Vacant no more: Battery Hotel reopens as MUN residence

After a nearly three year vacancy, the iconic Battery Hotel in St. John'sis reopeningfor business this time,as a university residence.

Memorial University's two-year effort to renovate the building for graduate students ispartially complete.

• Memorial University officially buys The Battery
• MUN seeking public input on aspects of Battery renovation

The university has renovated 43 rooms so far, and45 more are expected to be completed by winter.

The first students areexpected to move in onTuesday, though only a quarter of the finished rooms have been filled.

"We're going to continue to fill the space over the month of September, and actually on into the fall," saysuniversity spokesperson Rebecca Cohoe.

Including utilities, rentwill set residents back between $500 and $650 a month.

Cohoe saidthe downtown location and its proximity to Signal Hill are among some of its bestfeatures.

"We think graduate students, both from here, and especially our graduate students who come from Canada and around the world, I think this is an awesome way for them to get a sense of what this city is all about," Cohoe said.

Students will have access to shared kitchens for cooking, food services, a gym and other amenities in the next twoyears as renovations continue.