Out with the Old, In with the New

Upcoming phases at Northside to feature smart home capabilities, interior aesthetic changes

Northside recently announced plans to open a fourth phase as
construction continues on Phase Three, the complex’s first phase to offer smart
home technology in the student-targeted housing project.

Phase Four is scheduled to open in Fall 2021, just one year
after Phase Three’s opening this coming fall. Vice President and Principal of
Northside developers Wynne/Jackson, Brent Miller said the rapid expansion was
tied to UTD’s similarly fast growth.

“The growth of UT Dallas is one of the fastest in the country
and there was no purpose-built student housing at UT Dallas prior to Northside.
The university had residence halls and there’s some older housing … but nothing
recent, nothing you think of as purpose-built student housing,” he said. “The
university wants more students living closer to campus. They have a better
college experience when they live closer, and it’s safer.”

Upon its completion, Miller said Phase Four will mark the
end of Northside’s expansion for the foreseeable future.

“I think that’s the extent of what we call Northside as far
as the residential and retail components,” Miller said. “I think what’s to be
developed north of that is still uncertain. It’s possible that it would include
some residential (areas), but I think that’s a few years away.”

Coinciding with the construction of the new phases, a new
DART station is being built near Northside. Despite the increased travel
capabilities of tenants, Miller said the complex’s primary target consumers
will be students at UTD.

“I see the DART line as an amenity for those at Northside to
not have to get in the car to go somewhere. They can easily walk to the station
and go to City Line, or go to the airport and not have to move their car,”
Miller said. “We definitely see it as a tremendous benefit for international
students as well as out-of-state students.”

Compared to Phase Two’s 900 beds, Phases Three and Four will
add 370 and 675 beds to the complex, respectively. Vice President of Student
Housing Operations at Balfour Beatty Communities, Marty McBurney said the smart
home technology in Phases Three and Four will link household appliances to a
“Hub.”.

“The Hub will be able to control the front door lock, the
lights in the unit, as well as the thermostat,” McBurney said. “So, say you
went out of town and the temperature dropped to 35 degrees as happens in Texas.
You leave, it’s 70 degrees, and five hours later, it’s 35 degrees and your AC
is on and you need to flip the heat. You’ll be able to do that from your phone
wherever you are.”

Alongside the technological additions, Phase 3 will include
various physical improvements. McBurney said the interior changes, including
wood flooring and color scheming were aimed at achieving a more modern look.

“One of the other differences is an upgraded furniture
package, as well as wood plank floors in the bedrooms. So instead of having
carpet, it’s wood plank all the way through, which is really nice because it’s
a more luxurious type of floor,” McBurney said. “We’ve also updated the
kitchens. Cabinetry is going to be completely different and more current, more
modern with gray bottom cabinets and white upper cabinets.”

Despite the new phases, Miller said the prices at
pre-existing complexes will not be affected.