Students, Landlords Navigate Chaos Of Moving Day
Thousands Of Students Move Downtown
Posted: 10:22 pm CDT August 14, 2007Updated: 2:58 pm CDT August 15, 2007
MADISON, Wis. -- Students and landlords were busy Tuesday as they dealt with the chaos of moving day in downtown Madison.
SLIDESHOW: Images Of Madison Students Moving In The RainMost downtown leases ended at noon on Tuesday, leaving thousands without a home until noon on Wednesday, when the new leases begin.Some students on Tuesday were playing a waiting game for moving trucks."It's more of a praying game. We really can't have rain with mattresses and stuff out and electronics and stuff," said Jon Oelke, a University of Wisconsin-Madison student.Oelke, like many other students, said he isn't sure how he'll get his stuff two blocks to his new apartment."I think it's ridiculous. There has to be a better way to do it," Oelke said.He said the U-Haul truck he reserved wasn't ready Tuesday and that he has no place to sleep Tuesday night."We were up all night. I've been up since 8:45 a.m. yesterday," Oelke said.Trash collectors also had a busy day Tuesday. One city worker said that they picked up about 50 percent more than usual.And now that students are out, landlords were scrambling Tuesday night to clean the open units before the new tenants move in.Property owners and managers have about 24 hours to get thousands of apartments cleaned, painted and in move-in condition.Rouse Management has more than 80 apartments to get ready and a staff of more than 100 people to get the job done."We dread it at first, and then it's like, 'Bring it on -- we're ready.' The week before we get all the supplies. We get everything organized. We've been calling cleaners the last couple of weeks. We've got the painters organized, carpet cleaners, carpet installers, everything so everybody's on the same page," said Joanna Rouse, owner of Rouse Management.Leonard Ayres, owner of Ayres Painting, has working downtown move-out day for 20 years."There's an energy down here that you don't get elsewhere and they seem to enjoy it," Ayres said.Some companies started around 7 a.m. Tuesday and some will wrap up around 9 p.m., although others said that they will work all night to make sure the apartments are ready.
SLIDESHOW: Images Of Madison Students Moving In The RainMost downtown leases ended at noon on Tuesday, leaving thousands without a home until noon on Wednesday, when the new leases begin.Some students on Tuesday were playing a waiting game for moving trucks."It's more of a praying game. We really can't have rain with mattresses and stuff out and electronics and stuff," said Jon Oelke, a University of Wisconsin-Madison student.Oelke, like many other students, said he isn't sure how he'll get his stuff two blocks to his new apartment."I think it's ridiculous. There has to be a better way to do it," Oelke said.He said the U-Haul truck he reserved wasn't ready Tuesday and that he has no place to sleep Tuesday night."We were up all night. I've been up since 8:45 a.m. yesterday," Oelke said.Trash collectors also had a busy day Tuesday. One city worker said that they picked up about 50 percent more than usual.And now that students are out, landlords were scrambling Tuesday night to clean the open units before the new tenants move in.Property owners and managers have about 24 hours to get thousands of apartments cleaned, painted and in move-in condition.Rouse Management has more than 80 apartments to get ready and a staff of more than 100 people to get the job done."We dread it at first, and then it's like, 'Bring it on -- we're ready.' The week before we get all the supplies. We get everything organized. We've been calling cleaners the last couple of weeks. We've got the painters organized, carpet cleaners, carpet installers, everything so everybody's on the same page," said Joanna Rouse, owner of Rouse Management.Leonard Ayres, owner of Ayres Painting, has working downtown move-out day for 20 years."There's an energy down here that you don't get elsewhere and they seem to enjoy it," Ayres said.Some companies started around 7 a.m. Tuesday and some will wrap up around 9 p.m., although others said that they will work all night to make sure the apartments are ready. Copyright 2007 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
