“Housing is one of the things our students most frequently request,” said Marilyn Cox, vice chancellor for administration and planning at the University of Washington, Bothell.

Cox further stated the campus has seen a tremendous upswing in freshman applications, with the numbers rising from 135 in 2006 to 340 for the coming fall.

With all that in mind, UW-Bothell plans to launch its first student housing, open to incoming freshmen, this fall, moving students into an existing apartment complex. The address is listed on the UW-Bothell Web site as 10730 Ross Road. Appropriately once named the Campus View Apartments, what will be the local campus’ premiere dorm contains 24, one-bedroom units.

Although single-person units are available, Cox said the thought is most students will share apartments, meaning the facility should accommodate some 44 freshmen. That number will include a resident adviser and a resident director, both of whom will help organize and oversee activities at the complex and provide other help to residents as needed. Cox said one or the other will be available 24 hours a day in case of emergencies.

According to the university Web site, the dorm will be coed, though roommates will need to be of the same sex. As the complex was formally a normal apartment building, each room has its own bathroom and kitchen facilities. Cox said university officials plan very little in the way of modifications or refurbishing.

“The building is in very good condition,” she stated.

According to the campus Web site, cost of a shared unit in the facility is $625 per month. A solo apartment is $1,100 per month.

Cox didn’t say how many applications the university has received for the housing venture.

“We have a large number of them,” she said, adding priority will be given to students who applied for the housing prior to July 1. “We will have no problem filling it,” Cox added.

Cox described the housing as located near a Bothell fire station, about a five-minute walk from the campus. The complex was chosen after the school received 12 proposals for providing housing.

Current residents of the complex will be relocated by September. Cox said the current occupants were offered “a soft transition.”

“I think that part is actually going very well,” Cox said.