USAC residents may see rent rise

Jennifer Newcomb
February 4, 1997

Many Iowa State students are concerned about next year’s 3.9 percent tuition increase, but some University Student Apartment Community residents could get hit twice.

At last Tuesday’s USAC Council meeting, residents discussed a proposed budget that would increase rent for the 1997-98 academic year. Most proposed increases are less than $20 per month.

Residents of Schilletter Village, University Village, West Pammel Court, East Pammel and Hawthorn Courts said though the increases are small, they would hit them and their families hard.

“In University and Schilletter Villages, the cost of heating is high because the insulation is poor,” said Joel Felix, USAC mayor.

Felix said the rent at USAC is cheaper than living off campus. But the university rates keep going up, meaning may soon be cheaper to look elsewhere for housing, he said.

Felix said in 1994-95, the rates increased by 3.5 percent, in 1995-96 the rates increased by 4.3 percent and in 1996-97, the rates increased by 4.2 percent.

Felix said the USAC Council has two different views on the proposed increase.

Some council members said the increase in the rates is justified because USAC provides a good service, including repair and security services. They also said USAC provides a safe environment for families and the community’s rent is cheaper than off-campus apartments.

On the other hand, other members said although rent is cheaper now, with continuing increases the rates will be higher than off-campus apartment prices.

Rate increases differ for each USAC complex.

Proposed Monthly Rent Increases for USAC

Schilletter Village Current Proposed

Students $368 $383

Staff 477 496

Hawthorne Court

Students 323 336

Staff 448 466

Pammel Court

Students 188 195

Staff 298 310

University Village