Ohio State University's North Campus building boom added 3,200 residence-hall beds during the past two years, but in this first year that sophomores are required to live on campus, the university still fell short of accommodating every student who applied to live in a dorm this fall. Of the 14,500 or so who requested dorm rooms and paid a deposit in the spring, about 130 received letters recently offering them a place in a nearby apartment instead.

Ohio State University�s North Campus building boom added 3,200 residence-hall beds during the past two years, but in this first year that sophomores are required to live on campus, the university still fell short of accommodating every student who applied to live in a dorm this fall.

Of the 14,500 or so who requested dorm rooms and paid a deposit in the spring, about 130 received letters recently offering them a place in a nearby apartment instead. They aren�t required to accept the apartment placements.

The university is spending about $1.2 million to lease units in three new or nearly new apartment buildings: The Doric on Lane, 150 W. Lane Ave.; Norwich Flats, 250 W. Norwich Ave.; and Fisher Commons at 900 Nettle Drive, near Lane Avenue and Kenny Road.

�It looks at this point like we will be using 116 beds in these locations,� university spokesman Dave Isaacs said.

The price includes the lease, utilities, maintenance, housekeeping and furnishings. The university will employ resident advisers and other staff members for the apartment locations, he said.

�We�re basically making them like residence halls � just on the other side of the street.�

The offer was made only to upperclassmen. �We thought it was important that first- and second-year students have the opportunity to be in residence halls,� Isaacs said.

Ohio State officials consider the shortfall a good-news reflection of admission applications and enrollment rising to new heights. Last year, Isaacs said, 11,197 undergraduates chose to live in residence halls. In addition to the sophomore requirement swelling the on-campus ranks this year, he said, more third- and fourth-year students asked for dorm rooms.

Applications to Ohio State�s main campus for this fall totaled 49,407, an increase of 7.6 percent over last year�s record of 45,922. New-freshman enrollment isn�t finalized, but it�s expected to top last year�s record class of 6,978.

All three of the buildings in which OSU is leasing space for students were developed by Edwards Student Housing, which also is building two large complexes on High Street, one between 8th and 9th avenues and the other between 16th and 17th avenues.

�We think there�s still a strong market for upscale student apartments,� even with the addition of the North Campus residence halls, said Edwards President Ryan Szymanski.

The most-popular room plan through OSU costs students about $7,900 per year � $877 per month for a nine-month school year, Isaacs said.

Those who got bumped into apartments will be getting a deal; private renters would pay much more for some rooms in the Edwards apartments. The three properties lease bedrooms individually even if they are in two-, three- or four-bedroom units. Prices range from about $900 to about $1,300 a month. The fewer the bedrooms in each unit, the more each bedroom costs.

A furnished room in a four-bedroom unit comes with a private bathroom and paid internet and cable service. The occupants share a kitchen, study area and terrace. The apartments advertise full-size beds, granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances, plus full-size washers and dryers. The buildings have 24-hour computer-printing areas and parking under the buildings.

mcedward@dispatch.com

@MaryMoganEdward