In a bold move to invest in its campus community — and recruit and retain top talent — Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) developed a blueprint for employee housing that's below market price and conveniently close to work. The initial phase of Eagle View Village — the first rental community of its kind among Florida's 12 state universities — is expected to welcome its first residents in January 2027.
The market-smart initiative aligns with the Southwest Florida university's 2024-29 strategic plan, which includes strengthening organizational culture and commitment to employees.
"Over the past five years, Southwest Florida has experienced a 28% increase in housing prices, intensifying affordability challenges in the area and affecting our ability to recruit and retain talented faculty and staff," FGCU President Aysegul Timur said. "Our goal is to provide employees with a high-quality, transitional housing option at approximately 20% below local market rates. Eagle View Village represents a meaningful investment in our people and reinforces our commitment to strengthening organizational culture and supporting those who move the needle for student success — our mission — every day."
Built for sustainability and resiliency
Eagle View Village sits about 2 miles north of the FGCU campus on university-owned land — a commuter-friendly distance in a fast-growing region. The first phase of 74 units includes one-, two- and three-bedroom cottages and townhomes developed by Naples-based Soltura Development Group, which has developed similar rental communities in Fort Myers and Bonita Springs.
The detached cottages represent a relatively new concept of horizontal apartments that ensure privacy, offer abundant natural light and are less costly to build. They also align with FGCU's strategic commitment to championing sustainability practices. Designed for Florida Green Building Coalition silver certification, they are storm-resistant concrete block construction with energy-efficient, hurricane impact windows.
Faculty hired from outside Southwest Florida will have priority access to Eagle View Village homes, with annual leases renewable for up to two additional years. During the initial leasing period, current full-time faculty and staff also have the opportunity to apply. If additional phases are developed with the same type of buildings, the community could be expanded to as many as 195 total units.
"Eagle View Village represents a meaningful investment in our people and reinforces our commitment to supporting those who move the needle for student success — our mission — every day." — Aysegul Timur, Ph.D., FGCU President
A model for building workforce
FGCU's plans for Eagle View Village were supported by the university's Board of Trustees and the Florida Board of Governors. The $25 million project is being funded primarily from bonds issued by the FGCU Financing Corporation and a $2.3 million contribution from the university.
"We have seen sticker shock when faculty come down here and realize that Southwest Florida is a beautiful place to live, but it's also expensive," said Katherine Green, vice president of university advancement and executive director of the FGCU Foundation. "So we thought that if we could give them a place to land for a period of time that is beautiful and convenient and gives them time to figure out where they want to be permanently, that might help us attract the very best faculty and keep them."
By creating employee housing as a strategic workforce solution, FGCU turned a regional housing market challenge into a competitive advantage. Eagle View Village reflects the university's willingness to think differently, invest boldly in its people and build the conditions needed to attract and retain the talent that drives student success and long-term institutional strength.
Learn more at FGCU.edu.