Construction delays prevent move-ins at new complex

The Riverfront Village housing and retail development, shown here in this rendering, is not yet safe to live in, according to city officials. Students who were supposed to move in Friday will be temporarily rehoused until construction on the complex is finished.

College students planning to start the new semester in the new Riverfront Village retail and residential development will have to wait longer than expected.

Although originally signed leases indicated a move-in date of today, some residents were informed within the past week that this would no longer be the case.

City officials have said no certificate of occupancy has been issued for the $42 million, 452-bed development thats still taking shape on a 7.6-acre site at the end of Greensboro Avenue on the banks of the Black Warrior River.

This means that the structures cannot be used by the public because they are not yet safe.

Buildings still under construction can apply for a temporary certificate of occupancy while work is still going on, said City Hall spokeswoman Deidre Stalnaker, (but) it has to be at a certain stage with all life safety codes being addressed and in place.

This includes an egress and ingress plan to keep tenants and construction workers separated, for example. As of now, that is not possible at Riverfront Village.

Until we reach that point and feel safe about the situation, no certificate of occupancy will be issued, Stalnaker said. Safety is our first and foremost priority.

John McConnell, director of the citys Department of Planning and Development Services, said City Hall has prepared a statement for parents or other concerned residents who call to ask about the future of Riverfront Village.

It is the mission of the chief building official and fire marshal to make sure we provide resilient and safe buildings in our community and to protect life, health and property through the adopted building and fire codes, the statement said. The Riverfront Village Development is currently not at a point during construction in which a certificate of occupancy (CO) can be issued.

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Construction delays prevent move-ins at new complex