We had a chance to ask the good folks from Housing a variety of questions, particularly about yesterday's news, and this is what's happened and what's going to happen.
University Apartment housing for seniors:
First, the title University Apartment housing is a bit of a misnomer since some of the rooms Housing will offer to interested seniors aren't actually apartments, but rather suite-styled rooms similar to those of Hartley/Wallach. In particular, six rooms from the Carlton Arms (362 Riverside Drive) will be offered for undergraduates. Carlton, although it has been part of the general lottery selection process in the past, is typically reserved for 3-2 students. Google Maps describes it as "the worst dorm in the world" but it's generally regarded as pretty desirable housing.
Housing is also opening up one University Apartment building (actual apartment-styled rooms similar to Watt/Woodbridge) at 114th Street (next to Ruggles), one at Nussbaum, and two University Apartment styled buildings on 113th Street. In total, roughly 30 to 40 beds will be made available for interested seniors. Some of the rooms are doubles, but the overwhelming majority are singles (about the size of a Watt studio single).
According to Housing, there has so far been "plenty" of interest in the rooms, and the rooms, almost definitely, will be taken entirely be seniors. Any seniors who are offered a room will be given 24 hours to decide whether or not they want to take it.
