THUNDER BAY -- Just a few months after he took ownership of the building, a Thunder Bay developer has opened the first stage of the city's newest student residence.
Campuses, located in the former Dawson Court on North Algoma Street, will accommodate 27 students initially, 100 by January, and 200 a year from now.
Ahsanul Habib bought the former nursing home from the City of Thunder Bay for $450,000 last spring.
He believed its spaciousness and location was ideal for a student residence. "It's a beautiful location, safe, and landscaped. That view of the Sleeping Giant...you can't find anything else like it," he said in an interview on Tuesday.
The price seems to be right, too.
According to Habib, his rates are less than half the rate for student residences at Lakehead University and Confederation College.
He conceded that some students may prefer to live closer to their school, but pointed out there's a bus stop right in front of Campuses, and he's prepared to provide a van if there's enough demand for a shuttle service.
The Occupancy Permit that Habib received from the city on Tuesday allowed him to open the first of several "pods" in the building.
Each room comes furnished and is equipped with a fridge. Each pod has a kitchen, allowing students to cook their own food. For those who prefer meal service, Habib has arranged to bring prepared food from a kitchen in another facility that he owns.
While some students are moving in immediately, he's unsure what the uptake will be to start with.
"In September we had quite a long list. We'll see how many are still interested. Some may have found other places, but some may decide that where they are now is not appropriate."
Habib said he's pleased with how quickly the initial set of renovations was done. "We just started in the summer, so we did pretty good in a short period."
A variety of accommodations will be available, ranging from single-person units to doubles and triples.
The residence will also have common lounges, a fitness area and an auditorium.
