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303 Flats continues to see move-in delays for many students

Gretta Dare, a spokesperson for the development agency, said Thursday another floor has been approved to move in starting at 9 a.m. Friday.

A South Knoxville apartment development with about 200 University of Tennessee students waiting to move in was given the green light to move some students in, though the majority of residents continue to wait.

A spokesperson for 303 Flats, on Chapman Highway near the Henley Bridge, said there are still more inspections scheduled for Wednesday and Friday for floors still needing a certificate of occupancy.

The spokesperson said around 140 residents are still waiting.

Gretta Dare, a spokesperson for the development agency, said Thursday another floor has been approved to move in starting at 9 a.m. Friday. 60 residents in other parts of the building won't be able to move in yet. Dare said they're hoping for next week.

Last Wednesday, the inspector was re-scheduled to return the next day as about 8 kitchens had not had counter tops completed in time. Residents were told so they knew how things were progressing, and installers were scheduled to work through the night to complete the items to be approved Thursday.

Dare said notifications with move-in times will be sent to students once those inspections are passed.

Students were originally supposed to be able to move in August 18, per their leases. Initially, there was a delay in cabinetry.

MORE: Nearly 200 UT students booked in hotels after apartment opening delayed

"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."

And then, more than two weeks later, there was another roadblock.

The complex had 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 wanted a segregation of construction workers and residents, which meant there needed to be separate entrances and exits with signs directing people where to go. According to Dare, the city also allegedly said there needed to be locks on doors that would connect the two parts of the building.

MORE: 303 Flats awaits city approval to move nearly 200 students in 2 weeks late

A company spokesperson said Wednesday they were unable to receive a certificate of occupancy because of vent issue in the complex trash room.

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.

Dare said less than 200 people signed leases with the complex.

As far as the cabinets go, 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.

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