Campus Pointe address

2302 Bostic Drive

Charleston, Illinois 61920

Bob Pratten wants to give student residents of the Campus Pointe apartment complex more ways to enjoy the outdoors.

Pratten, president and CEO of Regency Residential Associates, plans to do this by installing several new kinds of outdoor equipment to will allow residents the opportunity to play volleyball, basketball and other activities.

His company purchased the Campus Pointe apartments, located east of Wal-Mart at 2302 Bostic Drive, in December and is in the process of renovating the complex.

Pratten said the company bought the property in Charleston because of its relative newness and its proximity to Eastern.

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He said the company, which owns 2,400 apartments around Illinois and Indiana, mostly caters to student housing in its ownership of apartments.

“We understand the student community and feel comfortable with this purchase,” he said.

Pratten said the purchase also had to do with the company wanting to expand.

“We’re trying to grow the company,” he said. “Illinois and Indiana are places we’re looking to buy more apartments.”

However, by purchasing property in Charleston, the company is expanding back into the area where it began.

“Coming back to Charleston is kind of ironic, since we’re returning to where we began,” Pratten said.

Regency Residential Associates took its name from Regency Apartments, which John Eads, chair of the company, bought in the 1970s.

The apartments were later sold to Eastern and renamed University Court.

Pratten said the company might look to expand beyond Campus Pointe in the future but for now, he is interested in just focusing on adding outdoor features for the complex.

The staff welcomed the change in ownership at Campus Pointe.

Ben Parish, leasing consultant for the complex, said he thinks the new owners are more willing to get tasks done in the complex.

“It was a pretty big change – but a good one,” he said.

Parish said the new owners want to upgrade the complex to create more interest among potential renters.

He said the upgrades mainly deal with outdoor activity areas but also include an expanded indoor workout area.

Any students interested touring or renting an apartment at Campus Pointe can call 217-581-6001.

Jordan Crook can be reached at 581-7495 or at jscrook@eiu.edu.