Phase 16′ delay affecting move-in for students at UNC Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Days before the start of the new semester at the University of North Carolina Charlotte, the school is having to put some students up in a local hotel.

That’s because a new dorm that was supposed to be ready to move into has been delayed.

Students reached out to WBTV saying they were supposed to move into a dorm which the school labels as “Phase 16″ but have been told it’s not finished.

WBTV reached out to the school to get answers.

Heavy equipment could be seen outside and construction materials were spotted inside the building as well.

A spokesperson for the university said the general contractor for the building, New Atlantic, encountered unexpected delays and would be unable to complete construction as expected for the move-in, which is Wednesday.

As a result, the school has to relocate about 450 students to temporary housing. Most are being put in on-campus buildings but about 100 are having to move into a local hotel.

The school said those students have already been notified and are getting a discount on their housing because of the inconvenience.

This isn’t the first time the university has run into housing trouble. This time last year, about the same number of students got an email saying they wouldn’t be guaranteed housing despite having applied for it by the deadline.

The school worked with off-campus apartments and hotels and everyone ended up getting housing who needed or wanted it.

WBTV asked for enrollment and housing numbers. The school said last school year, total enrollment was 29,551 students and approximately 6,000 students lived in dorms on campus.

This year, enrollment is expected to increase, but there won’t be a final number until after Sept. 1. However, on-campus housing was expected to be slightly more at 6,100 which doesn’t include the new unfinished dorm.

The school has a section on its website keeping students up to date on the delays and has a list of frequently asked questions about what happens from here.

WBTV will continue to follow this and speak to some of the students being affected.

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