The Krattelli apartments are located on the East side of Asp Avenue across from the OU Traditions apartments. One of the biggest problems with the older structre of the Krattelli apartment is the maintenance and keeping the structure under code. Jeremy Dickie/The Daily

Extensive improvements are planned at Kraettli Apartments to enhance the apartments’ features.

“The summer refreshing program at OU Traditions Square is simply to keep the apartments clean, well kept and looking like new,” Lauren Royston, Housing and Food spokeswoman, said by e-mail. “The improvements planned for Kraettli Apartments are a much more extensive process.”

A major roof project for the Housing and Food Apartments, which began in summer 2007, will continue until summer 2011 and increase the longevity of the apartments, Royston said.

“Once the roof project is complete, we hope to increase the pace in additional renovations projects for Kraettli,” Royston said.

Other improvements planned for Kraettli include new paint, new eco-friendly compact fluorescent light bulbs and new flooring and appliances as needed.

A double-resident Kraettli Apartment costs $195 less than an apartment in OU Traditions Square.

“The price of the apartment is reasonable for the international students like me,” said Son Dang, petroleum engineering freshman.

Many of the 1,200 Kraettli residents are international students and families.

Angie Flippo lives in the apartment with her two sons and husband, who received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering in the fall and currently works in a post-doctorate position.

Because the apartments are old, they often have maintenance problems, Flippo said.

However, some residents said issues are dealt with in a timely manner.

“When we call the maintenance they come right away,” said Huong Nguyen, chemical engineering freshman.

Kraettli residents said the apartments are offer close proximity to campus and bus routes.

“If I want to [go to] campus to meet some friends or go to stadium to participate in activities, it’s really easy,” Dang said.

The level of interaction between neighbors at Kraettli depends on each resident’s involvement.

“I have neighbors but I don’t know who they are,” Nguyen said. “We all have our own life.”

Flippo said she and her family enjoy the community of international students and other families with children at Kraettli that cannot be found at Traditions.

“We have loved it,” Flippo said. “It’s been a very good experience.”