An off-campus apartment near Winthrop wants new tenants. Could a new pool help?

Winthrop University students could be tempted to live off-campus if a proposed pool and recreation project becomes reality.

Walk2Campus has been granted permission by the Rock Hill City Council to rezone properties on Rose Street and Stewart Avenue facing the off-campus apartment complex.

The move is the first of many for Walk2Campus to explore building a pool and amenity center to attract Winthrop and other college students to live there.

Brad Hastings, chief operating officer of Walk2Campus, said the project is intended to help “take part in the excitement” of the incoming area dubbed University Center.

The apartments are located across the street from what could be a series of new investments, including a 140,000-square-foot sports complex, hotel, more apartments and retail space.

University Center is the site of the old Rock Hill Printing & Finishing Co., known as the Bleachery. Rock Hill officials say they hope the development will bridge the Winthrop campus and downtown business district.

Council unanimously agreed to change the about half-acre space from single-family residential to multi-family residential.

“We think this will be another feather in our cap in attracting residents to come live with us,” said Hastings, who said he and his team will next look at pricing options. “It’s been in our thought-process for about two years, because it’s a pretty sizable investment.”

The proposal includes a pool, shade structure, fire pits, outdoor activity areas and support buildings.

A 6-foot high solid fence and 10-foot vegetated buffer would run the perimeter of the property. Access would be gate-controlled, and hours would be restricted, according to the proposal.

This story was originally published September 1, 2017 at 12:16 PM with the headline "An off-campus apartment near Winthrop wants new tenants. Could a new pool help?."