University of Wisconsin Associate Vice Chancellor Alan Fish discussed potential changes for student housing on the fringes of the UW campus at a City of Madison Housing Committee meeting Wednesday night.

Fish said recent trends in the housing choices made by students have created hope that the city can convert the two- and three-level flats in the Mifflin, Bassett, Greenbush and Vilas neighborhoods to permanent owner-operated homes.

According to Fish, construction of high-rise, high-density buildings on campus have provided more private housing for students. Free Madison Metro bus passes have also enabled students to move further away from campus, if they choose, because rent is cheaper.

“These recent trends have given us a unique opportunity, putting pressure on the older homes on the fringes of campus,” Fish said. “Landlords may have a decision to make: they can either renovate and continue to rent those homes, or they can sell them.”

The trends, according to Fish, show that 10 percent of the student body lives in high-rise complexes or commutes from surrounding areas. The moves these students are making, either living on campus or away from campus, have created vacancies on the fringes.

Fish said the homes on the fringes of campus continue to depreciate and many remain unoccupied for long periods of time.

“You can drive down the street in those areas and see ‘For Rent’ signs that are sometimes up there for months,” Fish said.

Ted Koehler, a UW junior and resident of the Mifflin neighborhood, said he does not think the trend is legitimate. He likes living in the Mifflin neighborhood, he added.

“I don’t know about those high-rise places,” Koehler said, “They seem too much like the dorms for me. I enjoy living in a community with other college students.”

However, permanent residents of these neighborhoods, according to Fish, have expressed concerns about the quality of the houses at past Campus Master Plan meetings and forums.

“Residents are worried that the rental houses are so deteriorated that they’ll just be knocked down,” Fish said. Residents have indicated they would like to stabilize the neighborhood, he added.

David Sparer, a committee member, raised monetary concerns about the purchase of these houses, to which Fish responded.

“The issue is always money,” Fish said. “We could not afford to buy these homes at their current rental rates and also refurbish them.”

Ryan Plantz, a UW junior and resident of the Mifflin neighborhood, attested to the high costs.

“I think we pay too much [for rent],” Plantz said. “But I don’t mind paying a little extra to live here, I guess.”

Fish said affording a project like this would require a coalition of sponsors. Acquiring proper funding is no quick process, he added.

According to Fish, the project is in its beginning stages and will be a long process.

“We need to find the best way to intervene and treat all parties fairly,” Fish said. “We need to remember that landlords still own those houses and students still live there.”