UConn Hartford will be able to offer student housing near its downtown campus starting this fall, a year ahead of its planned opening of a larger and permanent student housing development nearby.<\/p>\n
UConn\u2019s Board of Trustees recently approved plans to lease studio and one-bedroom apartments in The Donaghue<\/a> at 525 Main St., to accommodate up to 57 students in the 2025-2026 academic year. That newly renovated building is across the street from the Hartford Public Library and just a few minutes from the campus<\/a>.<\/p>\n The University will offer the apartments for student housing through Residential Life, acclimating students to the concept of living near the campus so they can easily transition next year to the permanent housing under development at 64 Pratt St.<\/p>\n The housing complements the planned opening of a new caf\u00e9<\/a> this fall in the Hartford Times campus headquarters building, where food will be available for purchase with UConn meal plans or \u00e0 la carte by members of the University community and the public.<\/p>\n Students who live in the apartments in The Donaghue building will be able to opt for a UConn meal plan that includes either five or 10 meals per week, plus $50 in dining points per semester.<\/p>\n Nathan Fuerst, UConn\u2019s vice president for student life and enrollment, said at a recent Board of Trustees meeting that offering the apartments near UConn Hartford has many benefits both for the students and for the campus itself.<\/p>\n \u201cThe housing option will help students develop a strong sense of community and build momentum moving into the coming year as we prepare to open the housing on Pratt Street,\u201d Fuerst said. \u201cWe\u2019re very excited to be able to offer a housing opportunity even earlier than we anticipated, and we look forward to strong interest.\u201d<\/p>\n Providing the option also will help ease some space constraints at UConn Storrs, since UConn Hartford students who currently live in Storrs dorms will get first dibs on The Donaghue apartments closer to their home campus.<\/p>\n \u201cUConn Hartford\u2019s new caf\u00e9 and its student housing plans are examples of the University\u2019s commitment to partnering with the City of Hartford and adding to its economic, social, and cultural vibrancy,” said Mark Overmyer-Vel\u00e1zquez, UConn Hartford\u2019s dean and chief administrative officer.<\/p>\n