Knoxville — The wait for a certificate of occupancy is delaying a South Knoxville apartment development from opening and preventing about 200 University of Tennessee students from moving in.
On Aug. 14, 10News reported that 303 Flats, on Chapman Highway near the Henley Bridge, still wasn't open due to a delay in cabinetry. Students were supposed to be able to move in August 18, per their leases.
"Within 24 hours of finding this out, we had secured hotel rooms within close proximity of campus, matching the expected luxury of the community experience," Gretta Dare, a spokesperson for the development agency, said in an email to 10News on Aug. 14."Additionally, cabinetry installation teams were assembled from multiple states to come assist with the installation upon arrival."
But now, more than two weeks later, there's another roadblock.
The complex has passed all of the various inspections, Dare told 10News Wednesday but she said the city inspector came out on Tuesday for the final inspection which would grant them a certificate of occupancy and they didn't get it.
She said the city told her they want a segregation of construction workers and residents, which means there needs to be separate entrances and exits with signs directing people where to go. According to Dare, the city also allegedly said there needs to be locks on doors that would connect the two parts of the building.
The company said it's adding the requests now and the city's inspector is expected to come back Wednesday night. A back-up appointment was set for Thursday morning in case there is anything that needs to be changed overnight, Dare said.
However, a company spokesperson said they were unable to receive a certificate of occupancy because of vent issue in the complex trash room. The company was working to fix it overnight and said they plan to meet with the inspector on Friday.
10News reached out to the city Wednesday but a spokesperson said the city sees this as an owner-tenant issue.
PHOTOS: 303 Flats in South Knoxville
According to Dare, 86 students were supposed to move in to the sixth floor, which is totally finished, Tuesday night. She said they offered all of the displaced students $100 per night or a hotel room at the Hyatt or Crowne Plaza. 30 students took the hotel room and the rest took the money.
No one is living at the apartment complex right now. Dare said less than 200 people signed leases with the complex.
There are staggered move in dates so as the delays occurred, Dare said those dates have been pushed back.
Initially, the complex delayed move-ins because they were waiting on cabinets to be shipped and installed. Dare said crews have been working to finish installing the cabinets, putting down some flooring, and completing offices and a model unit on the first floor.