La Maison du Bayou, the new Nicholls privatized housing facility, became home to over 150 students before the spring semester began, but some students are not exactly calling their new residence “home sweet home.”
Students that signed housing leases on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday prior to the opening of school were allowed an express move-in day on Saturday, Jan. 10. Each student was allowed to view a demo apartment to become familiar with the area and to show residents how all appliances and other features worked. Collegiate Development, La Maison du Bayou’s management team, said it would help residents become more familiar with their new living arrangements.
Doug Graham, vice president of Collegiate Development, said, “Everything went real smooth with moving in and we moved in over 125 people in just one day.”
New residents are still signing leases for the complex that was built to hold 408 students.
Once residents moved in, however, their new apartment style living was not what many had visualized.
“I’ve had nothing but problems since day one,” Lori Harrall, communicative disorders sophomore from Houma and resident of building four, said. “Let’s just say we had water the first day in places that water should not have been. Thankfully my roommate and I get along because we’ve really been through a lot. The only good thing that came out of all of this is that they (Collegiate Development) did compensate us for some of our troubles.”
Collegiate Development said that the problems that many students have had to face are problems that all new constructions must experience.
“Like with any new construction there are kinks that we have to work through,” Graham said. “As residents are starting to use appliances and all the amenities in the apartment, there’s a break-in period. If they (residents) have any problems, they can contact us and we can take care of it right away.”
Some residents have been dealing with issues as they emerge.
“My experience has been relatively OK,” Aimee Griffin, freshmen from Memphis, Tenn., and resident of building five, said. “We’ve had minor problems with the bathtubs and beds. We’re missing some furniture too, but overall it’s not so bad.”
Collegiate Development feels that these problems did not arise as a result of the rapid construction and completion of the complex.
“I think it (the complex) went up as quickly as we could possibly get it,” Graham said. “The property is constructed well. Everybody has been extremely pleased with the overall construction of the property. Like I said, just like any new construction projects, we just have to work through the kinks.”
With the downfalls of the new construction, residents have shown enjoyment for some aspects of the facility.
“It’s new,” Graham said. “They love that it’s brand new. They love the game rooms. They love the fitness center. It’s just very convenient and it’s a very friendly atmosphere. Probably the best thing that the residents favor is that all the amenities are inclusive into one low monthly payment.”
Though residents have been facing plumbing and electrical problems above anything, Collegiate Development assures that these problems are being handled and should not happen again.
“The project was very fast, but overall it has been a success,” Graham said. “We’re looking forward to our future with the Nicholls State University campus. We feel that there is tremendous opportunity here at this community and we are excited about opening this new community to students.”