For the first time this fall, UL students will have the option of living in a cottage community.

An Atlanta-based company is entering the Lafayette market with a unique $8 million student-cottage complex on Coolidge Street at General Mouton.

The back of the complex, across from the old Rodemacher plant, is in the 1800 block of West Pinhook Road, what was once the site of Evangeline Motors.

Cottage Landing Partners, a subsidiary of Barnhart Guess Properties, is developing the 47 cottages with 189 bedrooms, says Frank Klemenc, director of architecture, planning and construction for Barnhart Guess. Barnhart Guess handles leasing, management and development of mostly mixed use and retail space, as well as retirement communities, throughout the Southeast but is now branching out into student housing. "We're starting to do these all over the country where there is a need," Klemenc says.

Called Cottage Landing, the gated Oil Center complex will offer three-, four- and five-bedroom options. Students will pay $530 per bedroom for a five-bedroom cottage, $540 per room for a four bedroom and $550 for each room in a three-bedroom cottage. Amenities include a resort-style swimming pool and sun-bathing patio. Pre-leasing of units is under way.

Demolition work is under way on Pinhook Road for a new student housing complex offering cottage-style units starting at $530 per bedroom.

Court records show that another Barnhart subsidiary, Red Lafayette LLC, purchased the 4-acre tract of land in mid-December for $1.25 million from Evangeline Oil Realty Co., which is owned by former U.S. Rep. Jimmy Hayes and several of his family members. The Pinhook Road location once housed Evangeline Motors but most recently was occupied by Styles Fashion Outlet.

Including the cost of the land, Klemenc says about $8 million will be invested in the development.