Single parents, non-traditional and international students from as far away as China, India and Cameroon are among the students living in the Buccaneer Village housing complex that East Tennessee State University has scheduled for demolition after the summer 2012 classes end.

“Buccaneer Village was set to be renovated next summer,” said Bonnie Burchett, director of ETSU’s department of housing and residence life. “It became apparent that it was not cost-effective. There are a lot of things in pretty bad shape, and they are sorely in need of renovation. There are too many units to bring up to the new codes and still rent them at a competitive price.”

According to a plaque on the front of building C, ETSU constructed buildings A through E,  comprised of 40 units of one and two-bedroom apartments, in 1966. They have a date with a wrecking ball next summer, but buildings F and G, built in 1968, will be refurnished and updated. The buildings ETSU decided to keep received new fire alarm and sprinkler systems last summer, according to the housing department.

Burchett said that the current residents of buildings F and G will have the option to remain in their apartments. Forfeited units will be offered to students currently living in buildings A through E before the 2012 fall semester. The apartments in buildings F and G are efficiency and one bedroom units, which is not enough space for some families currently living in two-bedroom units.

“There will be no more family housing,” said Burchett. “Some [residents] qualify for Section 8 housing, and some have found housing close to campus. Renting an entire apartment in Buccaneer Ridge will be cost-preventative for many families. We had two parents with children that wanted to be roommates, but we are not getting involved with that.”

If one of the parents could no longer attend classes, then it would be difficult to find a roommate for the other parent and child said Burchett.

Burchett said that all residents received an e-mail about the demolition and that the housing office has tried to tell new residents before they moved in. Some residents claimed that they never received notification. The letter, dated July 18 2011, is available online at http://www.etsu.edu/students/housing.

“I did not know they were going to tear them down until just now,” said freshman Aaron Branson, 19, who was unpacking his car and moving into building C on Friday, Aug. 25. “They need a lot of work, but they could be really nice if they were fixed.”

Branson, who shares a one-bedroom unit with his wife, said that the paint on the walls is missing in multiple areas and the ceiling in his bathroom is covered in mildew. The couple plans to move to Buccaneer Ridge next year, even though it will cost more.

According to the rates posted on the housing department’s website, the current rate for a one-bedroom apartment in Buccaneer Village is $2,410 per semester. The lowest-priced one bedroom apartment in Buccaneer Ridge is $3,063 per semester, 27 percent more than Buccaneer Village.

DeVan Burton, 32, is an English major at ETSU and shares a two-bedroom unit in Buccaneer Village building D with his three children, ages 12, 11 and 6. His two daughters share one bedroom, his son sleeps in the other and Burton sleeps on a couch in the living room. He said having the ability to walk to campus is a bonus since he does not own a car.

“I appreciate what they have provided,” said Burton. “If they did not, it makes earning an education much more difficult. It is disheartening that they are not renovating [Buccaneer Village.]”

According to Burton, he was not notified of the decision to eradicate buildings A through E. This should not affect him since he is scheduled to graduate in May 2012 before demolition begins.

“What happens to the people that are still here for two or three more years?” he said. “What if I decided to continue my education here as graduate student? That would complicate things a great deal. It is almost as if they are saying ‘there is no place here for you non-treads [non-traditional students].'”

Anne Waldrop, 31, lives in a two-bedroom unit in building C with her husband and two sons. She recently graduated from ETSU’s nursing program and is currently earning a master’s degree in the same field. She said that she did receive the e-mail but her family is hoping to purchase a home before next summer.

“It is kind of sad,” said Waldrop. “There are so many non-traditional students, and it was a big help to us. All of the housing people have taken good care of us.”

Despite the apartment being small, Waldrop said she was grateful to the university for providing affordable family housing that was close to campus and safe for her two boys.

“I understand why they are doing it, if it is not cost effective [to renovate the apartments],” she said. “It is just like any other business.”

Patricia Bell, a 33-year-old geography major, lives in building A. She thinks that the university should make repairs to the buildings rather than forcing residents to move.

“I love building A,” she said. “I do not know why they are tearing them down. I would like to stay where I am at, but what I want is not in the grand scheme of things.”

Another student and single parent, who wished to remain anonymous, cited the cost of living off campus as her major sources of contention with ETSU’s decision to bulldoze Buccaneer Village. The disrepair of the building was an issue for her because she felt other ETSU housing options were better maintained than Buccaneer Village.

“I came to ETSU because of the family housing,” she said. “It is safe, secure and in a good school district for my daughter, but the apartment is disgusting. It is much more expensive to live off campus, especially when you have to pay deposits for things like Internet, phone and power. They just don’t care about us. It’s not profitable for them. I know what is: Charging people per bedroom.”

She said there were numerous holes in the walls, windows that will not open, Parquet floors that would not come clean and a rusting exterior staircase.

“Those stairs are absolutely terrifying,” she said. “When people come to visit, they are scared to come up.”

She pointed out missing vertical bars at the top of the staircase and explained how a small child could fall through the gap to the ground level. Burchett said that ETSU will continue to maintain the apartments and repair any safety concerns. She also said she would have maintenance look into the staircase issue.

Residents must report maintenance issues to the housing department.  Non-emergency repairs should be reported to housingwork@listserv.etsu.edu, and emergencies can be brought to the attention of a resident advisor or the department of public safety at 423-439-4480.

“Maintenance is pretty good,” said Nkongho Tembe, a 24-year-old chemistry major from Cameroon. “I don’t have much to complain about, but some of the others need new floors and walls.”

Tembe lives in building F and said he is pleased about the repairs and new furniture his building will receive outlined in the correspondence from the housing department.  When he first arrived at ETSU, he was unhappy with his apartment and requested a room change.

“I wasn’t originally appreciative,” said Tembe, who looked into moving into another building before he realized the other was worse for wear. “Then I saw building G and I said, ‘No way.’ Now I think my apartment is comfy.”

The letter that Housing sent to residents regarding next summers demolition plans states that “plans are still being developed for the renovation of buildings F and G.” Residents of these buildings must move out over the summer while the repairs are under way, but can return to their apartments in August 2012. New desks, chairs, tables, living room furniture and bedroom furniture will await residents upon their return.

Burchett said that ETSU has no plans for the land after the elimination of buildings A through E and the adjacent laundry facility. The housing department is referring students looking for off-campus housing solutions to the Adult Commuter and Transfer Services located on the second floor of the D. P. Culp University Center. ACTS maintains a list of rentals available upon request.

“It has been a difficult decision [to tear down Buccaneer Village] because it has been inexpensive housing [for families],” said Burchett.

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