COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State University officials announced Monday that Buckeye Village will close.
The university says it's in the process of negotiating a lease agreement with the University Village apartments. Current Buckeye Village residents will have the option of renting one or two-bedroom units at University Village.
Current Buckeye Village residents will have this option for the next two academic years of 2020-21 and 2021-22. School officials say rental rates will be established based on current Buckeye Village rates, plus any University Housing rate increases established through the annual rate review process.
School officials have issued the following statement about the closure of Buckeye Village:
"Ohio State remains committed to graduate and family housing options that are affordable, safe and located close to campus.
The university's 2010 Framework Plan, the 2012 Athletics District Master Plan and the more recent Framework 2.0 plan all include long-term development proposals for the area northwest of campus, including the property on which Buckeye Village currently resides.
We are in the process of negotiating a lease agreement with University Village apartments. Beginning in 2020-2021, currently contracted Buckeye Village residents would have the option of renting a University Village unit. They would have this option for two years at rates subsidized by the university to match the current Buckeye Village rates (plus any University Housing rate increases established through the annual rate review process.)
The existing Buckeye Village apartments would close. Ohio State continues to consider the best long-term opportunities for graduate and family housing. Currently, 89 Buckeye Village units are occupied."
Some members of the student population are expressing their concern over the impending closure.
The Executive Committee of the OSU's Council of Graduate Students issued a statement saying in part that the group was "disappointed by the University's decision to close Buckeye Village with no plans for replacement. The ending of our only family-housing complex goes against University values of diversity and inclusion, access and affordability, and integrity."
School officials say the Buckeye Village community center will remain open.
The complex opened in two phases between 1959 and 1962. In 2016, there were 396 available units at Buckeye Village, and 315 of the units were occupied. Presently, 89 units are occupied.
In January of 2017, the university sent out a request for proposals for possible configurations of graduate housing and community spaces. According to university officials, none of the proposals "met the required quality and affordability thresholds." OSU says it is continuing to consider available options for affordable graduate student family housing.
The university plans to close Buckeye Village at the end of the school year.