Residents displaced by the fire at 160 Ross on Monday, Aug. 3, now have the option of moving into Tiger Lodge on Saturday, Aug. 15, until their apartment is repaired.
Kenzie Huggins, junior in social work who was displaced by the fire, said she will move into Tiger Lodge on Saturday, Aug. 15. She said she has safety concerns.
"I've heard of shootings in the past," Huggins said.
There have been two deadly shootings in three years at Tiger Lodge, one in May 2012, and another in December 2014.
Huggins also said she heard the door locks could be opened with a credit card or a fingernail. She said she has also heard of parties not given by Auburn students there. She said these concerns have not been addressed.
Those who were displaced were notified by email Wednesday, Aug. 5.
"I was just waiting for a response from 160 Ross," Huggins said.
Huggins said she was "really worried" when she heard about the fire, and she had hoped for better communication from management.
"They haven't been as professional as I thought they were going to be through the whole process," Huggins said.
Residents displaced by the fire were offered four options from American Campus Communities, the firm that owns 160 Ross.
Residents who live at Tiger Lodge will still have access to amenities at 160 Ross. Residents will pay $384 per month while they live at Tiger Lodge.
Residents also have the option of starting their lease when they can move into 160 Ross, on Jan. 1, 2016, or terminating their lease. If residents terminate their lease, they will be refunded any money they have paid so far.
Mark Evans, public relations specialist who works with Tiger Lodge, said Tiger Lodge was approached by American Campus Communities.
"We said we could help them out, yes," Evans said.
Evans said the fire "comes at a bad time," and Tiger Lodge management wanted to help the students. He said this arrangement fills empty units at Tiger Lodge, and allows the students to experience another property in Auburn.
Evans said he is not aware of anyone expressing safety concerns, and said American Campus Communities will have employees on site on move-in day to answer questions.
"They wouldn't express [concerns] to us, they would express them to American Campus Communities," Evans said.
Brandon Goebel, senior in media studies, was not affected by the fire. He will move in Aug. 15. He said he was in disbelief when he heard about the fire.
"I was like, 'no way,'" Goebel said.
Goebel said communication from management has not been good. He said he did not know his status for approximately 48 hours. He received an email Aug. 5, stating that his building was not affected.
"It seemed like a much longer time than it should have been," Goebel said. "I was in the dark for a while."
Goebel said he is trying to remain positive, however, he is now thinking about contingency plans in case an incident such as the fire happens again.
"Obviously in the back of my head I'm thinking, 'What if an accident like this happens again'?" Goebel said.
The fire started on the roof and moved to attic of Building 4. No one was injured, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation according to the Auburn Fire Division.
Multiple attempts to reach American Campus Communities representatives were not returned by deadline.
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