AMHERST — More than 60 Amherst College students, who had planned to live in a new five-story, mixed-use building in downtown Amherst at the start of the fall semester, are expected to move into the apartments this week.
The 55 South Pleasant St. building, under construction for the past year behind the historic Hastings Block at 45 South Pleasant St., is still awaiting its certificate of occupancy for the 63 residential tenants.
The college has been providing other temporary housing off campus, with both transportation and meal support, until town and fire inspectors allow them to move into the apartments, said college spokeswoman Sandy Genelius.
“While we knew the timeline was tight, the original plan had the students moving in just prior to the start of classes,” Genelious wrote in an email. “As is often the case with major construction projects, a few items remain to be resolved, including the final installation, testing and approval of the fire alarm system.”
The Amherst Student newspaper reported that the students’ temporary accommodations are at The Residences, the former Howard Johnson hotel in Hadley.
The downtown project is being developed by South Pleasant Street LLC, whose principal is Amherst developer Barry Roberts of The Roberst Group.
Gabrielle Gould, director of commercial properties for The Roberts Group, said that the developer’s team is working hard to get the building finished, and praised town officials for being “rock stars” in ensuring that it is up to code and ready for those who will be living there.
The new building, which also approaches the rear of the Amherst Cinema, is being attached to 45 South Pleasant, and the upper levels, with views overlooking the Town Common, will be renovated into additional apartments.
The Amherst College Store is located on the main level of the historic building, using the space where Hastings was located for many years.
As part of the arrangement, Amherst College will perform maintenance of the building and do landscaping and snow removal, and will also provide off-site parking for the tenants.
The developer will also be providing at least $1.1 million that will go to the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, compensation for not providing three affordable units in the building.