John Vawter

Community Living at the Cottages at Fort Collins

One of three principals of Capstone Housing Communities, John Vawter has nearly 30 years of experience in student housing development. John Vawter has led Capstone in the design and construction of 15 campus communities, including several at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

The newly built Cottages at Fort Collins provide all the comforts of cottage living for students at Colorado State University. Residences include four and five-bedroom cottages and townhomes, as well as in-unit laundry facilities and security system. Each bedroom has its own private bathroom, and students can select optional features such as balconies and furniture packages. For students with pets, a dog park and pet washing station provide convenience and comfort.

Common areas include a fitness center, spa and steam room, gaming lounge, and luxurious, resort-style pool. Students can easily travel to and from campus with quick and convenient shuttle service. To create a true community atmosphere, the Cottages at Fort Collins host social events for students and friends.

Renting Your First Student Housing

John Vawter is a principal at Capstone Collegiate Communities, LLC, in Birmingham, Alabama, one of the most experienced student housing development companies in the country. At the helm of Capstone Collegiate Communities, John Vawter has overseen the construction of 15 off-campus communities in several states.

When you’re ready to rent your first apartment as a student, the first thing you need to carefully consider is your budget and expenses. You need to think about your rent, but also other fees, utility costs, potential pet expenses, and security deposits, etc. Avoid signing a lease for an apartment that you can’t really afford by carefully adding up all the monthly expenses before you decide.

You’ll also need to find a balance between what you need and what would be nice to have. Student housing within easy walking distance of your campus may turn out to be more desirable than a place with more amenities but that is less conveniently located.

Before you sign your housing contract, go over it thoroughly. Especially for first-time renters, housing contracts have a lot of information you might be unaware of, such as what your responsibilities are toward the space and all the related obligations and regulations.

The Jimmie Hale Mission’s CoC Initiative

John Vawter leverages more than three decades of real estate development experience to serve as principal of Capstone Collegiate Communities, LLC, in Birmingham, Alabama. In addition to his work at Capstone, John Vawter is active in his community via service on the Church of the Highlands’ Legacy Team. He previously served on the board of the Jimmie Hale Mission (JHM) for five years.

Established as a storefront chapel in 1944, the JHM has worked to alleviate the prevalence of homelessness and addiction in Alabama for more than 75 years. It has done this thanks in part to generous community volunteers and by spreading the message of love and acceptance of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Beyond providing immediate care and spiritual support to men who are homeless and battling addiction, the nonprofit operates a Continuum of Care (CoC) program to help its graduating clients successfully re-integrate into society while maintaining their independence.

The CoC program was in development for more than a year before its official launch in August 2019. The plan focuses on five key areas to ensure client success upon graduating: employment; housing; outcome; network; and transit. This process begins with the Stewart Learning Center curriculum, where clients at the three JHM facilities complete a 16-week Ready to Work program that focuses on math and writing skills as well as personal finance. The CoC program also hosts job fairs in partnership with the AIDT Training Center, while its staff is working with area nonprofits for client assistance in social support, transportation, and housing.

Competitive Team Sports at Lakeshore Foundation

How Green Housing is Changing Student Housing Developments

A respected Birmingham real estate professional specializing in off-campus housing communities, John Vawter is the principal of Capstone Collegiate Communities, where he oversees numerous student housing projects. While working at Capstone Collegiate Communities, John Vawter’s expertise includes supervision of construction projects to incorporate modern and community-focused amenities, such as green spaces, into the development.

Public green spaces are often sacrificed as cities develop and expand. With green housing projects, housing shortfall is effectively addressed without negatively affecting the natural surroundings. In recent years, there’s been a surge in student population, especially in urban centers as some universities have removed their student caps or admitted more students in an academic year. With campuses now unable to accommodate the increasingly rising numbers of students, developers need to consider environmental responsibility as a priority and develop amenities with eco-friendly living spaces.

Today’s students have grown up knowing sustainable behavior practices. They expect to reside in facilities with water and energy efficiency as well as effective recycling systems in place. Many student residential housing now displays their residential sustainability accomplishments and certifications to inform prospective students of their commitment to environmental accountability.

The Arrow Townhouses and Flats Formally Opens

An experienced real estate developer from Birmingham, John Vawter serves as one of the principals of Capstone Collegiate Communities, LLC, a real estate development firm that focuses on student housing. As principal, John Vawter is responsible for all development projects that the firm undertakes. Recently, Capstone has announced the opening of one of its student housing projects in Bozeman, Montana.

In October, Capstone Collegiate Communities, LLC, announced the opening of The Arrow Townhomes and Flats, a Capstone student housing community that will serve the students of nearby Montana State University.

This multi-building community has an 887-bed capacity. The townhomes vary in size from one-bedroom flats to five-bedroom apartments. The Arrow features luxurious resort-type amenities including a 24-hour clubhouse equipped with a gym and fitness center, steam room, sauna, and pool. Residents can also use the entertainment den where ping pong and pool tables, flat screen TVs, and 4 game systems are found. The Arrow also has multi-purpose rooms that can be used for studying or lounging.

How to Help the Jimmie Hale Mission

Jimmie Hale Mission
Image: JimmieHaleMission.com

Prior to serving as the principal of Capstone Collegiate Communities, LLC, John Vawter worked for 11 years as an executive vice president at Capstone Development Corp. in Birmingham, Alabama. In addition to acquiring vast experience developing student housing communities, John Vawter has also assisted the community by serving for 5 years on the board at the Jimmie Hale Mission (JHM) for the homeless.

The JHM is a multi-faceted ministry located in Birmingham that provides several programs for the community, including a homeless shelter for men, another for women and children, recovery programs, learning centers, after-school Bible clubs, and fundraising thrift stores.

There are several ways to assist the JHM so that they can help others. Community members can choose to give financial support through donations, meals, shelter, or general support. The donation of gently used items like clothing and furniture is also possible, as well as a spiritual donation through prayer, and giving time by volunteering at any of the JHM ministries.

To learn more about donating to the JHM ministry, please visit https://jimmiehalemission.com/how-to-help/.