Topeka ? Kansas University is seeking permission from the state to build its upscale apartments near Allen Fieldhouse for student-athletes in two phases.

Phase 1 will be for members of the men’s basketball team and other students.

The proposal was mentioned briefly Tuesday during a Kansas Board of Regents committee meeting. The full board will take up the matter later this month.

Earlier this year, KU sought from the Legislature $17.5 million in bonding authority to build the apartments. Legislators rejected the project, which some called extravagant.

Days later, KU officials announced they would seek private donations for the project.

Under the proposal, $11.9 million, raised from private donations, will be used to build apartments to house 39 students, some of them on the men’s basketball team. The apartments will be fully furnished two- and three-bedroom units.

Under NCAA requirements, no more than 49 percent of the residents will be student-athletes.

Also included in the initial phase are common spaces, service areas and an enclosed athletic court.

Associate Athletic Director Jim Marchiony said the apartments are necessary to recruit top talent.

“We realize that we have a basketball program among the very elite in this country, and we feel a responsibility to do what we can to make sure it stays that way,” Marchiony said.

If the regents give permission to the KU Endowment Association to construct the project, work on the apartments will start soon and, officials hope, finished by August 2015, Marchiony said.

Marchiony said fundraising efforts are ongoing for the second phase of the project, which will be used to house members of the women’s basketball team and other students. A final pricetag for the total project has not been determined.

He said private donors to the project wanted to get the men’s portion of the project done first.