Construction at the DuSable Hall turnaround is expected to be completed by August, said Bob Albanese, associate vice president of Finance and Facilities.

To create more green space on NIU’s campus, Rockford Blacktop began extending the red brick mall in front of Holmes Student Center to DuSable Hall the day after school ended, Albanese said. The project, which will run until the fall semester, will cause some road closures. Once finished, the one-way street behind DuSable will be converted into a two-way street to enhance pedestrian safety, Albanese said.

“Since DuSable Hall is the busiest building on campus, we always had a safety issue with students coming and going from classes,” he said. “This will relieve congestion and hopefully increase the safety for the students.”

The construction has created an inconvenience for senior biological science major Showanda Fountain.

“I think it’s a benefit to have more green area, but it is a nuisance,” she said.

Surrounding the construction is a chain-link fence that restricts travel through the area.

“Right now I’m annoyed, but I’m sure it will be easier in the fall [to get to classes],” said senior English major Sergio Maldonado.

Also, Star Properties has begun work on a new apartment complex. The building, formerly a city well house located at 801 Lucinda Ave., will feature a four-bedroom unit, a three-bedroom unit, two one-bedroom units and eight two-bedroom units. Rents will range from $600 to $1,000 a month.

Joe Sosnowski, manager of Star Properties, said the area was a good site to build on.

“The project will increase the tax base and the aesthetic value by making the area look a lot nicer up and down Lucinda [Avenue,]” he said.