Residents of the on-campus Binkley apartments received letters Thursday, Jan. 31 informing them the apartments will be closed beginning June 1.
The letter from Vice President of Business and Finance Chris Casey cited “campus changes to provide space for such enhancements such as additional residence halls, intramural fields and other facilities” as the reason behind the decision.
One hundred and fifty-six apartments will be closed and approximately 275 residents will be affected. According to Residence Community Director Jonathan Adams, a mixture of upper-class and graduate students reside in the apartments.
“We know the decision to close the Binkley apartments may be a disappointment, and that you may have planned to live in your apartment until graduation,” Associate Director of RLSH Susan Austin said in a letter to residents. “It is regrettable, but we hope that knowing now will help you to prepare, and we will do everything in our power to assist you in the transition.”
Current lease contracts will be honored but not renewed. Resident Angellia Chandler said she had asked RLSH about the possibility of the apartments being knocked down before she signed her lease for this year.
“They did say that it wouldn’t be during our contract [this year] but they also said they didn’t expect it to be for another year and a half,” Chandler said.
The decision to demolish the apartments was not made by RLSH but by university administrators. Adams was unsure about who specifically in the administration made the decision. RLSH staff was informed early Thursday morning and apartment residents were informed later that afternoon.
Residents are left to find alternative on-campus housing or move off-campus. The other SMU apartments consist of only 42 apartments, some of which are limited to law school students or transfer students. The number of available vacancies depends on the number of returning residents.
A lottery for SMU apartments available in the north campus area will be held on March 26. Binkley residents may also apply for space in residence halls before March 30. Space in residence halls cannot be guaranteed. An information fair is scheduled for late March with area apartment representatives and apartment locator services. Students are encouraged to contact the RLSH office if they have questions or concerns.
