Although he signed a lease for an apartment advertised "only two blocks" from Grounds, second year College student Hunter Flint now has to bike two miles to get to class.
Flint is one of 75 people, mostly University students, forced to temporarily relocate due to construction delays at Camden Plaza apartments.
Construction of the six-story complex on 14th Street began last fall and was supposed to be completed for move-in August 22.
On August 6, Woodard Properties emailed residents that occupancy on that date was uncertain.
"We're just trying to catch up from when we got behind because of inclimate weather," Joy Waring said, Woodard Properties Property Manager.
According to Waring, as of Monday the earliest completion date was estimated at Sept. 5 and the latest at Sept. 21.
As compensation for delay inconveniences, Woodard Properties will give each Camden Plaza renter a $500 credit to their account upon occupancy of their apartment.
This decision was made despite a contract addendum signed by all tenants that states, "tenant waives any claims for damages or compensation."
Flint and his future neighbors now reside in local hotels or with obliging friends and family members.
"At first, I didn't think it was a big deal, but now it pretty much sucks," Flint said. "I don't have a place to go back to [and] I'm living out of a bag."
The addendum does give residents the option of breaking their lease with Woodard, but as of yesterday afternoon no one had filled out the necessary paperwork.
Construction delays also have temporarily displaced 110 would-be residents of Eagles Landing, a complex of 280 apartments on Yellowstone Drive.
Project construction there began in late September 2002.
Russ Davis, president of Collegiate Hall Properties, Eagles Landing's developer, said about 170 work days were lost to rain, snow, wet conditions and concerns about county water provisions.
On July 10, Collegiate Hall sent letters to Eagles Landing tenants explaining the delay and offering them the option of terminating their contract.
Sixteen tenants have broken their lease agreements.
Davis said he estimates the first of Eagles Landing's 10 buildings will be delivered in early October. From that point, a new building should be completed every two weeks, he added.
To compensate for the delay, Collegiate Hall offered residents two alternative housing options, one at University Heights and one at Jefferson Ridge.
Those who opted to live at University Heights will not be required to pay rent until Nov. 1. Those at Jefferson Ridge, where the rent is an average 20 percent higher than at Eagles Landing, pay the difference in the two rents.
Collegiate Hall also will cover the moving and utility connection expenses for all Eagles Landing lease holders.
Davis said he does not believe Collegiate Hall has the legal obligation to compensate its residents this way.
"We've got a $28 million investment and it's a project that's built to be around for a long time," Davis explained. "To start out with people feeling bad about you is not a very smart business practice. It's also not the right way to treat people."
Third-year Commerce Student Daisy Lundy, an Eagles Landing tenant, said she is happy with the way Collegiate Hall has dealt with the delay. "I'm very pleased, given the circumstances, that they've gone out of their way to be so accommodating to their students," she said.
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