School to sell off-campus apartments

Summer Yates, design editor

The university received an unsolicited offer for the purchase of Vanguard Center Oct. 6, 2009.

If sold, the $5.35 million bid would reduce the school’s debt substantially, according to Bob Allison, Vice President of Business and Finance.

“It [is] an attractive offer for us,” Allison said. “It [has] the potential of positively impacting our budgets.”

A letter of intent to sell the property was signed Dec. 9. The letter included a leaseback provision, ensuring that current residents will be allowed to finish out the academic year in V.C. in the event the property is sold mid-semester.

Residence Life is preparing for the sale as well. Although the student handbook only guarantees housing for single freshmen and sophomores under 21, Housing Coordinator Allison Hesse is confident that the main campus will be able to accomodate the projected number of incoming and returning students.

“It’s a big numbers game,” Hesse said. “Will we be full on campus? Yes. Will we be able to stick to our preferred capacity? Yes, we will.”

As for summer housing, Residence Life is working with Event Relations to secure a number of quads for students. Priority will go to those enrolled in summer school.

“We will provide summer housing; that’s not an issue,” Allison said.

Vanguard will not be able to guarantee housing for students wanting to stay in Costa Mesa for the summer, yet the possibility is being discussed.

“If there were extra spaces, students could apply for those. We’re still fleshing out what that would look like,” Hesse said.

The potential sale would directly affect married students, as there are no coed accommodations on the main campus. However, since fall 2004, Vanguard Center has housed no more than five couples at a time.

While the sale is currently just conjecture, Residence Life is arranging for any scenario, so that housing will not be a problem.

“We’re prepared to move forward either way come housing registration time,” Hesse said.