McMaster to build off-campus grad student housing

McMasterUniversitywants to make finding housing easier for its more than4,000 graduate students.

The university posted an announcement Thursday looking for a private partnerfor an off-campus housing complex for 300 to 500 grad students.

While the university already operates 12 undergrad residences with 3,600 beds, this would be the first off-campusand the first graduate residence.

The building would be a joint project between the developer and the university, and the project could use the McMaster name, like "McMaster Graduate Student Residence."

It's an acknowledgment that the university's current housing offerings don't quite fit the grad student bill.

"Some have partners living with them, in some cases they havechildren," said Gord Arbeau, director of public and community relations at McMaster. "They're looking for larger accommodations, for in-unit kitchens, food prep areas."

And grad students are "less inclined to want to be on-campus," Arbeau said.

The university wants the project to be within a 30-minute car or transit commute of the campus, and within walking distance to parks and green space. The project would have to be off-campus, but the university would consider buying the land.

In 2013, the university polled 700 grad students on their preferences for housing. Here are their top five needs:

• high speed internet
• in-house laundry
• wireless internet
• cooking facilities in each unit
• proximity or ease of travel to campus

The developer would need to offer the apartments likely a mix of studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units at rental rates that are comparable to downtown Hamilton. But beyond that, the university is open to suggestions.

The request for proposals also indicated theuniversity would be open to hearing separate ideas forundergradhousing, too.

The deadline for potential partners to submit paperwork to the school to be qualified is Oct. 9.

kelly.bennett@cbc.ca