A new 11-unit apartment complex on Highland Avenue likely will be ready for students by fall 2015.

The complex, dubbed Highland Crossing Apartments, received unanimous approval from the Troy Planning Commission on Thursday.

“We expect to ready in the fall of 2015,” said Walt Stell, who represented the developers at the planning commission.

The developers have contracts to purchase two lots of land at 117 Highland Avenue and plan to raze the existing house, replacing it with a two-story, multi-unit complex.

“This is a U-shaped building and we’ll have doors on several sides, so it doesn’t look like a motel,” Stell told the planning commission. “Right now, we’re not sure if we’re going to do 1-, 2-, 3- or 4-bedroom units, or some combination of them.”

The initial plans call for up to 40 parking spaces, so Stell said he thought parking would be more than ample for the project.

Bill Hopper, planning commission chairman, said the project fit into the city’s strategic plan. “The area of Highland Avenue from Magnolia to George Wallace was designated as a transitional area, to have this kind of project,” he said. “It’s reflected in the R3 designation.”

Stell said he expects demand for the housing units will be high, as the property is only about 1,000 feet from George Wallace Drive, the Troy University stadium and Troy University.

Larry Aldridge, a resident of Highland Avenue who lives next to lot where the apartments will be built, attended the planning commission meeting to learn more about the project. “I don’t have any real concerns about it,” he said. “I’ve been there since 1983, so I’ve been living around college students for a while.”

The house that currently sits on the property is abandoned, he said. “I don’t’ want an abandoned house beside me, so this will be an improvement.”