Florida A&M University has completed a second large housing acquisition since the school year began. This Wednesday, officials at the university announced FAMU’s purchase of the 116-bed Citivue at Railroad Square for $12.7 million as part of a multi-year push to expand on-campus housing options.
The property – located along the northwest perimeter of FAMU’s Tallahassee campus – is the second recent acquisition by the university, which acquired the Brooklyn Yard apartment complex last October, adding 118-beds to its housing inventory.
The Citivue and Brooklyn Yard properties are situated just blocks from one another and will be renamed Ratter Pointe East and Rattler Pointe West.
A FAMU press release notes that the new acquisition enables the university to provide more on-campus housing at a time when skyrocketing rents in Tallahassee have driven up the cost of attending the school. Rents at Citivue range from $590 to $674 per month.
The two new complexes bring the total number of beds offered by FAMU to 2,684 across eight properties. This includes six residence halls with a combined 2,450 beds.
“This is the fruit of our labor,” said FAMU Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. William Hudson, Jr., in announcing the buy. “We have other plans to continue to increase our on-campus housing. We began this process years ago.”
The FAMU Master Plan is a 10-year vision begun in 2015 that calls for 4,000 new beds, which would provide on-campus housing for as much as 45% of enrolled students.
“This is another significant step in the life of our university. Providing quality housing for our students is in keeping with our mission and strategic priorities,” said President Larry Robinson, Ph.D.
Citivue was paid for using funding federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF) approved by the U.S. Department of Education. Most of its current tenants are FAMU students.
Robinson’s statement on the project thanked the U.S. Department of Education and administrative staff who shepherded the deal, including, Executive Director of Title III Programs Erick Akins, and Title III Programs Special Projects Coordinator Delores Glover.
