Am I the only one who finds this a little odd?

We discussed a similar building for sale on the block a few months ago - student housing for sale.

https://streeteasy.com/talk/discussion/43489-sale-at-315-west-29th-street

Same agents as #305. #305 appears to be owned by Ohio Wesleyan University who use(d) it as a New York Arts Center. The website still shows the program exists but student housing is provided at 481 Eighth Avenue by a company called Educational Housing Services. 481 Eighth is the former New Yorker Hotel, now the Wyndham New Yorker, still owned by the Unification Church as far as I know.

It seems a little odd they would renovate the individual units prior to leasing the entire building but building is zone for dormitories and I guess if you've seen one dormitory room, you've seen them all. Certainly makes it easier for some school or independent student housing company (much more likely) to take over as quickly as possible. I'll bet this property ends up in a student housing REIT.

Another interesting thing is that neither listing makes mention of the property locations within a few blocks of FIT.

After more thought, I now wonder if these walk-up dorms no longer meet more stringent requirements from schools or student housing companies? Maybe ADA issues?

300,
Yes I remember that discussion, but it think of sale is one thing where the buyer can change it somewhat as they want, but as a renter the tenant is going to pretty much have to use it as is.

Which is why the first listing #315 talked about alternative uses such as condos. #305 can only be used for dorms. Why questions are 1) why did OWU renovate and 2) why would OWU not sell the building if they no longer needed it for their students? Makes we wonder if they had a deal with a NNN tenant but could not close it?