625 student beds underway in high-demand University of Michigan market

This story was originally published on Multifamily Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Multifamily Dive newsletter.

Property: Chapter Ann Arbor
Developers: CRG, Shapack Partners
Architect: Lamar Johnson Collaborative
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Units: 183 (625 student beds)
Cost: Withheld

Chicago-based real estate developers CRG and Shapack Partners have obtained full construction financing and closed on the future site of a 19-story student housing property in Ann Arbor, Michigan’s South University District, near the central campus of the University of Michigan, according to a press release shared with Multifamily Dive. 

Site work for Chapter Ann Arbor is set to begin this month, with a formal groundbreaking ceremony planned for August. Delivery is expected in time for the start of the 2027-28 academic year. 

Chapter Ann Arbor is intended to meet the demand for student housing in Ann Arbor, as enrollment at the University of Michigan is outpacing the housing supply in the area, according to the release. The property will offer 625 student beds across 183 units, ranging from studios to five-bedroom apartments.

It will be located one block from the campus, within a short walking distance of the Diag central green, according to J.J. Smith, executive vice president and partner at CRG. A variety of shops, restaurants and entertainment venues are located nearby on South University Avenue.

“Chapter Ann Arbor is a strategic addition to our national portfolio, addressing the growing demand for high-quality housing near top-tier universities,” Smith said in the release.

The modern-style property was designed by Chicago-based architect Lamar Johnson Collaborative, a subsidiary of Clayco, CRG’s parent company. Each unit will be fully furnished, and will include wood-style flooring, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, smart TVs and in-unit laundry. 

Full-building amenities will include a fitness center with a wellness studio and sauna, study lounges, a library, private collaboration rooms and a rooftop patio with fire pits, grilling stations and a hot tub. 

The University of Michigan’s supply of on-campus student beds has remained the same even as enrollment has increased, according to The Michigan Daily. The school does not guarantee housing for undergraduates after their first year, and only offers 1,100 beds for returning students — for which 2,800 students applied in fall 2024. 

The university recently partnered with Bee Cave, Texas-based student housing developer American Campus Communities to add 2,300 dormitory-style beds to its campus, expected to be completed in 2026.