GW-owned rooms in the Columbia Plaza apartment complex will only be available to graduate students next year to satisfy an increasing demand for single occupancy rooms among graduate students, GW officials said.

Undergraduates who got their leases through GW will be able to renew their yearly contracts, but all rooms that open up will go to GW Law School students, said Andrew Sonn, associate director for Housing Services.

GW owns one-third of the building and takes over rooms as they open. Sonn said he does not know how many rooms GW owns.

Students who use GW to get placed in Columbia Plaza do not have to meet the $80,000 yearly income requirement.

First priority for the option is given to incoming law students, but all continuing graduate students will be able to select rooms in the complex if they want, Sonn said.

He also said that many graduate students opt to rent two-person, one-bedroom suites in the plaza.

“It affords a good housing environment for law students,” Sonn said, citing its proximity to the law school as well as convenience to the Metro and many of the city’s prominent law firms.

Last year, the University housed law students in part of Francis Scott Key Hall, but GW was unable to fill the rooms. Sonn said most graduate students do not want to live in double-occupancy rooms. FSK has only
five singles.

“Housing graduate students in Columbia Plaza is a good thing,” said senior Megan Williams. “Adults live there, so it is a better environment than undergraduate housing. It’s more mature.”

Williams said she would seriously consider living in Columbia Plaza through the GW program.

Columbia Plaza offers dishwashers, disposals, gas ranges and walk-in closets. Utilities are included in the rent. The complex also features a 24-hour service desk, card entry access, free voice mail service and one telephone line for each apartment. Amenities available for an extra fee include parking, DSL service, local and long distance and additional phone lines and cable television.

Efficiency apartments range from $850 $950 a month; one bedroom apartments range from $1,550 to $1,650 a month and two-bedroom apartments range from $2,100 to $2,550 a month. All apartments are unfurnished.

Interested graduate students can apply to the program from the Community Living and Learning Community office, located in Fulbright Hall. A security deposit plus first full month’s rent as well as a rental application and lease form are required to secure an apartment for the 2002-03 academic year.