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Slowly But Surely: Six More Buildings at Cottages Receive CO’s, Now Tenants Switching Hotels For Bristol Race

More than 200 students moved into The Cottages of Boone on Sunday.
More than 200 students moved into The Cottages of Boone on Sunday.

Update: Watauga County Planning & Inspections Director Joe Furman said six more buildings in The Cottages of Boone development received certificates of occupancy on Friday. Those six buildings represent nine units and 43 bedrooms. 

To date, The Cottages of Boone have received certificates of occupancy for 47 buildings that represent 73 units and 351 beds.

Furman added that he anticipates a “few more possible tomorrow.” 

For more information, read below. 

Slowly But Surely: 13 More Buildings at Cottages Receive CO’s, Now Tenants Switching Hotels For Bristol Race

By Jesse Wood

Aug. 22, 2013. Slowly but surely. 

As of Thursday afternoon, Watauga County Planning & Inspections department has issued certificates of occupancy for 41 buildings in the The Cottages of Boone development, according to WCP&I Director Joe Furman.

These 41 buildings represent 64 units and 308 bedrooms.

The last new figures Furman had on certificates of occupancy at the development was on Monday morning, when Furman noted that 28 buildings consisting of 249 bedrooms, were certified for occupancy.

According to WCP&I documents regarding the development, The Cottages of Boone – when all is said and done – will feature 106 buildings consisting of 202 units and 894 bedrooms.

During the past few weeks, The Cottages of Boone Facebook page has been a live one with folks offering positive and negative commentary on the development that has experienced numerous delays, causing students to be holed up two-to-a-room in local hotels with a $15 per diem, all paid for by The Cottages of Boone, and others without a place to stay while their residence is completed.

One parent who visited The Cottages of Boone development on Sunday said he was impressed with what he had seen so far, even though his child was staying in a hotel room.   

“For what it’s worth, today was a pleasant surprise,” Vance Tiller wrote on The Cottages of Boone Facebook page Sunday night. “Even though my son will be in a hotel for a short while, the experience today was better than expected.”

Others have been less forthcoming with praise – such as Shay Lyn Dow on Monday.

“While I appreciate Mr. Tiller’s positivity, I have to admit that I’m a little incredulous. My son is in a hotel for what is rumored to be upwards of 60 days and today he is hearing it may be 90. I’m sorry, as a professional project manager, I know for a fact that a delay in construction for this long is a result of incredibly poor planning and most likely greed too boot. To not hire sufficient construction staff to offset weather delays for a period upwards of a full semester is beyond comprehension,” Dow posted on Facebook. “We’re not even sure my son’s home has it’s foundation yet – Making 90 days seem still improbable.” 

Switching Hotels

On Wednesday, Lisa Daniels, a parent of a future tenant who is currently staying in a local hotel, forwarded an email she received from The Cottages of Boone. The email, which notes that The Cottages of Boone has “booked every available hotel room in Boone,” states that because of the NASCAR race in Bristol and other weekend events, her daughter will have to move out of the Fairfield Inn that she is currently staying in on Friday morning and then check into the Holiday Inn Express on the same day.

“We realize having to switch hotels is not ideal but this is the only option available under the circumstances.  We are making good construction progress and are working tirelessly to get you in your unit as quickly as possible,” the email states.

“It’s been a nightmare,” Daniels said.

Furman noted that he anticipates his office to conduct more inspections on Friday and possibly Saturday. He noted that those potential inspections have “yet to be confirmed” by Capstone Collegiate Communities, which is the developer of The Cottages of Boone.

Read the email below about switching hotels:

Dear [Tenant] and Guarantor ,

Due to the construction delays we have experienced to date, we have booked every available hotel room in Boone.   Unfortunately the hotel you are currently residing in is completely sold out starting on Friday, August 23rd due to a Nascar race in Bristol and other weekend events in Boone.  For this reason we will have to move you to a new hotel in Boone. 

We have reserved a room for you at the Holiday Inn Express which is located at 1943 Blowing Rock Road Boone, NC 28607.  You will keep the same roommate (if applicable) in your new hotel room. 

You will have to be completely checked out of the Fairfield by 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 23rd.  Check in at the Holiday Inn Express will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Friday August 23rd and the hotel will have your room assignment.  Please send an email toCottagesOfBooneDelay@capstonemail.com or come by the Cottages clubhouse with any questions.

We realize having to switch hotels is not ideal but this is the only option available under the circumstances.  We are making good construction progress and are working tirelessly to get you in your unit as quickly as possible.  Again, please note that you have to be completely checked out of your current hotel room by 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 23rd and moved into your new hotel that same day. 

Sincerely,

The Cottages of Boone