'We literally have nowhere to live': Clemson apartment turns students away on move in day

A downtown Clemson apartment complex that was evacuated last year because of a foundation problem is again having structural issues that are forcing tenants to be turned away days before Clemson University begin classes. 

Some tenants were turned away from 114 Earle on Thursday after city officials and developers said they discovered ongoing, potentially hazardous issues with the building's foundation.

The site is located on uneven ground and has been under construction since structural problems were reported last year.

In a prepared statement on the city's website, officials cited "life-safety concerns resulting from potential trip hazards" and concerns about emergency access as the reasons for asking tenants to stay away.

Todd Steadman, the city's director of planning and codes, said in an interview Friday that city officials learned about a problem Wednesday evening from the developers or managers of the property.

"The building is not collapsing," he said. "There is a soil settlement issue that is creating a crack along the corridors in some areas. The cracks make the hallways uneven in those areas and those areas are not safe."

Steadman said the issue will likely take months to repair. He estimated the work could last until October or November.

114 Earle is a short walk from the Clemson campus and offers units that range from studio apartments up to five bedrooms, according to its website. The one-bedroom studio apartments are listed at up to $1,044 per month, while the five-bedroom shared units rent for $774 per bedroom per month. The complex opened in 2017 and has a documented history of foundation and structural problems. It is owned and operated by Philadelphia-based Campus Apartments LLC. As of Friday afternoon, the company had not responded to two messages.

The city's statement described the latest foundation settlement as being between a half-inch and 3/4 inch, which "exceeds the expected range of normal settlement and is outside the comfort zone" of city officials and the engineer that designed the project. 

The statement said the situation affects 95 bedrooms but that "other than those units being vacated, all other units, common areas, and the parking deck are deemed to be structurally sound."

Steadman said the city will continue to monitor the situation to ensure people are safe.

"We want to be clear that the city is not saying that people who are residents there can't go in there to get their stuff," Steadman said. "I don't know what the management company is telling people, but the city is simply saying we don't want unauthorized people to go in unescorted. If you are a tenant there and you need to go in to one of those areas where work needs to be done, what we are saying is that you need to be escorted, not that you can't go. People have an expectation and a right to get their stuff."

Meanwhile, tenants received emailed notices from 114 Earle on Wednesday night telling them "... we do not know how long you may be displaced."

Students already living there on Thursday afternoon were notified they had three hours to move out, Clemson University senior Madison Albin said. 

"We literally have nowhere to live for the school year," she told the Greenville News.

Albin and her roommates were moved to a hotel 20 minutes from campus, but they will need to find a new place to live for the school year.

Between 35-40 of the students impacted have contacted Clemson University Housing and Dining to ask about availability for on-campus housing, according to Kathy Bush Hobgood, the department's vice president. But with the just days until the first day of classes, there's not much left in the way of University housing, and most of the students who have contacted the school are seeking four-bedroom suites for themselves and their roommates.

Only five had chosen to move on campus as of midday Friday, Hobgood said.

Ali Willoughby, a student assistant with the housing department, said that before she left the office at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, she fielded about 15 calls from frantic Clemson students seeking on-campus housing after they were turned out of the apartment complex.

"A lot of them seemed pretty panicked," she said. "School is starting on Wednesday, so I can definitely understand that." 

Apartment management is also working to arrange temporary housing for residents and is offering to terminate leases upon request, said Deepika Subbiah of the Brownstein Group, a Philadelphia public relations agency handling media inquries.

All other questions have been referred to Christy Marett, at 114 Earle. She was not available Friday morning. Later in the day, a woman who answered the phone there said the company planned to send out a prepared statement. 

Other portions of the building remained open Thursday and residents were able to move in, but some wonder if they, too, will be asked to leave.

Clemson University juniors Rachel Jones and Hailey Foster were moving into their apartment at 114 Earle Thursday evening after learning their unit was still available. 

"We saw the email today that part of the building was closed down," Jones said. "We were told there's no cause for concern." 

Foster said she's still worried other residents might be told to leave. 

Haley Walters covers crime and breaking news. Email her at hwalters@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @_haleywalters