The Standard, a planned student housing development originally slated to open in early August, is still standing unfinished. Students who signed leases starting in August now have to wait until Oct. 13.
Landmark Properties began construction on the complex in 2015 and said in a July press release that a tight labor market and unpredictable weather conditions caused the delays.
Landmark Properties said delays were largely caused by unusually high amounts of rainfall halting construction in the summer months.
In the month of June precipitation was about 1.49 inches below the monthly average. In July rainfall was about 2.04 inches below the monthly average.
Displaced students are being compensated with a room in a hotel and half their prorated rent for every day the complex stays unfinished. If temporary housing is not required students will receive double their total rent during the delays.
Living in a hotel room means living without the same amenities offered by an apartment.
“I can’t cook,” L.B. Passey, a sophomore recreation management major, said. “They gave me $250 which is cute, they thought $250 was going to last a college student eating for three weeks and I think my card was declined yesterday.”
Clare Milburn, a junior sustainable development major, said the hotel where she is staying doesn’t feel like a home.
“Nobody understands how terrible it is to live in a hotel,” Milburn said. “I don’t have a home, you know? Everybody has a place they want to go to at the end of the day but I don’t feel that way.”
Grant Demarest, a junior marketing major, said he can’t be too upset about living in a nice hotel until construction is complete.
Sarah Mills, a sophomore anthropology major, said she is looking on the bright side.
“I’m not really fired up about it, I feel like it’s going to work itself out,” Mills said. “It is inconvenient, but for me, I get financial aid, and the Standard’s rent is really high, and my financial aid is going to cover like some extent of the year if I was in the Standard, but since I’m in the hotel, rent is half. My financial aid is going to cover rent all year. That’s a perk for me and it’s not something I’m ignoring. Even though it’s a mistake, it has its pros and cons, you know.”
Landmark said the project will be done by Oct. 13.
Story by: Finn Halloran, News Reporter