UND Aerospace Plans Student Housing in Gilbert

By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX 
As the University of North Dakota (UND) Aerospace pilot program, in partnership with Chandler Gilbert Community College at Williams Gateway Airport, has experienced exponential growth, the need for more housing for their students has also grown, according to documents submitted to the Town of Gilbert. 
“International students do not drive cars and it is difficult to find adequate housing near the provided flight operations.” 
The UND Aerospace Foundation is looking to remedy that situation with a plan for a new student housing and market rate apartment complex to be located on 9.3 acres at the NWC of Williams Field Road and Somerton Boulevard. 
The general contractor for the 169-unit multifamily development, Northridge Construction, on behalf of the owner, has requested approval of the plans including, site plan, landscape, grading and drainage, elevations, floor plans, lighting and design, with the Town of Gilbert. 
The UND Aerospace student housing and apartment project is proposed to be developed in two phases. Phase one will comprise two, three story buildings housing a total of 49 student hosing units on the northeast portion of the property facing Somerton Boulevard and Haskell Street. The project will be a mix of one- and two-bedroom units ranging from 701 square feet to 1,364 square feet. 
“Phase two is a future phase intended for market rate apartments with a proposed 120 units,” the project documents state. Phase two will comprise four apartment buildings on the northwest portion of the property, and one centralized community amenity building with a pool area and playground.   
Four access points will be provided, including one off Williams Field Road, one off Somerton Boulevard and two off Haskell Street. Phase one will provide a total of 108 parking spaces, including 12 garage, 37 covered and 56 surface spaces. Phase two will provide a total of 220 spaces including 96 garage spaces to be located on the ground floor of the apartment buildings, 32 covered and 92 surface spaces. 34 spaces of bicycle parking will also be included. 
“The applicant [Northridge] will be required to complete a 24’ half-street improvement to Somerton Boulevard with on-street parking located on the east side of the site,” according to the documents. “In addition to this, a half-street improvement with on-street parking will also be required for Haskell Street, located on the northern portion of the site.” 
The project was heard at Gilbert’s Planning Commission Study Session on April 1st. The elevations submitted to the town were for Phase one. Phase two elevations are in a separate submittal and are expected to be discussed at a later date.