By Megan Moncivais
Students have found better housing outside of Provo and the BYU approved housing limits.
Some students living in neighboring cities, such as Spanish Fork and Springville, found more suitable living conditions other than Provo”s approved housing units.
After commuting to school for four years, Weston Youd, a BYU graduate in economics from Spanish Fork, Utah County, believes there is nothing in Provo that Spanish Fork does not have.
“The availability of resources is very similar to what Provo has,” he said.
A permanent ward setting entices students to live in a residential neighborhood, far away from the constantly moving climate Provo offers.
“We didn”t want to go to a student ward where membership changes every semester,” Youd said.
Students currently living in BYU approved housing have their reasons for sticking around.
Lynne Watanabe, 22, a senior from Tucson, Arizona, majoring in elementary education and early childhood development, decided the commute alone was reason enough to live close to campus.
“Even now, if I leave close to eight, I will be late for work because of all these people walking around,” Watanabe said.
Others believe the commute to school is worth the peace and quiet in their current neighborhoods.
“It is a little more crowded in Provo than Spanish Fork,” Youd said.
Cameron Davis, 24, from Orange County, California, majoring in marketing, pays more to live far away from Provo.
“I pay about $90 more, but it is worth it,” Davis said.
Davis commutes from Lindon to go to school and work everyday in Provo.
“I just didn”t like the living conditions in the student housing I was in,” Davis said.
Off-campus housing manager John Pace claims Provo housing rates are actually below normal prices in comparison to housing rates of other universities.
“From past investigations we”ve done, rent tends to be higher in other places the same size and population as Provo,” Pace said.
Some students believe a monopoly exists with managers raising the rent every year.
“Every year they raise the rent because they know people want to live close to campus,” Watanabe said.
But Pace disagrees, saying there is enough competition for everyone.
“There”s over 1,400 managers in the area and the rental market is very flexible,” Pace said.
Property managers are doing their part to ensure students want to live in approved housing.
Property manager of Glenwood Apartments Stacy John believes in giving back to the students to make their stay more enjoyable.
“We try to stay current with remodels and upgrades,” John said.
From offering tailgate parties to invitation-only nights with Johnny B, John tries to make it fun for her residents to live there.
“We just want students to have a pleasant apartment experience,” John said.
