SCAD transforms One West Victory into residence hall
In recent weeks, SCAD has announced that they intend to add to their list of locations by purchasing the One West Victory Apartments. In the past, One West Victory was branded as the number one haven for off campus living, not just for SCAD students but those who attended Armstrong, Savannah State, Savannah Technical College, South University and Georgia Southern University. It has also been known to accommodate to non-students as well, as they currently house two middle aged couples. Under new ownership however, the building will be available solely to SCAD students.
The Dean of Students, David Blake, recently provided some commentary on SCAD’s decision to transform One West Victory. “[SCAD] is excited to announce the opening of a Victory Village for the Fall 2018 quarter. Victory Village will provide students another apartment-style option as part of on-campus housing. We are adding new this residence hall space to meet the rising demand for on-campus housing.”
Since Fall 2017, it has been widely reported that upperclassmen have had trouble finding suitable living conditions that include a kitchen, single bedrooms, and possible SCAD transport. The Terrace Apartments served these needs well until SCAD sold the property for undisclosed reasons in the summer of 2017. The Blake appeared to be the next logical alternative for those looking for a similar setup, but ultimately proved inconvenient for some because of their location and prices that ranged from $900 to anywhere around $1,116.
Some students don’t appear to be keen on SCAD’s decision to absorb the Victory Apartments. Domenic Doherty, a sophomore currently residing at One West Victory, said that he felt uncertain on what the future atmosphere of Victory Village might look like. “It kind of rubs me the wrong way. On campus dorms weren’t really in line with my day to day routine. I’m someone who values independence and being able to make decisions on your own terms. That’s why I chose to live here. Now it feels like [SCAD] is trying to encroach on that and in an expensive manner.”
David Blake is aware of this sentiment among SCAD students who currently live at One West and don’t want to leave their homes. He along with several other SCAD officials have been developing solutions for students who have found themselves in this predicament, “Students who are current residents of One West Victory have been contacted directly by the residence life and housing and are provided priority placement in their same apartment, should they so choose.” Whether or not that will ease the concerns of SCAD students is yet to be determined, Victory Village is currently set to be opened officially in early August.
For more information on Victory Village visit Buildings and Facilities at SCAD.edu
By Jay Zacarius
