In 2007, University West purchased properties in West Ames from Haverkamp Properties and had a new goal in mind: creating an atmosphere that is nicer for customers. According to community manager Kayla Kaser, University West has the highest renewal percentage in town, boasting about 40 percent.

Apart from having the largest portion of their residents renewing contracts, they are also the largest property under their home corporation, Corridor LLC. Corridor owns similar properties in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Minnesota, Maryland and Iowa, with University West having the largest portfolio of residents.

With such a large number of people in their community, the managers of University West regularly set up events to appeal to their residents. Unique features of the complex include being pet-friendly and holding pool parties, cutest pet contests, tennis courts, fitness memberships and even a sand volleyball court.

To help keep up with what residents want to see from them, organizers have set up a new Facebook page to interact and give updates to anyone interested in the festivities.

This year, University West will be hosting a pool party on Aug. 25, and anyone is invited. On their Facebook page, it has become an open invitation for family and friends to show up to have a good time.

A special spin has been in the works this year, though: having a charity be sponsored. The idea came from maintenance supervisor Mike Whitney while on his way to work one day.

“I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before,” Whitney stated. “This just makes sense.”

Whitney has been a supervisor for University West for five years and has been actively involved in the Iowa Barbeque Society for 10 years. Ideally, he wants to help sponsor a pool party and charity event with local bands and outside food vendors, with a portion of the ticket money to go to a charity of the apartment complex’s choosing. As of now, there isn’t any specific charity in mind, but Whitney voiced that he’d like to raise money for a charity related to cancer.

“What I want to do is, since it’s mostly students, is find a charity that hits close to home with them. Either something that happens, that could happen to them, or something that they associate with and know people. Every time you do a charity, I think you get a better response when you find an audience that knows it can or could affect them.”