Construction of 3 new apartment buildings for students starts near MUN campus

Ground has beenbroken on three new apartment buildings for students in St. John's, right across the street from Newfoundland and Labrador's largest campus.

Montreal-based companyWerkliv began work Tuesday on Lambe's Lane, adjacent to the Aquarenaand St. Augustine's church on Elizabeth Avenue.

The company calls the project Wester-land, a play on Westerland Road, which divides the project site and Memorial University's main campus

The project will include 205 furnished units in three six-storey buildings specifically design for students, especially second- and third-year students, according to a press release.

A Werklivofficial told CBC News the company is not speaking about the developmentbut would do so in six to eight weeks when the build progresses.

Thepress release said the buildings will also include green spaces, common areas and an increase in bike parkingfor the area. The company aims for the project to be completed by August 2025 in line with the Canada Summer Games in St. John's.

Nicolas Keough, director of external affairs for Memorial University of Newfoundland Students' Union, said the development is badly needed, as students are strugglingthrough a housing crisis in the St. John's area.

"Alot of students, especially international students, have to work while they're going to school just to pay for tuition and to pay for rent," said Keough, adding the search for things like affordable housing takes students away from their studies.

"We've had some horror stories from students in residence about rooms, you know, being uninhabitable. I think it's really important that we do have this extra housing."

Keoughsaid the union will be pushing to ensure the units are accessible and affordable to all students.

"It can't be just a replacement, and then have, you know, students paying more for rent than they would have," he said.

Meanwhile, Keough said it's still important for students to have more short-termsolutions for housing.

Download ourfree CBC News appto sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador.Click here to visit our landing page.