TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Hundreds of students who expected to move into a new Tallahassee apartment complex are instead starting the school year in hotels after Perla Student Housing delayed move-in just hours before some families were preparing to get their keys.
Families said they were preparing to move in Friday, but learned less than 24 hours before that it was no longer happening.
“We had no notice. We drove six and a half hours up here thinking we were going to move in. We wouldn’t have come up if we knew,” said Rosie Roy, a parent whose daughter was scheduled to move in Friday afternoon.
Roy said that Thursday morning, while driving more than six hours to Tallahassee, Perla staff were still giving her move-in instructions. By 4:30 that afternoon, families were told move-in was delayed. Roy said staff later told her they learned about the delay at the same time residents did.
Roy said finding a hotel room was also difficult.
“They said, we know, we know, we’re trying to do it as quickly as possible. And I said, well, right now she’s just driving around homeless,” Roy said.
City permit records show reviews and inspections were continuing in the days leading up to the planned move-in. A new review cycle began Aug. 18. On Aug. 19, a building-inspection prescreen was marked “denied” and “open” because required sheets were missing from a resubmission. The record does not say that issue caused the delay, but city records show inspections continuing through Aug. 21, including framing, drywall and insulation.
The general contractor, Hedrick Brothers, said in a statement: “Our teams and trade partners are working diligently on site, with a focus on completing the project safely and in accordance with the standards required for successful turnover.”
Roy said her daughter received a hotel room and free storage, and was told she would receive $50 a day for food and a $20 daily Uber credit.
“My husband can’t come because he can’t take more days off, so now it’s all on me to move my daughter in. I’m going to have to book another hotel and the closer we get to the game weekend, the less options we have a place is to stay,” Roy said.
As of now, the new move-in date is Friday, Aug. 28. Perla has told affected residents it will continue providing temporary accommodations while they wait to move in.