Three students, yesterday at the gates of the Micampus University Residence, managed through a UPCT concession. /
Those responsible for the Polytechnic hold “conversations” about projects that would alleviate the lack of accommodation for university students
The insufficient supply of accommodation to meet the growing demand of university students in Cartagena has aroused the interest of several companies to build and, where appropriate, also operate new residences. Many students of the Polytechnic University of Cartagena have found at this beginning of the 2022-2023 academic year that there are no places available for them in the Micampus University Residence, opened a year ago under the UPCT concession regime, and also with difficulties to rent rooms in private homes around the campus and in other areas of the city.
“There is interest from some companies” to open new complexes, confirmed sources from this public institution. And they limited themselves to adding, regarding a problem that has aroused concern in the university community, that “at the moment there are only private conversations” between these companies and the team of the rector, Beatriz Miguel.
The highest representative of the institution has come to ask the mayor of La Unión, Pedro López, for help so that his City Council facilitates students’ access to rental housing in this neighboring municipality. The MiCampus residence, located on Sor Francisca Armendáriz street, in front of the Rector’s Office (in the old municipal administrative building), has completed its 271 places and has a waiting list. That figure represents 70 more than those offered by the UPCT in the Alberto Colao residence, whose ownership now belongs to the Regional Assembly. The Polytechnic, which last year exceeded 6,000 students (there are still no official data on the current one), does not use the residence on Calle Caballero either. The building, which was given by the City Council, is being used as a reception center for Ukrainian refugees since the Russian invasion.
Santa Lucía and Monte Sacro are two of the areas that have aroused the interest of the private sector in the last year
Private sector involvement
Business sources confirmed to LA VERDAD that there have also been contacts between the possible promoters and the Cartagena Town Hall. And they added that those responsible for the Polytechnic have also requested the support of the Social Council of the UPCT, which is headed by Emilio Restoy from Cartagena.
It is about achieving the involvement of the private sector and different entities, such as the Chamber of Commerce and the employers’ association COEC, to increase the offer in the shortest possible time.
Among the areas that could house new residences are the Monte Sacro, specifically on Muralla de Tierra street, and the Paseo de Delicias, in Santa Lucía. These are areas close to the three sectors where there are engineering schools and other training centers of the Polytechnic and with good access on foot and by bus to the University.
UCAM students have left UPCT members without a place in the residence promoted by the public institution
Regarding the Earth Wall, in October 2021, the Department of Urbanism warned the owners of a half-built building that they risked seeing the license expire if the works were not completed. The owners of the block, sources from the Consistory assured on Wednesday, conveyed their intention to finish the work and open a student residence. However, they also considered enabling it as a nursing home.
Profitability and General Plan
The building began to be raised in 2008 to house 68 homes, but the works were interrupted in 2012. After a change of ownership, the owner became the Urbanizing Company of the South Bank of the Mar Menor (Ribenor), linked to the heirs of Tomás Maestre, a leading businessman in La Manga.
As for Santa Lucía, at least one of the real estate companies that has begun to make numbers has set its sights on the Pinacho area. And, although in this and other companies they have seen how the Micampus residence has reached full without problems, largely due to the entry of students from the Catholic University (UCAM), they are cautiously studying a possible millionaire investment. In addition to evaluating the profitability of the operation, they take into account the administrative problems that may arise from the delay in the approval of the new General Plan for Urban Planning (PGOU) by the City Council.
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