Student Housing: Columbia Hospital still on UWM’s radar screen
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee officials remain interested in using the Columbia Hospital complex for student housing, according to the university’s new preliminary construction spending proposal.
That proposal calls for spending $66.1 million to buy and renovate the hospital buildings, which are next to UWM’s main campus.
The plan, which will be revised before being submitted to the UW-System’s Board of Regents, says the hospital proposal “represents a major opportunity to address a wide range of campus space deficiencies.”
“Yes, of course, we’re interested in the property,” said Tom Luljak, vice chancellor of university relations. “We always have been.”
The Columbia plan is a “place holder” within the larger spending proposal, and could change, Luljak said.
The buildings, owned by Columbia St. Mary’s Inc., will become available for development in fall 2010 after the hospital complex closes. Columbia St. Mary’s is consolidating operations at its expanding Lake Drive campus.
I reported recently that developer Doug Weas had dropped plans to buy the Columbia complex because of the difficult lending climate, and lack of a firm commitment from UWM officials to use the buildings.
The Columbia property is identified in the university’s proposed master plan as a potential site for 1,200 beds of student housing, other student services, back-office administrative use and some academic functions.
Nearby residents are opposed to plans to develop student housing at the Columbia site, saying it would bring more noise and other problems to their neighborhood.
By Tom Daykin for the Journal Sentinel
