Lease on 13th St. yet to be decided

As the university considers turning 13th Street into a seniors-only residence hall next year, one question remains: What will happen to it after that?

NYU's lease on the building ends in a year and a half, and NYU has yet to decide whether it will renew the lease or move the seniors-only program to a new location.

Tom Ellett, associate vice president for student affairs, said the university will monitor the first year of the program before deciding the residence hall's fate.

"I doubt any decision would be made until after this year's lottery numbers [are] coupled with the first year student enrollment in September," he said.

Depending on student interest and feedback, the university will decide whether to continue the program at 13th Street, said Craig Jolley, NYU's director of residential life.

Meanwhile, Jolley said the exact changes to the features of the current residence hall are still being worked out. Those changes will revolve around three areas to better reflect independent living: facilities and services, programming and policies.

The university looks to redesign the role of the RA for the senior housing program. Also, changes to the residence hall pet policy, guest policy and delivery policy are being considered.

"Were trying to look at ways that would still maintain security, and still be able to have more of an apartment style living." Jolley said.

No proposed changes have been finalized. Jolley said some changes may be finalized before the Feb. 24 housing application deadline, yet others will take longer to finalize to assure the policies are thoroughly examined.

Senior Kathleen Crehan, student senator for the Silver School of Social Work, hopes the senior residence program will remain housed in 13th Street.

"Part of what makes 13th Street so fitting for the senior housing program is its intimate size," she said. "I believe that students would be very disappointed if the building would be let go."