Bryan Properties: Housing Springfield’s Booming Student Population

https://bryan-properties.net/

It’s no secret that there’s been a shortage of student housing in Springfield, on and off campus, for quite some time. Local property construction and management firm, Bryan Properties, saw the need and took the initiative to help solve the problem by building the massive Bear Village complex at the corner of Grand and Kimbrough. 

Taking up nearly an entire block, Bear Village is a feat of modern engineering and a hallmark of things to come. With a current capacity of four buildings that house 375 beds, Bear Village is appointed with all the things today’s college students seek, like study rooms on each floor, a coffee bar, and constant technology upgrades. There are also some fun amenities, like a rec room full of large screen TVs, a volleyball court, and a pool.  The property also has donuts on Mondays, Free Food Fridays, hosts barbecues, and gives away concert tickets to residents.

While residents are already living in the finished units, construction continues and there will be the addition of another pool and badminton courts. In addition to providing high-amenity student housing, Bryan also employs residents at the front desk and as social media ambassadors, working around their class schedules. “We’re one of the few businesses that loves to see their employees leave,” says President and owner Bryan Magers. “We’re so proud when they graduate and go on their way.”

In addition to solving student housing shortage problem, Bryan Properties is rejuvenating neighborhoods. Bear Village sits on land that was formerly full of dilapidated houses and was completely blighted. Bryan has also purchased numerous other neglected houses in the neighborhoods around MSU and Drury and restored them to become student housing.

Magers’ goal is to keep the remodel and restoration fitting within the look and feel of the neighborhood. The Walnut Street Apartments is one such property, located in the historic district of Walnut Street. “We built those three structures to look just like housing in the neighborhood in order not to detract from the look of that historic neighborhood,” says Magers. 

The University Suites at Drury University is another such facility. This 72-unit complex is the most popular campus housing at Drury and has been awarded LEED Platinum certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Bryan Properties also restored the historic Rose O’Neill home next to it, staying true to its original look and feel. 

With all these projects, Bryan Properties has experienced recent growth in staff. “We’re really growing our staff,” says Marketing Director Lisa Hamaker. “It’s crazy. We’ve gone from five employees to up to over 30 people now. Everybody is cross-trained so we can all do a number of different things.” 

The mission statement of Bryan Properties is “to enhance the offerings of state universities and private institutions by developing quality student housing.” But the mission far exceeds that statement. “We really, as a company, we like to put as much back into the community as we can,” says Hamaker.