Residents who had planned on living in the new Camden Plaza apartments on 14th Street two months ago finally moved in Oct. 24, according to Woodard Properties Property Manager Joy Waring.
"The delay was caused by everything from rain, weather from this past spring, snow from this past winter and construction delays," Waring said. "It's been a struggle."
Some residents decided to break their leases with Woodard after prolonged delays, but residents who decided to keep their leases all have moved in at this point.
However, residents have experienced a few problems with the new building, including several false activations of the alarm system.
"Fire alarms have been engaged four or five times," Waring said.
The fire alarms sounded for various reasons, but there never has been an actual emergency situation. No residents were harmed because of these incidences.
In the first incident, a maintenance vacuum accumulated dust and set off the alarm. A resident hit a sprinkler head in the garage, making the alarm sound in a separate incident, Waring said.
Residents cooking in their apartment burned their food and caused the alarm to sound the third time, and on two different occasions, Waring said the alarm was pulled.
"We do want [residents] to take the alarms seriously," Waring said.
Second-year College student Stuart Andreason lives in Camden Plaza, and he said the disruptions have bothered him.
"It's been touch and go," Andreason said, adding that he believes the fire alarms have caused the most irritation.
"The most annoying thing is the fire alarm," Andreason said. "If the fire alarm goes off in one place, it goes off everywhere. It is a long process because 14th Street is bombarded with what seems like every fire truck in Charlottesville."
Besides fire alarms, Waring said the residents also have experienced problems with the Internet since moving into their new residences.
"The Internet was up and going when the residents moved in until an infected user got online and infected the whole system," Waring said.
To remedy the situation, Waring said the Internet temporarily was shut down.
"First, we had to take everyone off line and checked every computer," Waring said. Residents "had to show proof of a virus protection program that was recently updated. So far [the Internet] is running smoothly."
Andreason said his computer was checked, and the Internet is operating efficiently.
While there still are available apartments, Waring said the delayed opening and current problems have not deterred residents from applying for an apartment.
"It has been kind of sporadic, but by June we will probably be full," she said.
Waring said residents waived almost four months' rent because of the delays.
"No residents were charged rent until they moved in," Waring said. "Also, the residents have been given three months [free rent] and parking, and a $500 credit per lease holder. That's almost four months of free rent."
Despite problems and delays, Andreason said he is satisfied to have housing because as a transfer student, he had to make arrangements late in the summer.
"I lived in the other [Woodard] building while I waited for Camden," Andreason said. "I am happy now that I'm here."
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