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Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, Rebuilds After Hurricane Rita

Posted on: Tuesday, 6 December 2005, 21:00 CST

By Sarah Moore, The Beaumont Enterprise, Texas

Dec. 6--BEAUMONT -- With Hurricane Rita fading into the background, new horizons await Lamar University with student housing under construction and plans for a major development being negotiated.

"The word on the street is Lamar is coming into its own now," said Steve Richardson, planning manager for the city of Beaumont, citing recent projects such as a campus beautification effort. "The word on Lamar is getting out." One of the more tangible results of all the talk is privately owned The Village at Lamar, a student housing complex under construction at MLK Parkway and Florida Avenue.

D.J. Hammond & Associates of Austin developed the project after doing a feasibility study of the Beaumont area, said Theresa Holt, community manager at The Village at Lamar.

The plan progressed with the blessing of Lamar President Dr. James Simmons, who supports the project because of the need for adequate, affordable student housing here.

Holt said the development was more "progressive-thinking" than traditional apartments and houses available for students.

Universities in Houston, Austin, College Station and Huntsville already boast complexes like this -- "so Beaumont is finally coming into its own with this," Holt said.

The need was obvious from the way each successive phase of Cardinal Village's expansion failed to do away with long waiting lists for dorm rooms.

The apartments consist of four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen and large living/dining room. However, unlike other apartments, these are rented by the room, with the kitchen, bathroom and living areas shared.

The project will provide 384 rooms for students, with each individually keyed for a greater measure of privacy.

"It's strictly geared for college students," Holt said. "They're an alternative to living in the dorms or living at home. It's such an exciting concept." Amenities include a wireless Internet café, billiards room, fitness center (with tanning beds), an oversize pool and Jacuzzi. Cable and Roadrunner Internet are included.

Each apartment has new kitchen appliances and washers and dryers.

Rent per room is about $400 per month, an amount that could change depending on how fast the apartments are filled, Holt said.

"The response from students has been just tremendous," she said.

The Austin company isn't the only one with an eye on Southeast Texas.

A California-based company is looking at a project pairing the development of shops and a hotel with bringing a minor-league baseball team to Beaumont, said Mike Ferguson, Lamar vice president of finance and operations.

A feasibility study indicated that Beaumont is one of the Top 10 places to support such a team, Ferguson said. The project is contingent on extensive improvements to Lamar's Vincent-Beck Stadium.

In a rare silver lining, Hurricane Rita might actually prove favorable for this development. Potentially, the improvements could be worked in with the project to repair extensive storm damage, Ferguson said.

Lamar still awaits word on FEMA funding or insurance coverage of the damage.

With the advent of these developments, Abraham Motiee thinks the Lamar community's time in the sun has come.

Motiee, owner of Kampus Korner restaurant and book store, looks forward to the complex's opening and welcomes the development of shops and even of more restaurants.

"There's a lot of potential," he said "I really hope we're going to get more things going here.

"We definitely need a lot more things in this campus than we have now," he said.

Motiee has been in his location across from the Lamar campus on Rolfe Christopher Street for 25 years without seeing much growth in the area.

He's excited about the prospect of new commercial development.

Motiee said his business has grown about 40 percent over the past six months. Students are not his only customers -- refinery and office workers from downtown are going out of their way to eat lunch in his restaurant.

He wants to expand his own business with a venue featuring live music.

Parking, however, is an issue, as is often the case in university towns.

Motiee said when he moved the bookstore and gained more parking, he noticed an increase in business.

Another issue working against development of the area is exits off MLK.

Rick Barrilleaux, Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce director of economic development, said another exit from MLK into the campus would facilitate development, as it would make it easier for someone who sees the business from the road to get to it, rather than having to backtrack.

If potential customers have to go to too much trouble to get there, they might just keep on going in favor of someplace easier to access.

He said the increased student base makes it a more desirable location for developers, but an exit would "fast-forward" development.

But the rise in student population alone is not a good enough indicator of future success for businesses, Barrilleaux said. Feasibility studies showing potential for businesses to survive are essential.

Incentives to prospective businesses, such as land to build on, also will sweeten the deal for those looking for a less speculative investment in a more tried-and-true location.

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Copyright (c) 2005, The Beaumont Enterprise, Texas

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Source: The Beaumont Enterprise

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