With the University of Ottawa (U of O) opening a new off-campus residence on Rideau Street, you might be wondering, “where’s ours?”
The building opens up space for 414 students. This number mirrors that of Carleton’s own waitlist for residence, typically between 400-500 immediately after the application period. Beyond giving a solution to students in need of a roof, Carleton should see off-campus housing as an opportunity to make some serious bank. The move would attract more students without straining on-campus services such as the cafeteria or campus security.
Off-campus housing could provide a chance for upper-year students to find a comfortable home in different areas of the city. Carleton is not a commuter school, but it certainly sits squarely on the edge of some of the most vibrant parts of Ottawa. Living in the Glebe or downtown at lower-than-market price, with the sense of support and community that residence tries to incorporate, could be a great fit for many students.
The community could also benefit from such a move. Instead of creating clusters of students in cheap areas, off-campus housing could be purchased strategically to assist local businesses and to stabilize the distribution of affordable housing.
The move just makes sense, and emulating U of O’s approach is the best way to do it—purchase or lease an apartment building and subsidize the rent to better suit students’ needs.
