Students were assured last semester that 303 Flats was ahead of its construction schedule.
As we enter the month of September, many students have yet to move in.
The new apartment complex has been continuously delaying move-in day for UT students, causing many to stay in hotels or with friends during the first month of school. The original move-in day for the tenants was Aug. 18. Since then, the delays have gotten longer and patience has grown thin.
The next move-in day was scheduled for the first day of school on Aug. 22. This date was delayed due to a shipment issue with kitchen cabinets. Within 24 hours, the apartment complex offered hotel accommodations until the issue could be resolved or a $500 gift card to compensate students. The rent for the first one and a half months was also waived in order to offset inconveniences.
For students who have not opted for hotel accommodations, the staff began offering $100 per day each day the students weren’t moved in. The staff also allowed students to terminate their lease with 303 Flats; the deadline to do so was Aug. 15. Femia Millo, a sophomore studying chemical engineering, said she felt 303 Flats was lying to future tenants.
“They said at 5 p.m. on Tuesday we got to move in,” Millo said. “I hadn’t even gotten there yet but my roommates were there already and they were told they couldn’t move in after 303 Flats sent an email saying, ‘Yes, you can move in.’”
Millo also described a time she asked for a hotel accommodation.
“I went to the office and I said I couldn’t stay with a friend that night so can I have the hotel accommodation,” Millo said. “They said ‘No, we’re out of hotels. Just pay for a hotel now because the gift card we’re going to give you will offset the inconvenience.’”
Millo said without her friends opening their home to her, she would have been forced to sleep in her car. A few nights later, Millo received the hotel accommodation from 303 Flats a few nights later. Millo and the rest of the students on the sixth floor were able to move in on Aug. 31.
Gretta Dare, a spokesperson for The Bradley Company/UHG, explained the initial problem that resulted in the delays- the kitchen cabinets.
“On Aug. 9, we were informed by the construction company that they were just now finding out that the kitchen cabinetry was not on the road as they were told, but was actually being held at port,” Dare said. “At most, they were expecting it to be a week delayed, but we’re bringing in additional kitchen installation teams in order to overcome that delay.”
Inspections occurred after the first two delays – HVAC, Fire and Safety, Electrical and Elevators – but the City Inspector still denied the final permit. This caused another delay, but sixth-floor residents were given access to their rooms following the inspection. The fifth floor is expected to welcome in students on Sept. 7.
Prospective tenants of 303 Flats started a Twitter thread voicing their concerns and spreading news about the delays. A GroupMe also houses discussion about their own situations and other tenants offering couches to others without a place to stay.
Millo said the delays affected her school year’s start.
“During the start of my school year, I wasn’t focused,” Millo said. “I was very upset about the whole situation.”
303 Flats continues to ensure tenants that move-in will occur soon via emails. Along with incentives for the inconvenience, the staff ensures tenants that construction employees are working longer than normal hours to complete the building.
“Giving people the information that they need, ensuring they have what they need, and are taken care of through this is at the top of the list,” Dare said. “Construction’s number one focus is completing the project swiftly with quality results. Once we can get people home – we can then do our best to overcome how this year began and not only make up for it but hopefully exceed the expectations of those that we are lucky to call 303 residents.”
Dare said she is unaware of any legal action against the property.
“I only know that every action that could be taken, has been taken to best care for all of the students involved in this process,” Dare said.
The sixth floor is the only group of tenants to move in to the complex. Along with the fifth floor’s scheduled move in on Sept. 7, the staff hopes to move in the remaining 60 students some time next week.
303 Flats sits on South side of the Riverfront.
