Students or UA employees living in family housing will be within walking distance of the university if proposals for new apartments are approved.

Christopher City, the university's family housing complex at 3401 N. Columbus Blvd., was recommended for relocation in October. The relocation will take place within the next three years, said Jim Van Arsdel, director of Residence Life.

The substandard family-housing facility is available at lower rates than other apartment complexes, he said. The 36-year-old apartments' water, heat and air conditioning are inefficient and below market-level standards, he said.

Van Arsdel said the university did not plan to put any more money toward fixing the facilities because family housing would move soon.

A site chosen on the northeast corner of North Euclid Avenue and East Fifth Street will house families that need one- or two-bedroom apartments.

Because it is close to campus, Van Arsdel said, there is a strong consensus among university planners that the Euclid location "makes a lot of sense."

For three-bedroom apartments, Van Arsdel said, the university is looking into a site on the northeast corner of North Park Avenue and East Ninth Street.

Residents of Christopher City, the 356-unit, one-level complex that spans 56 acres, pay a monthly rent that includes utility expenses. Rates range from $280 for a one-bedroom apartment to $585 for a large three-bedroom apartment.

The new facilities will not be substandard, Van Arsdel said. However, the two complexes are still in the planning stage, and the university does not know how they will operate.

Although plans are not yet solidified, Van Arsdel said the university would like the new family housing complexes to be like a walled city, similar to the new residence hall Colonia de la Paz.

The university hopes to provide the new family facilities with a lit walkway to campus and Ethernet connections, as well as more energy-efficient utilities, Van Arsdel said.

"On the one hand, it will cost more, but at the same time, we'll be providing much more," Van Arsdel said.

Martha Castleberry, Christopher City manager, said that despite university aspirations to keep family housing rates as low as possible, it is unlikely the rates will never increase.

"You can't just build a facility and expect to never spend money on roof repairs or replace carpeting when needed," she said.

But at the same time, "the (family-housing) clientele we are serving have limited budgets. We have to keep that in mind," Castleberry said.

Some Christopher City residents said the university area is not as safe as where they live now.

David Farley, agriculture and biology systems engineering graduate student, said he will not move to the new family housing facilities when built, because the rent is too high and the area is less safe.

"There are no advantages to living near the university," Farley said. He and his family have lived at Christopher City for two years.

At Christopher City, Farley said, the main road is a quarter mile away. He said he feels safe letting his 10-year-old daughter ride her bike around the block and does not worry if his child is home a little after dark.

In addition, Farley, father of three, said the community watches out for the kids.

"Here, you feel safe and it's a tremendous advantage," he said.

Susan Brackerman, mother of four whose husband is a graduate student at the UA, also said she would not move her family closer to the university for security reasons.

But Van Arsdel said he does not expect safety problems if family housing is moved to the university area.

He said the Rillito River, which runs through an area rumored to be a popular spot for high school parties, lies north of Christopher City. These parties could pose danger to families, Van Arsdel said.

"Safety is always a bigger concern with families than 17- and 18-year-old single students," Van Arsdel said.

Phil Uhall, a criminal intelligence officer for the Tucson Police Department who patrolled the Christopher City area two years ago, said, "I only got called a handful of times per year and it was usually just minor stuff like a car would get broken into or a domestic fight could be heard."

"The Christopher City area is low in activity rate, and is generally a very safe area," Uhall said.

Van Arsdel said family housing on campus will be safer than Christopher City because UAPD patrols only the university area. By moving family housing closer to the UA, university police could respond quickly to complaints.

The proposed site for smaller apartments on North Euclid Avenue and East Fifth Street is surrounded by Coronado Residence Hall on its southside and by "upscale" housing to its west, he said.

Farley said, "They're just putting the money ahead of the students."

Farley said Christopher City houses too few people for it to generate enough money for the university.

Farley said the new multi-leveled, family housing unit will cost more and hold more people. This will bring more money to the university, he said.

"This university supports the philosophy that we need to make a profit off of everything," he said.