late summer and early fall of 1997, Roth said.