NIU was chosen over other Illinois universities for a new housing complex because its students aren’t radical.

The DeKalb City Council voted unanimously this week to allow the Polarbek development firm of Birmingham, Ala., to build College Park apartments on land purchased just north of Lincoln Hall.

The 180-unit complex will be on the west side of Annie Glidden Road, south of Suburban Estates and north of Hillcrest Road.

“College Park is similar to a garden-style resort,” said Polarbek representative Ken Shipley.

Other College Park developments feature extensive landscaping and privacy fencing, Shipley said. Recreational facilities include tennis courts, swimming pools, hot tubs and basketball courts, he said.

“We wanted All-American, conservative kids,” Shipley said, adding he found DeKalb to be a “very conservative, very progressive” community.

There are six College Park complexes and three more in construction in the nation, Shipley said. DeKalb’s will be the 10th and is part of a northward move by Polarbek.

In addition to NIU, Shipley visited the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Illinois State University in Normal. He said NIU was chosen partly because the student population wasn’t radical.

Sixth Ward Alderman James Pennington said he was worried about the space available for cars to go in and out of the complex. Although nothing was decided, other suggestions will be discussed later with the DeKalb Planning Board.

It was agreed that the Annie Glidden Road would be expanded from four to five lanes by adding a left turn lane on to Hillcrest Drive at Polarbek’s expense.

The College Park complex at the University of Missouri-Columbia leases its two-bedroom apartments at $550 a month and four-bedroom apartments at $780 a month, said manager Betty Gay. Rates at the NIU facility might not be comparable to Missouri rates because of the different market here, she said.

Polarbek will build the complex on 20 acres of land, Shipley said. “We want a low-density product” and ample parking, he said.

Monroe said he hopes College Park puts a dent in the market.