NORTH PARK — It will be years before Northeastern Illinois University begins construction on residence halls planned for Bryn Mawr Avenue, according to university officials.
The student housing project was one of the topics discussed at a recent meeting of the Northeastern Neighborhood Network, comprising representatives from NEIU and various community organizations.
A summary of the meeting was shared on the Northeastern Neighbors website, which was created by the university to increase communication between the school and its neighbors.
Asked at the meeting about the status of the residence halls, NEIU Interim President Richard Helldobler said it would take two to three years just to plan and prepare the Bryn Mawr site.
Northeastern will be responsible for demolishing existing buildings on Bryn Mawr between Kimball and Bernard. The properties were bought by the university following a contentious two-year battle with owners that saw the school invoke eminent domain.
A private developer, to be selected via a request for proposals, will secure financing and build the mixed-use retail/student housing complex, Helldobler said.
In the interim, NEIU intends to keep the buildings occupied and may move some university functions to Bryn Mawr, officials said.
NEIU opened its first residence hall, The Nest, in August. The Nest, built on campus, had been planned as the second phase of the university's overall housing plan, intended to follow the complex on Bryn Mawr, but took precedence when eminent domain proceedings dragged on.
According to Helldobler, 260 of The Nest's 432 beds are occupied, and NEIU expects the residence hall will be at full capacity in 2017.
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