Edward Waters College begins dorm renovations amidst parents' concerns of poor living conditions

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Edward Waters College announced a temporary housing plan for students living in Tiger Landing residential housing as they begin renovation to the dorm. It comes while parents are reporting "poor living conditions" inside their students' dorms.

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"Things need more maintenance, like bathroom, air conditioning and stuff,"  Vincent Smith, a student said. "My parents feel uncomfortable because it's like a lot of maintenance that needs to be added into the room."

Another parent reached out to Action News Jax and reported "poor" living conditions inside their student's dorm. Action News Jax is working to find which dorm she is referring to in this case.

Action News Jax spoke to another student who noticed problems at Tiger Landing, which is the largest residential facility on campus.

"I feel like it's going to be a big change, a big difference when they're going to renovate," Smith said, "So I hope for the best."

Action News Jax obtained a statement from EWC President and CEO A. Zachary Faison Jr. to students. It detailed a $4.4 million comprehensive renovation plan for Tiger Landing:

Action News Jax obtained a statement from EWC President and CEO A. Zachary Faison Jr. to students. It detailed a $4.4 million comprehensive renovation plan for Tiger Landing:

"Plans for the renovation of Edward Waters College's largest residence facility, Tiger Landing, which houses male students have been moving steadily forward for some time. This planned renovation was publicly announced in 2017 as a part of a funding partnership with the City of Jacksonville which will also include the construction of a new on campus community field/stadium.

The renovation of Tiger Landing is slated to cost $4.4 million and construction is expected to begin later this Fall. The college has implemented a temporary housing plan for the academic year due to the impending renovation of Tiger Landing. In partnership with the City of Jacksonville we are hopeful towards seeing the Tiger Landing renovation project completed by or near the beginning of the next academic year in Fall 2020.

To date EWC has not received any specific complaints concerning the condition of its residence facilities. Any such complaints or reports of issues within campus residence facilities from students as always are welcomed to be directed to the College's live-in staff residence hall coordinators and/or the Office of Residence Life & Housing in the Division of Student Success and Engagement located on the first floor of the campus Student Union Building."

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Action News Jax obtained a statement from EWC President and CEO A. Zachary Faison Jr. to students. It detailed a $4.4 million comprehensive renovation plan for Tiger Landing:

It also states selected rooms in other facilities will go from double occupancy to triple occupancy, and others from triple occupancy to quadruple occupancy, to create space for students who will be temporarily reassigned.

Action News Jax reached out to a EWC spokesperson to find the timeline for this project and a list of repairs and renovations. According to the statement, construction will begin this Fall semester. Students will start to see change in the coming weeks.

Cox Media Group