Graduate students who live in an Ohio State University-owned housing complex have another year to find alternative housing before it closes for good.
Buckeye Village was scheduled to close at the end of its current contract term on May 15, 2021, according to university spokesman Dave Isaacs. The university notified students of that impending date last May.
Several residents expressed concern about moving during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the university sent out a message to Buckeye Village residents February 4, letting them know that they can renew their housing contracts for one more year.
“This will be the final extension of housing contracts at Buckeye Village, and the housing facilities will close after this time,” Isaacs said in a statement.
All remaining residents will need secured alternative housing by May 15, 2022. The school says Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services is available to help residents find new housing.
“The university continues to investigate long-term solutions that support graduate student and family housing that is affordable,” Isaacs said in a statement. “A student survey will be going out soon to gather additional information to inform this effort.”
With nearly 400 units, Buckeye Village opened in the late 1950s as a dedicated school housing option for graduate students and families. Ohio State in 2019 announced it would close Buckeye Village to redevelop the North Campus property for the sports district.
As a result of the university's transition efforts and construction in the area, occupancy has declined precipitously: As of October 2019, only 89 units were occupied, down from 315 in 2016.
