History Takes On Student Housing in Denton

City leaders in Denton are set next month to discuss their options when it comes to single student apartments going up near the University of North Texas.

Currently there are a couple dozen complexes in the area that offer “by the bed” rentals targeted at college students wishing to live off campus and on their own.

UNT sophomore is one of them. He says he chose his Eagle Creek Apartment so he could focus on his studies without interruption at night.

“I’m a social person, but living with them, sharing laundry cooking all that, it’s just, I like people but not for that aspect,” said Lauterbach, “I like doing that on my own.”

He’s far from alone.

With UNT seeing larger enrollment numbers each year, more students are choosing that route.

Now with demand growing, city staff report more interest coming in from developers wanting to build single room complexes within walking distance of the campus.

That would put them in or near the neighborhoods that already stand there though; which happen to be some of the oldest and some of the city’s most historic.

Jon Seibert who’s been a resident of the city since he came to attend UNT now fixes up a lot of the homes in the Oak-Hickory Historic District, and he’s seen more and more of the properties turn into student rentals over the years.

Now he, and other long-time residents worry about the effects more, larger student complexes would have on those established neighborhoods including property values taking hits, overall aesthetics going down, and historic statuses being put in jeopardy.

“We have a very small historical district and it’s disappearing,” said Seibert.

Currently, city staff members say two builders are looking at potential complexes in the area, but the processes are still awaiting key approvals and that council discussion to decide how to proceed with things like zoning.

Our partners at the Denton Record Chronicle report that the discussion was delayed earlier this month and, at last check, was rescheduled for Dec. 13.

Contact Us