Hub L.A. Figueroa, an apartment complex for USC students located near Fraternity Row, was supposed to be ready for move-in on Aug. 14. However, it has yet again postponed its move-in date.
At the beginning of August, Hub sent out an email letting future tenants know that the apartment complex would not be ready for another three to four weeks. Since then, the Hub has postponed the move-in date three more times, while giving their tenants stipends of either $100 a day with alternative housing, $200 a day with tenants finding their own alternative housing or the option of not paying rent till move-in day.
Hub also allowed students to break their lease within a limited timeframe.
“At first, I really trusted them. I wholeheartedly believed it would only be a delay of one-to-six weeks,” Sophia Manley, a sophomore studying communications, said. “But now, my views on the Hub have definitely changed. But at first, I was so trusting. And I was kind of optimistic that in one-to-six weeks I would have a home.”
After placing the future tenants in alternative housing at the J.W. Marriott and the Moxy, Hub gave students a three-day notice to move into The Lorenzo, another student apartment complex – as they said that the hotels could not accommodate the students anymore.
Hub then updated future tenants that the apartment complex would be ready for move in Nov. 4. But they then sent out an email that a contractor died in a “tragic accident” at Hub, pushing back the move-in date for a third time to Nov. 11.
On Nov. 6, Hub sent out another email.
“Everything in our control is on track to move in this weekend,” the email said. “However, if the city does not prepare paperwork in time, there is a potential that we will not be able to make the November 11th move-in date. In which case, we will shift move-in to next Thursday, November 16.”
In the email, Hub also wrote that progress continues to be made, and they expect to receive approvals by Nov. 8. Hub then advised future tenants to postpone the travel of friends or family who are helping students with their move to Nov. 16, promising reimbursement of any non-refundable travel expenses.
Sophia Joseph, a sophomore studying Psychology, said she “predicted” that the Hub would not be ready on time.
“I tried getting out of the lease around March, April, but at the time, it was just impossible to get off the lease. And then they sent so many emails promising it would be ready that I sort of just like, I don’t know, felt trapped,” Joseph said.
“I know of some other complexes that haven’t been built, and the students can’t even get like half of that compensation. So for that, I was really grateful to be given alternative housing with the hotel and $100 with it.”
Joseph said she had to share the hotel room with her roommate.
“I love my roommate, but we were sharing a tiny space where I didn’t even have a closet,” she said. “I was living out of a suitcase.”
Joseph also touched on the fact that she felt “super uncomfortable” at times at the hotel.
“It was a nice hotel, but I was also really anxious about the other people living in the hotel. There would be times where I’d be alone in an elevator with like seven grown men.”
Arya Hanumara, a sophomore studying acting and public relations, took a different approach when it came to housing. Hanumara and his friends pooled the $200 a day that they received from Hub to split an Airbnb.
“I think it’s actually pretty great because [the Airbnb] is a home,” he said.
“Whenever I call the Hub, I always try to have an open mind and be as kind as possible, because it really isn’t all their fault,” said Hanumara. “I feel like it’s come to the point where it’s just about the city and permits because [the work] is pretty much done.”
Manley also chose the option to receive $200 a day to find her own alternative housing, and purchased a stay at the USC hotel.
When asked how she felt about Hub postponing the date for the fourth time, Manley said, “I’m in disbelief, but at the same time, we have heard so many dates that I’m not surprised at all.”
“It’s crazy to think back – it was supposed to be built back in June. And now here we are nearing Thanksgiving break. So I would not be surprised if we still don’t have a home by the beginning of [next] year,” she added.