A new, pet-friendly student housing development is under construction in Iowa City, promising 291 one-to-three bedroom units by August 2025. Tentatively called Riverfront West Student Housing and located on the corner of Riverside Drive and Myrtle Avenue, the 364,264 square foot building will house 648 beds. Scannell Properties from Indianapolis is the developer and […]
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A new, pet-friendly student housing development is under construction in Iowa City, promising 291 one-to-three bedroom units by August 2025.
Construction site of Riverfront West housing, opening August 2025. CREDIT ANNIE BARKALOW
Tentatively called Riverfront West Student Housing and located on the corner of Riverside Drive and Myrtle Avenue, the 364,264 square foot building will house 648 beds.
Scannell Properties from Indianapolis is the developer and owner of the new housing unit, with Shive-Hattery architectural and engineering firm acting as architect and providing the design for the project.
Brett Krantz, Eastern Iowa Regions Leader with DCI Group Inc., construction manager of the site, said although the unit is geared toward students, age and educational status are not a requirement for renting.
Brett Krantz. CREDIT DCI GROUP, INC.
“It's certainly geared more toward the student population, just the way the common areas are set up, whether it be breakout rooms for study or just different opportunities to get outside of your room and collaborate with others. It's really teed up towards that student living, but certainly no requirement that you've got to be a student to live here," he said.
Amenities
The $85 million project has common areas and breakout rooms for studying, as well as other amenities students and young professionals might find attractive: a golf simulator, workout facility, courtyard with pool, hot tub, spa and jumbotron tv, grill, pergolas for relaxing under, and a fenced in courtyard for dogs.
To make way for the new unit, demolition on existing buildings began in February 2023. “There's a lot of excitement in the community around really dressing this corner up, really improving this part of the city,” said Mr. Krantz.
Rendering of a lounge area outside Riverfront West. CREDIT SHIVE-HATTERY
Iowa City has been a boon to development groups, which find lucrative opportunities owing to the large student population and the need for housing, which can cost anywhere from $1,300-$1,900 a month for newer one-bedroom units.
In June, the University of Iowa put its Mayflower residence hall up for sale, which accommodates 523 rooms and 1,015 beds – leaving a vacancy in the city for more student housing. The dorm is scheduled to close in the spring of 2024, and the University has plans to build a residence hall on the east side of campus and update existing dorms as part of their five-year plan.
Recent student housing
Construction is underway at the Hive in Iowa City. CREDIT ANNIE BARKALOW
Other student housing developments have cropped up in recent years:
Opening 2024: The Hive, 700 S. Dubuque St., has 250 units and 550 beds.
2022: The Nest, at 123 E. College St., has 101 units with 182 beds.
2019: The Banks, at 104 E. 7th St. Coralville, has 305 units and 663 beds.
2018: RISE, at 435 S. Linn St., has 80 units and 500 beds.
