Bozeman, Mont. — Montana State University students living at Stadium View Apartments are having to find other places to stay just weeks before another school year begins, due to unexpected construction at the complex.
Students were told by apartment management to leave their current units and move into other housing by August 12th.The move comes ahead of the Bobcats' return to campus on August 26, with no timeline on when tenants would be able to move back into their original units.
One tenant wrote in a Reddit thread about the move on August 1st and described the urgency of the search for a new place to live.
"Can confirm myself and roommates are getting kicked out of our apartment starting in four days. If anyone has insight on a four-bedroom apartment or house available before August 12th, let me know," the tenant said.
Mesa moving and storage, a company helping with relocations, says the situation has been difficult for students.
"Definitely stressful, no matter if you're moving college or just even out of your own house, it's stressful," said Chet Robertson, team lead at Mesa Moving and Storage.
NonStop Local spoke with one tenant off camera who said he learned on July 31 that he needed to move units. He said that notice came one day before he planned to renew his lease on August 1st.
The city of Bozeman confirmed the work that is set to be done on the apartments requires residents to relocate so repairs can move forward in the coming weeks. Bozeman City Manager Chuck Winn says the buildings need to be empty during the project.
"It is safest for these buildings to be vacant while the work to repair them is completed," said Winn.
Given the sudden changes, Montana State University's Off-Campus Student Life program is stepping in to help students look for other housing options.
Rebecca Eberlin, the program manager for off-campus student life, says students she has talked with have been able to find openings at other complexes and private rentals, given the quick turnaround.
"Fortunately, the students I've talked to at least have expressed being able to get accepted at other complexes and at other private apartments and homes, with a fairly quick turnaround, which is always a relief to hear," said Rebecca Eberlin.
Other tenants that spoke with Nonstop Local off camera said that not all tenants are having to relocate to entirely new complexes. Some tenants are staying at Stadium View, just within new units.
NonStop Local has reached out to Peak Mead real estate, the group managing Stadium View, for comment on the construction and tenant relocation but have not heard back.