Grove delays move-in; tenants seek answers

Construction+at+The+Grove+apartment+complex+on+Terre+View+Drive+as+seen+on+Wednesday%2C+Aug.+13%2C+2014.+Prospective+tenants+say+theyll+be+homeless+next+week+as+management+has+postponed+their+allowed+move-in+date.

Construction at The Grove apartment complex on Terre View Drive as seen on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014. Prospective tenants say they’ll be homeless next week as management has postponed their allowed move-in date.

PULLMAN – Prospective tenants of The Grove apartments will be homeless on Saturday after building management pushed back their move-in date with little notice.

According to those affected, The Grove changed the allowed move-in date for 250 people from Aug. 16 to Aug. 23 due to unforeseen construction delays.

“No one is communicating with us, and most people were not notified and only heard via word of mouth,” wrote Cheryl Karalus, whose son is a prospective tenant, in an email. Karalus asked that her son not be named.

Of the new move-in date, she wrote, “This is two days prior to school starting, which does not allow much prep time for classes. Also, (my son) was possibly going to have a job interview but now will not be able to do this.”

Genevieve Yates, a junior majoring in criminal justice and political science who signed a lease in October, said The Grove secured a room for her and some other tenants at the Siesta Motel in Colfax.

Employees confirmed the motel is holding rooms for The Grove but declined to reveal how many were rented.

As of press time The Grove had not returned requests for comment.

Several prospective tenants said Grove employees called about the delay on Sunday and Monday after word spread via social media.

“So far students have taken to The Grove at Pullman’s Facebook page and also phone calls and personal visits to try and resolve the problem, all of which The Grove has brushed off with generic apologies,” said Eric Chen, a sophomore computer science major and first-time apartment lessee. “They’re not making it a good experience.”

Chen, who has spent the last week at the Idaho Inn in Moscow, said The Grove called him to offer compensation for an extended stay there.

“It’s great that they’re doing this, but it’s still a huge inconvenience,” he said.

“I’ve been stuck on the West Side, staying with a friend, practically homeless,” said Megan McMullin, a senior criminal justice major from Arizona, in a phone call. “All my stuff is over here in my car, and now I have to unpack it over there two days before school starts.”

Karalus added, “The other issue is that we are required to pay for the entire month of August, yet they will only be occupying the apartment at this point for one week.”

McMullin said The Grove offered each tenant a $130 refund for the week-long delay. An email from Grove management to another affected tenant confirmed at least some will be compensated.

Posts regarding the situation on The Grove at Pullman Facebook page have been deleted.

Four of the eight buildings in the complex burned to the ground in July 2013 due to arson. Construction on the property has been ongoing since then.