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January 9, 2004

ULM Gets Board Approval to Develop $50 Million Student Living Project

The University of Louisiana at Monroe and Dallas-based JPI, one of the nation's leading student housing and luxury apartment companies, have joined forces on a $50 million student living project that will provide new apartment- and suite-style on-campus student housing and renovate some existing housing in two phases. The project was approved by the Louisiana Board of Supervisors at their regular meeting held in Baton Rouge today.

Initial plans call for JPI Campus Quarters to renovate Ouachita and Masur halls on the ULM campus and to demolish six student housing buildings constructed in the 1960s and 1970s to make way for new Art Deco-style buildings. Demolition is expected to begin in May 2004 for the apartment portion of the project, which is planned to be ready for students to occupy in the fall of 2005. The suite-style student living project will follow with occupancy planned for the fall of 2006. JPI Campus Quarters will also provide comprehensive management services on an ongoing basis for ULM's entire on-campus housing program, which totals 1,700 beds.

ULM President James Cofer said, "ULM will have a new look designed to mirror the architectural styling of the ULM Library-our signature building. ULM's $50 million dollar investment in residential life shows our continued commitment to putting our students' needs first."

JPI Campus Quarters Executive Vice President and Regional Partner Jim Truitt said, "We're proud to be a part of this exciting development project, which will ultimately replace 90% of ULM's student housing as well as to receive ULM's vote of confidence in an ongoing management contract."

ULM Vice President for Business Affairs Dr. Nick Bruno said that the ULM campus' unique feature, the bayou, played an important role in the development of the new design.

"Along with this housing development, a centrally located park will be constructed on the western bank of Bayou DeSiard featuring both an outdoor amphitheater and student recreation areas," Dr. Bruno said.

"While we are still in the development stage of this plan, we are looking at options to house retail operations for the convenience of our students. The appearance, accessibility, and extensive change to this campus will be quite a renaissance for our students and the entire community," said Bruno.

ULM also has plans to renovate the Student Union Building and the WigWam, adding yet another element of change to the look of the campus. ULM is asking the Student Government Association to get involved in the remodeling process by surveying fellow students about what types of food they want in the new Student Union Building.

JPI is one of the nation's largest luxury apartment companies, providing development, construction and property management services for conventional and student living communities nationwide. JPI provides property management and leasing services for more than 21,000 apartment homes nationwide, including nearly 20,000 student living beds.
CEL & Associates, the nation's largest surveyor of resident satisfaction has awarded JPI the National Multifamily Customer Service Award for Excellence three years in a row. The 2003 National Association of Home Builders Pillars of the Industry Awards recognized two JPI student living communities among its finalists in the annual competition.

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