‘Pest infestation’ leads FAMU to relocate Palmetto Phase 3 apartment residents to local hotels

Florida A&M University’s Palmetto Phase 3 Apartments are located on Palmetto Street in Tallahassee, Florida.

Florida A&M University’s students at Palmetto Phase 3 Apartments have recently been dealing with more than just back-to-school jitters. “Pest infestation” is now a concern.

FAMU sent out a letter Friday morning about the Office of University Housing’s plans to relocate residents of the apartments while pests, including roaches, are being treated after complaints from residents.

A total of 338 students were assigned to the Palmetto Phase 3 Apartments this fall semester, with 297 of them checked in.

The students started moving out of their rooms Thursday and continue to move Friday. They are being relocated to the Holiday Inn, Tru By Hilton, Fairfield Inn, Casa Bella Inn & Suites and the Seven Hills Suites.

Florida A&M University sent out a release Friday morning about the Office of University Housing’s plans to relocate Palmetto Phase 3 Apartment residents due to a pest infestation.

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After treatment and cleaning of the Palmetto Phase 3 Apartments is complete, the residents can expect to move back to their rooms by Thursday, Sept. 1.

University Housing “deeply regrets the inconvenience,” according to the letter.

The pest infestation is the latest blow to FAMU’s housing department and fall semester move-in. The university continues to deal with an acute housing shortage that has frustrated parents and students who said they only found out at the zero hour that on-campus housing was not available.

Shorty after posting the letter to FAMU’s Twitter and Instagram pages, FAMU students and alumni reaction began to build with many saying the university “needs to do better.”

A reply from the university’s account on Instagram said “We know it’s a lot! But we are going to get through it as a #FAMUly!”

In the meantime, while residents are getting situated at the local hotels, University Housing will provide them with a meal plan, and The Venom shuttle service will provide transportation for the students from their hotels to campus every day.

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This isn’t the first time there’s been move-in drama at the Palmetto complex. In 2017, Florida A&M University officials were forced to move about 45 students to local hotels while work was done around the clock to make the units inhabitable after parents and students during move-in were met with mold and mildew, doors that wouldn’t lock, and plumbing issues.

Contact Tarah Jean at tjean@tallahassee.com or follow her on twitter @tarahjean_.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Pest infestation leads FAMU to relocate Palmetto Phase 3 residents