Incomplete project leaves 300 USU students scrambling for housing


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LOGAN — In less than two weeks, the fall semester will start at most schools in Utah. But the school year could be in question for roughly 300 students at Utah State University who just found out they don't have a place to live.

The apartment complex they signed a lease with and paid money to is called The Factory. The online sales pitch is spectacular, including modern living, a bowling alley, game room and double-decker hot tub.

But just last month, former future resident Steve Sparks expressed concern that the apartments wouldn't be finished in time for school. An employee with The Factory calmed his fears in an email saying if it's not done, "We'll put you in a hotel while it's being completed."

The email went on to say, "You won't need to worry about having a place to live. We'll take care of you."

When asked if that has happened, Sparks said, "Not in the least bit."

Megan Dolan said so far The Factory hasn't taken care of her either.

Commuting from her home in Holladay to Logan isn't an option. She'd have to quit school, give up a job and the chance of finding an apartment this late in the game is next to impossible, she said.

"We were totally blindsided," she said. "And the fact that a lot of people were calling and asking, 'Are you sure it's going to be ready?' (and) they insisted for so long that it would be, and it sounds like they've known for weeks that it wasn't going to be (and it), is really frustrating. "

KSL investigators went to The Factory in search of answers. Manager Maggy Owens said up until last week, the organization truly believed the apartments would be move-in ready by the start of school.

Rendering of The Factory. Photo: KSL-TV
Rendering of The Factory. Photo: KSL-TV

KSL asked, "So you believed that giving them two weeks notice they'd still have time to find a place to live?"

"Absolutely," Owens said. "I mean historically in this market at this time last year ..."

"But you would have to know things are different now," KSL said.

Construction photos were posted on The Factory's Facebook page less than five weeks before the start of school with the tagline, "We're seeing great progress. Your awesome student housing is coming together."

The students who spoke with KSL believed it. Many say they feel they've been lied to.

"I can personally say that I have not lied to anyone, and I do not believe that our staff has lied to anyone," Owens said.

"Have you offered to put anyone up in hotels?" KSL asked. "We saw some emails that said, 'If it's not done in the time it's supposed to be done we'll pay for your hotel stay until it is finally open.'"

"I can tell you honestly that I haven't seen those emails, so that's catching me off guard here," Owens said. "Those are not promises that we have made as a company to anyone."

So, KSL showed her the email sent to Steve and the promise made by The Factory.

"That email says 'we'll take care of you.' Says 'no need to worry, we'll take care of you,'" KSL pointed out.

"Absolutely and I can definitely address that with our team," Owens said.

"But that's not true then," KSL said.

"I don't want to rule anything out at this point," Owens responded.

When pressed on whether the email is true, she said, "Sir, like I said, we are not ruling anything off the table whether that is a hotel or a different accommodation. We are still trying to figure out what that will be for them."

She did not say when the solution will come.

KSL spoke to other students who told the same story. One said the day before The Factory sent out the email saying it will not open in time, management told her everything was on schedule.

The letter to would-be residents was posted Aug. 8 on The Factory's Facebook page. It said in part, "... you may terminate your lease effective immediately and we will return your security deposit and any other fees paid."

It also said, "We do anticipate being able to open sometime in the following weeks, but do not have an accurate date that we can give you right now."

It noted housing in Logan currently is very tight and encouraged students to reach out to friends and relatives for accommodations, if possible.

"We are also working as hard as we can to find alternate accommodations for you to go to," the letter continues. "We will notify you immediately if we are able to line something up."

The Factory is off-campus housing, so USU is not responsible. However, the school is helping by converting study rooms to dorms, asking students with private rooms to share and having students live with resident assistants.

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