University to renovate Mesa hotel for student housing

MESA, Ariz. (AP) - A historic Mesa hotel will be restored and converted into student housing for an Illinois-based university.

The Arizona Republic reports (http://bit.ly/2ccZqJs ) that Benedictine University plans to complete its $3.5 million overhaul of the 122-year-old Alhambra Hotel by early next year. The school opened its downtown Mesa campus in 2013.

University spokesman Elliott Peppers says students are already asking when the new residence, which is expected to hold 60 students, will available. Benedictine currently houses some of its undergraduates in a nearby Marriott and several are living off-campus.

Many of the Alhambra's original features are still intact, despite a 1921 fire and a 1950s-era addition.

Phoenix-based developer Venue Projects and California-based Community Development Partners bought the building for about $1 million last month and reached out to Benedictine about the school's housing needs.

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Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com