Time is running out for some students and residents at The Vault apartment complex to decide if they will move out of their apartment after one of the off-campus buildings was deemed “unsafe” by the city of Statesboro.
On Oct. 16, The Vault posted a letter (seen below) on the doors of residents living in building 1100, saying “this is a friendly reminder that all residents who are moving out or transferring need to do so before October 19.”
The Vault notified residents less than a month ago that the building was “deemed unsafe for habitation and could be condemned within 30 days”.
Days before that an email written on Sept. 18 by Robbie Jordan, the city’s Chief Building Official, was printed out and taped to the doors of resident’s living in building 1100. In that email, Jordan said the building was “dangerous to the life, health, property, and safety of the occupants due to the building’s apparent structural condition and the blockade of the means of ingress and egress by scaffolding”.
That email went on to day “unless this building is deemed safe by a structural engineer and that the means of ingress and egress is cleared within thirty days of receipt of this notice… all residents [will need to] vacate the premises.”
Read the original letters here.
Georgia Southern senior and building 1100 resident, Daniel Terry, was able to secure new housing less than a month ago after receiving The Vault’s notice taped on his door on Sept. 24.
Terry is a first-year resident at The Vault and described his experience with management after the notice was posted as “unprofessional” due to the lack of resources the complex provided to residents. He says The Vault left a brochure on residents’ front door that included other local apartments, but there was no in-person or virtual communication with the property manager.
Balancing his schoolwork and urgent apartment search, the situation became overwhelming. “It’s just really stressful at this point,” he said. Terry was also unable to search for housing for almost two weeks due to the power outages caused by Hurricane Helene. Fortunately, he was able to find a vacant apartment at 111 and will be moving in on Saturday.
“Thank God I actually found a spot on such short notice,” Terry said. “I’m happy I’m out of there.
Although The Vault is not managed under University Housing, Georgia Southern University Housing and the Dean of Students Office responded in a joint statement that reads,
“Georgia Southern University Housing and the Dean of Students Office have resources available to assist students who are affected by this disruption at the Vault. To find out what alternative residential options may be available, please stop by the University Housing office located in Watson Commons or use the contact information below:
Dean of Students Office
Russell Union – 2nd Floor
912.478.3326
deanofstudents@georgiasouthern.edu
University Housing
Watson Commons
912.478.5406
Housing@georgiasouthern.edu”
