Walk2Campus owner chosen for Winthrop, Rock Hill’s College Town Action Plan group
Sunday, August 15, 2010 at 12:10PM By Monica Kreber
Company owns 33 houses near Winthrop
Sophomore business administration major Katelyn Barringer lives in a house off campus with new cabinetry, fresh paint, refurbished bathrooms and new appliances -- a living situation she found “more ideal” for college students.
For that reason, Barringer said she plans on sticking with Walk 2 Campus while she is at Winthrop.
“I have enjoyed renting from Walk2Campus and plan on renting from them until I graduate,” she said.
Walk2Campus provides Winthrop students renovated houses within walking distance of the campus. Brad Hastings is one of two partners who owns the business.
Hastings said he and his partner got interested in student housing years ago after working for a company that provided ethernet to off-campus students. Walk2Campus started in Farmville, Va., before Hastings came to South Carolina about two years ago.
“We started buying houses, renovating them and fixing them up, and we’re very location-focused and quality-focused,” he said.
Hastings said Winthrop seemed like an ideal place to expand the business because of Rock Hill’s reasonable housing values.
“We bought about a dozen houses the first year,” he said, “and last year we closed on another 18 houses. We have 33 properties total.”
What makes the houses through Walk2Campus different from other houses in the neighborhoods surrounding Winthrop are not only the renovations, but the services the company provides to the students who are housed by Walk2Campus. Barringer said the company is very prompt about getting in touch with students who have maintenance problems and tending to yard work.
“[Hastings] has always been helpful to me and my roommates, whether it’s to fix something we’ve broken or making sure that we feel safe in our home,” she said.
With the maintenance provided by the company, Hastings said it’s obvious why Walk2Campus is pricier.
“I think it’s fair to say that because of the quality and the amount of money we put into the houses that our rent is probably a little more expensive,” he said.
Sophomore business administration major Taylor Johnston said not only is the rent expensive, but students are charged to get things repaired.
“If anything ever gets broken, you will be charged a ton for it to get fixed,” he said. “Otherwise most of their houses are at a great location and the people that work there do a good job.”
The bigger cost of the houses comes from the safety considerations that are taken to renovate the homes: windows are replaced, fire alarms get installed, and the general welfare of students living in the houses is always tended to.
“I think the students that live with us really appreciate the quality services,” Hastings said. “The reception has been pretty positive. It’s been a good relationship.”
Hastings said he would like to see the company continue to grow in South Carolina.
“I think if we continue to be successful and find schools for which our business model works, we’ll grow,” he said.
Soon will be an open house for future Walk2 Campus residents to check out the company’s houses. With Phelps closing next year, Hastings said it’s possible that the number of clients will increase.
“Speaking from our standpoint, I hope it helps for sure,” he said.
Hastings has also become active on a steering committee that will help advise the consultants who Winthrop and Rock Hill are calling in for a call-of-action plan. Hastings said he hopes to see improvements with the area around campus, such as making Cherry Road more pedestrian friendly.
“The university and the city are working hand-in-hand with a common goal,” he said. “The development around the area needs help.”
Hastings said helping improve Cherry Road and getting more houses in the neighborhoods surrounding campus will help his business and make students feel safer.
“I definitely think I can get on board with the ideas that a lot of people have, and see more students around the university living close by,” he said.
