Campus Crest Communities has entered into a joint venture with Beaumont Partners to convert the 33-story Delta Centre-Ville Hotel in downtown Montreal into an upscale student housing tower. The property is located near three universities and is within walking distance of attractions in downtown Montreal. Once completed, the property will feature modern amenities for undergraduate and graduate students. The joint venture paid $60 million for the property and plans to obtain financing later in the year to fund the conversion, with redevelopment slated to be completed for fall 2014 leasing.
1. Campus Crest Communities enters Montreal Student Housing Market
Campus Crest Communities, Inc., a leading developer, builder, owner and manager of high-quality student
housing properties, and Beaumont Partners SA ("Beaumont") have entered a joint venture partnership that
acquired the 711 room, 33-story Delta Centre-Ville Hotel in downtown Montreal, Quebec with plans to
convert it into an upscale student housing tower.
Situated above the Square-Victoria Metro Station stop, the Montreal acquisition offers easy access to McGill
University, Concordia University and L'Ecole de Technologie Superieure (ETS), a part of the Universite du
Quebec network, which collectively serve more than 81,500 full-time students. The property is located in the
heart of downtown Montreal, within walking distance of Old Montreal, the Bell Centre sports and
entertainment complex, the Central Train Station and numerous dining and cultural attractions.
Once complete, the property will feature high-end
appointments and expects to attract undergraduate and
graduate students offering an upscale housing alternative
with modern, attractively furnished rooms and a range of
amenities including a media lounge, fitness center, library
and a technology center.
Ample common areas including numerous study lounges will
be designed to accommodate social and academic
interaction. To foster a sense of community and promote
resident engagement, the property will regularly host a
variety of activities. Residents will be served by a highly trained, professional staff that includes a general
manager, leasing manager, community assistants and a courtesy officer for security purposes. As part of the
joint venture agreement, Campus Crest will serve as property manager.
In addition to marking Campus Crest's entry into Canada, the project is the Company's second urban, high-rise
development. In February, Campus Crest announced a joint venture partnership to develop a 33-story, 850-
bed student housing tower in University City, Philadelphia, targeted for completion in the fall of 2014.
The joint venture, which is owned 20% by Campus Crest and 80% by Beaumont, paid approximately $60
million for the property, including closing costs, fees and reserves. The partnership expects to obtain
redevelopment financing later this year to fund the conversion of the hotel into an upscale student housing
tower featuring a mix of single and double units. The redevelopment of the tower is slated to be completed
for the fall of 2014, with leasing to begin in the fall of 2013.
"We are excited to align ourselves with Beaumont to acquire an asset in an irreplaceable location in the heart
of downtown Montreal at discount to replacement cost," said Ted W. Rollins, Co-Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer of Campus Crest. "We have been evaluating the Canadian market for years and believe
this is the right opportunity with the right partner to bring our unique brand of student housing to our North
American neighbors.”