YOUNGSTOWN — A new $13 million, 194-bed student apartment complex and retail project will increase the university-associated bed capacity to nearly 1,900 when it opens in the 2018-2019 school year.

In addition to the apartments, The Enclave, which is being built by Akron-based LRC Realty, will have nearly 11,000 square feet of retail space on its first floor. It is being built on Wick Avenue between Rayen and Lincoln avenues on the east side of campus.

The Enclave is the second student housing and retail establishment built by LRC Realty. The first project was a 650-bed student housing and retail facility across from the campus of the University of Akron that opened in 2014.

“All of our apartments and all of the retail spaces have been leased,” Larry Levy of LRC Realty said.

LRC’s student apartment complex in Akron also has on its ground floor retail space with national and local retailers and restaurants, including Chipotle, Penn Station Subs, Panda, Pulp Smoothie, UniversiTees, Cricket Wireless, Amazon and Arby’s.

It was the success of that student apartment project that encouraged the company to explore a second location at YSU.

YSU graduate and Boardman native Frank Licata, president of LRC Realty, worked with YSU President Jim Tressel to develop The Enclave.

“This is a surreal and humbling experience,” Licata, a 1999 YSU graduate, said. “We have a real interest in building something that we all can be proud of.”

While he had a real interest in doing something for the university because of his ties to the area, Licata said the development also makes good business sense.

“When you look at the growth of YSU under President Jim Tressel and what is happening in Youngstown in the last several years, you can see the area’s growth potential,” Licata said. “We like what is happening.”

Because LRC has been building properties and developing spaces for retail companies for most of its existence, Licata is confident there will be able a good mix of retail on the campus site.

Tressel said projects like The Enclave and the privately-owned University Edge Apartments, 348 W. Rayen Ave., which opened this year, only can be done when there is collaboration between the university, government and the business community.

“Getting something like this done takes a lot of enthusiasm from someone like Frank,” Tressel said. “He believes our school can be great.”

While the five-story retail and apartment complex is being financed, built and will be operated by LRC Realty, it is on land owned by YSU. The property is being leased to the real estate company.

Youngstown Mayor John McNally said the new student housing facility will increase the existing ties between the university and the city by enabling more students to live on its campus close to the downtown area and by bringing new retail businesses to the city.

“The university and the city will continue to work collaboratively,” McNally said.

Western Reserve Port Authority Executive Director John Moliterno said his organization provided assistance through a capital loan program that over the course of the project will save the company between $300,000 and $500,000

“This project is important to the students, to area businesses and for all of us who live in this community,” Moliterno said.

rsmith@tribtoday.com