The College of William and Mary will move forward to resolve the problem of insufficient student housing, according to The Daily Press.

This is welcomed news to homeowners in Williamsburg who have become concerned that students will ignore housing ordinances due to lack of on campus housing.

"In reaction to the lack of student-centered businesses and university housing, the College of William and Mary's Real Estate Foundation announced Friday their plans to break ground on a new student retail and apartment complex next summer.

The $5 million mixed-use project will be located between the Wawa convenience store and Williamsburg Baptist Church on Richmond Road. It will feature 14 apartments and 12,000 square feet of retail space, foundation officials said.

Architectural drawings unveiled Friday show the project will be confined to the three-story building and the first floor will be dedicated to retail stores, which will feature restaurants with outdoor seating. The top two floors will be apartments that will house 56 upperclassmen and be managed by the university's Office of Residence Life.

Brick sidewalks and landscaping will surround the building. There will also be a breezeway that will allow students access to Richmond Road directly from a parking lot that will be reserved for patrons.

Foundation officials will present these plans this month to the city of Williamsburg's Architectural Review Board. They are hoping to have the project completed by fall 2011."

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