The Lobo Village clubhouse was up, running and fully furnished for its opening Wednesday, but Lobo Village is still under construction and won’t open until August.
Residents can’t move in until August 17, but Lobo Village General Manager Brent McPherson said residents have to pay for the entire month of August, not a prorated portion. He said it’s unclear whether future residents will be allowed to use the clubhouse before moving in.
“They probably won’t be able to use it,” he said. “We’re still trying to figure that out because of insurance requirements and things of that nature.”
Only Lobo Village residents will have access to the clubhouse when it opens, McPherson said, but guests are allowed if accompanied by residents. He said the Lobo Village project costs $63 million, and construction is running about a month ahead of schedule.
More than 60 people showed up to tour the clubhouse. The building features Apple computers and TVs, pool and air-hockey tables, a 44-seat movie theater, and a gym. Construction workers were finishing up the swimming pool Wednesday, which is located west of the clubhouse.
“I’m moving in next semester and I wanted to get a first look at where I’ll be living,” student Alissa James said at the event. “I like it a lot. It’s really modern-looking and beautiful.”
Lobo Village is organized into four-bedroom units. Residents pay $499 a month to lease one bedroom. UNM will charge residents a one-time $125 fee for shuttle transportation to and from main campus. ACC charges a $75 application fee and $150 deposit fee to all residents. Residents must pay monthly electric bills for their units, which run entirely on electricity. McPherson said residents would be charged late fees for past-due rent, but he refused to say how much.
McPherson said he is optimistic that the grand opening would encourage students to live at Lobo Village, even though the apartments aren’t ready for viewing.
“We’re trying to hype it up, and we want people to be excited,” he said. “Lobo Village is already 83 percent filled, and we’re only selling paper. Now that we have something tangible to sell, and they can see what the product is about.”
Elizabeth Cleary contributed to this report.
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