WesternU celebrates new student housing project
The Daumier at Western University of Health Sciences will provide housing and recreation to students, while its development also reflects the founding principles of the university.
WesternU held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 27, 2014 for the Daumier, a $45-million, 173,000-square-foot mixed-use project on 3.6 acres at Third and Linden streets in Pomona, Calif. The four-story building will include student-focused apartment-type residential quarters, as well as about 10,000 square feet of administrative space to be occupied by WesternU. The Daumier has 202 units with 305 beds, with studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans. Students will move in beginning July 25.
This project started in fall 2010 as conversations with WesternU administrators, said Robert Kim, executive managing director of Hanover Pacific, the project developer. He recalled an early conversation he had with WesternU President Philip Pumerantz, PhD.
"He stated that aside from the benefits to the university, this project was important because it would create jobs and help support families," Kim said. "So with that social purpose, community purpose and benefit we moved forward on the long journey to where we are today."
Provident Resources Group will serve as owner and operator of the Daumier. This beautiful new facility will complement the mission of WesternU, said Provident President and CEO Steve Hicks.
"In 2015 we will have approximately 10,000 beds of student housing between the East Coast and the West Coast," he said. "In learning what I have learned about WesternU and the vision of Dr. Pumerantz, there are few that we have as much pride in as we do this facility because it furthers the mission of the university first and foremost by providing this quality of housing to the students that will be serving the greater California area."
Both Hicks and Kim thanked the WesternU administration, including Dr. Pumerantz, Provost and COO Gary Gugelchuk, PhD, Treasurer and CFO Kevin Shaw, and Vice President of Enrollment Management and University Student Affairs Beverly Guidry, EdD. They also thanked the city of Pomona, the City Council, the Planning Commission and the city manager.
Pomona Mayor Elliott Rothman said the city is always very excited about WesternU’s projects because they bring people into Pomona.
"Whenever WesternU does something big, they do it grand like this," he said. "It has a spillover for our economy. The people who live here are going to buy things in Pomona. They’re going to buy their gas at Pomona gas stations. They’re going to go to Pomona restaurants. The building itself is magnificent and we are very proud to have it anchoring down this side of Second Street."
The project is named for 19th century artist Honoré Daumier. Dr. Pumerantz is inspired by a Daumier lithograph depicting a physician with his hands on a patient’s arm, looking into the patient’s eyes. He is saying, "I am here for you, you can be sure."
This is a humanistic, compassionate expression that represents a partnership between a physician and his patient, Dr. Pumerantz said. Likewise, he is grateful for the many partnerships through the years, particularly with his wife, Harriet.
"I always recognize the importance of that partnership," he said. "Everything we do as we build buildings and educate our students to go out into the communities to heal is based upon our connecting with each other. It’s important we all recognize the resources we have, the friendships we have, the loves that we have. All of that leads to this. I feel good about the fact that what we have created with your help is a facility that’s going to enrich the lives of our students."
Click here for more information about the Daumier: http://www.thedaumier.com/
