Local

Owosso Baker College students get new living space

Monday, June 08, 2009

Tags:

local, randy conat

Randy Conat
More: Bio, abc12.com News Team, E-mail

OWOSSO (WJRT) -- (06/08/09) -- Dozens of students at Baker College of Owosso will be rewarded for good grades this fall with a chance to live in a new dormitory.

ABC12's Randy Conat reports while the housing may be new, the building itself is more than 100 years old.

Workers have spent the past two years converting the old Woodard Furniture factory in Owosso into condos, offices and a restaurant.

But that was only on the east half of the building. Now Bosgraaf Commercial, the owner of the building, has signed a ten-year lease with Baker College of Owosso to create 36 loft apartments for students.

More: Follow us on Twitter

"The excitement is growing day by day," said Baker College's Lisa Lynch.

Years ago this was the place where they shaped wrought iron into patio furniture. In less than four months, they'll be shaping the lives of college students.

"Our first priority right now is to get the student housing built by September when they come back to school," Bill Emery from Bosgraaf Commercial said.

Four students will share a loft, which will be furnished with everything a college kid needs, including WiFi Internet service.

"This will be a reward for some of our best and brightest students that can come and live in the Woodard Lofts their second year," Baker College of Owosso Campus President Pete Karsen noted.

The Woodard Building is about a half mile from the Baker campus. The student housing is badly needed because the dorm at the college is full and there's a waiting list. Workers are moving quickly to make sure the apartments are ready in the 100-year-old building.

"There are certain challenges working in a structure like this," Emery said.

There are also plans to add a health club and swimming pool.