Students wishing to reside off-campus for the Fall 2008 semester will have a new place to move into once school starts in August.

Construction on the Melrose on Fourth apartment complex, located near the corner of Fourth and Polk streets, began in October and completion is expected in time for students to live in once the fall semester begins.

Hadley Phillips, co-owner of the property, said the opportunity to create the apartment complex started early last year when he was approached by the previous owner of the property about buying the lot.

Phillips said he and Chad Phillips, his brother and business partner, looked at the viability of the property for an apartment complex.

Hadley said one of the major selling points for the property was its zoning designation. The property is designated R3, which allows a property to have multiple residents living within its boundaries.

“There’s not a whole lot of R3 properties in Charleston,” he said.

Hadley said many of the properties that have this kind of zoning clearance in the city have already been purchased, so he said he was lucky to have the opportunity to purchase such a property.

Location also played a role in the choice to buy the lot.

He said the apartment complex would probably do well because it is located on Fourth Street, the second most heavily trafficked street in Charleston after to Lincoln Avenue.

Hadley thinks the complex will be successful with students not only because of the proximity but also because of a rent payment program they will institute.

He said students on financial aid could make arrangements with him and the financial aid office to use the excess money from their tuition costs to pay for rent.

Hadley referred to this as a “free deferral.”

“Essentially, whatever excess there is from their tuition costs can be given to us,” he said. “It’s a great advantage for people in that program.”

Melissa Phillips, the property manager, said this program, in conjunction with several other features in the apartment complex, will allow students a comfortable living environment.

“It just has a combination of good things all in one,” she said.

Melissa said each of the fully furnished apartments has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a balcony.

The complex will also offer a hot tub room and recreational room.

Melissa said more than half of the apartments have already been reserved and said she expects the rest to be reserved before the fall semester.

Any students wishing to reserve an apartment can do so by contacting Phillips at 217-962-0137.

Of Eastern Illinois University’s estimated 12,000 students, 7,000 live off campus, according to Mark Hudson, director of Housing and Dining Services.

Hudson said about 4,700 students live on campus, the majority of which live inside the residence halls and Greek Court, while the rest live in the two campus apartment complexes.

Even though many students live off campus, Hudson said those students living on campus have some advantages over those who live off campus.

He said he understands there is a point where students feel the need to move off campus but thinks that on-campus living offers students an easier time with bills and proximity.

He said since utility bills are paid through the school student have less to be concerned with, which allows them more time to spend studying and enjoying college life.

“It’s just a matter of how you want to spend your time,” he said.

Hudson said students who live on campus, over a period of three years, overall have better grade point averages than those students who live off campus.

“Living on campus is supportive of the school’s academic mission,” he said.

Jordan Crook can be reached at 581-7945 or jscrook@eiu.edu.