Amidst rising university housing rates and cleanliness concerns from parents, Station 74 welcomes students for its first year as on-campus housing.
Jordan Powell, a senior psychology major, just moved into her room at Station 74. Despite some issues with the state of furniture, she described her overall move-in experience as positive.
“One of the things I’m looking forward to about living in Station is the freedom,” Powell said. “The policies aren’t as strict as they are in the residential halls, which is pretty cool and the fact that it’s not technically on campus is exciting too. Overall my experience so far has been okay for the most part.”
With College Courts previously being the only non dorm-style housing, Murray State has lacked offerings for apartment-style housing for students. According to the Housing Office, Station 74 will serve as replacement housing for College Courts at a cost far less than the anticipated price of new construction. Each resident will have a private bedroom and bathroom, a fully equipped kitchen, furnished living space, washer/dryer and community areas which include an outdoor pool and fitness center.
“Station 74 was a popular choice for off-campus living among many Murray State students,” the Housing Office said in a statement. “With the acquisition of the property, students can now access scholarships and other financial aid to help with housing costs, be supported with the campus police department, and residence life activities, while also transitioning to popular off-campus style living community.”
According to Business Insider, costs of college housing have risen even faster than the cost of tuition, with a study comparing schools across the country finding a 25% housing price increase from 2013 to 2023. The Board of Regents approved the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget June 7 and increased residence hall rates by 4.75%.
Parents moving students into Station 74 have expressed concerns about fair pricing. One parent took to the Murray State Parents page on Facebook to say share an experience with being overcharged on utility fees by the University, despite a different price being listed on the lease.
Another parent shared concerns for cleanliness, citing the cockroaches found in her daughter’s Station 74 room that forced her daughter to move into a temporary dorm room on campus.
An additional concern remains possible flooding on the property. Station 74 has suffered flooding in the past, though no damage reached the living quarters. The most recent flooding in 2024 was caused by a collapsed culvert, which the City of Murray currently works to address.
“I’m not looking forward to the flooding,” Powell said. “I’ve heard about how bad the floods can get over here and I’m dreading one occurring.”
The Housing Office said it remains committed to giving students a positive on-campus living experience.
“We aim for students to develop strong connections with their peers, belong to their community, and benefit from the convenience of being close to academic and campus resources,” the Housing Office said. “Ultimately, we want students to feel well-supported and engaged during their time at Murray State.”
Specifics on how Station 74 will support this goal will be for its residents to discover; the Housing Office declined to allow residential staff of the building to comment on their plans for caring for the Station 74 community.
Further information on Station 74 will come as the school year unfolds. For Station 74 residents wishing to share their experiences, they can contact the Murray State News at [email protected].
Individuals with housing concerns can contact the Housing Office at 270-809-2310 or [email protected].
