The streets near the Hillsdale College campus are slowly clearing out as administration removes houses in order to develop the area. With many houses gone, the college hopes to build on or sell the properties to enhance the approach to campus.
“Every visitor has an impression of Hillsdale when they come,” Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé said. “Ideally, they turn up Manning, and then the first impression they have of the college is the jewel, Central Hall. But either way when you think about that approach, it hasn’t been very impressive. We’re not necessarily looking to build ourselves everywhere, we just want to be surrounded by beautiful things, so it looks natural.”
Péwé said he hopes to improve the approach to the school with buildings architecturally similar to the buildings on campus. Among these hopes may be plans for a new townhouse for off-campus students.
“The students seem to appreciate a variety of housing,” Dean of Women Diane Philipp said. “They like the Suites, and the varieties of singles and doubles they can choose. We opted for this townhouse idea and then we met with a group of students. We’ve done that with almost everything we build, because students usually have very good ideas.”
Current plans for these homes include eight single bedrooms, four bathrooms, a laundry unit, seating unit, kitchen, living room, dining room, and more. Six homes will be connected, totaling 48 residents.
“There’s a bit of a Central Hall theme, nice porches, and really nice parking,” Philipp said. “They’re talking a rod-iron fence in the front, with really nice landscaping.”
Once built, the townhouse will replace 16 beds being removed in both Simpson and McIntyre residences, and provide additional options for students living off campus.
“When you build residential, especially when you can do higher density, other things happen as a result of that,” Péwé said. “Not only would that be great for the college, but it would also give people who want to move to Hillsdale and live close to the college the opportunity to do that. At the same time, they would contribute to the beauty of the surrounding area.”
Péwé said they may also use some of their new land to create parking lots for visitors as well as faculty.
Junior J.P. Zawatsky said his house will be removed this spring. Though he loved the house, he’s excited about change.
“We have a lot of memories in that house, a lot of good times, a lot of friendships being formed, a lot of family dinners,” Zawatsky said. “It’s going to be sad seeing it go, but it’s going to be good to see what’s new there.”
Though the walk is almost 10 minutes longer, Zawatsky said he is not too upset about the move.
“In the backyard of our new house is a stream,” he said. “It’s going to be nice and relaxing. Maybe we’ll put something in the backyard to make it look nice and calm. Maybe we’ll have some music playing.”
