Bobcat faces competition

A recent burst of developers has closed in on Bobcat Village, slowly surrounding university housing to give Bobcat Village some competition.

Magnolia Park, owned by College Park Communities, is being built on U.S. Highway 441 directly across from Bobcat Village– with hopes to attract the student body by offering several benefits.

“Milledgeville has never seen anything like this,” said Ronda Smith, regional vice president of College Park Communities.

Leasing is already open for Magnolia Park, and the construction will be completed by August. There are 444 beds available in two, three and four bedroom apartments. The rent will start at $475 per person and includes all utilities, such as cable, Internet, electricity and water.

The apartments come fully furnished with washers and dryers. Magnolia Park will also have tanning beds, game rooms, exercise rooms, an X-Box room and a swimming pool.

“It’s definitely resort style living,” said Barrie Nichols, vice president of sales and leasing of College Park communities.

Magnolia Park provides a roommate-matching service that will place tenants with the ideal roommate, if necessary. Individual leases ensure that tenants only have to pay their share. Roommates are not liable for a breach of contract by another roommate.

Magnolia Park also has a work-for-rent program that allows students to work in the leasing office in exchange for housing.

“Now that’s giving back to the community,” Nichols said.

Despite these eye-catching benefits, the GC&SU Auxiliary Services that manage Bobcat Village are not worried.

“We don’t want to be Magnolia Park,” said Kyle Cullars, director of Auxiliary Services. “We are not doing anything particular because these apartment communities are coming into town.”

The rent at Bobcat Village starts at $464 per person for a four bedroom apartment with all utilities included. The apartments are also fully furnished, and Bobcat offers some of the same amenities as Magnolia Park, including a swimming pool and game rooms.

However, one thing Bobcat Village has that Magnolia Park lacks is a shuttle service that will carry students to and from campus. Auxiliary Services has added two shuttles to the fleet, decreasing waiting time to about six or seven minutes.

Auxiliary Services is also finalizing the construction of basketball courts and a sand volleyball court. Other future plans consist of adding all-day fitness rooms, a showcase room complete with flat screen televisions, and even a car wash.

“We blow away the competition when it comes to amenities,” Cullars said. “We offer the freedom of apartment living, but the security of university housing.”

Many students are unmoved by the new facilities.

Drew Ann Tatum, junior liberal arts major and Bobcat resident, said Bobcat has many advantages.

“I like living there. If you have to move off campus, then I think it is ideal,” Tatum said. “The only reason I would move from Bobcat Village is if all my friends did.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Feb 3 2006. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry