Biltmore Park® Town Square Continues to Add Tenants

Asheville, N.C., August 13, 2008 –University of Phoenix students in Asheville will soon have access to a new resource learning center in the mixed-use regional destination known as Biltmore Park Town Square. The development, a joint venture between Biltmore Farms LLC and Crosland LLC, is a 42-acre downtown component of Biltmore Park, with easy access for students off of I-26 at Long Shoals Road. The 7,900 square-foot learning center is slated to open in December.

This is the first University of Phoenix location in Western North Carolina and the eighth in the state. The university has campuses in Charlotte and Raleigh, as well as learning centers in Charlotte, Greensboro, Durham and Fayetteville.
“University of Phoenix is committed to student success and would like to provide services where our students live,” said Alex Diaz, University of Phoenix – vice president of North Carolina. “We have seen a significant demand for educational opportunities in the area. Our goal for the Resource Center at Biltmore Park is to continue creating community-based locations that provide working professionals a quiet place between their homes and offices to study or meet with team members.”

While University of Phoenix specializes in online education for those wishing to learn from home, its learning centers provide a gathering place for students, as well as significant resources. The center will feature items such as a laptop bar with high-speed Internet, 19 computer stations, flat-screen televisions, two classrooms, several team-learning areas, as well as a support bar for students to access counselors for financial, academic and enrollment concerns. The University typically staffs its learning centers with anywhere from three to seven coaches to provide on-demand tutoring. Students can also print and copy materials at no cost. The center will be able to accommodate up to 75 people at a time.

As Biltmore Park Town Square continues to add to its diverse list of quality tenants, its developers are striving to achieve a “Main Street” environment different than typical suburban projects. The addition of a higher-education center close to home is not only an asset for professionals and residents in the region, but it also adds to the development’s atmosphere as a place to congregate.

“University of Phoenix is a wonderful fit for Biltmore Park because it supports two pillars of community development - education and economic development,” said Paul Szurek, chief financial officer of Biltmore Farms. “They will be a tremendous resource for employers, staff and residents in the community as we grow our knowledge base and skills.”