By
Rachael Myer
Arizona Daily Wildcat
UA officials will not check until Tuesday to see if residents have left, Kha said
Christopher City residents have until midnight tonight to move out of their apartments.
The residents of only 23 apartments were left yesterday, said Sharon Kha, University of Arizona spokeswoman.
She added that the UA will not actually check to see whether the residents have moved out until Tuesday.
There are 305 apartment units at Christopher City, 3401 N. Columbus Blvd., the university's family housing development.
Residents were told they had to move out on May 10, the first day of finals, because of the presence of toxic mold in some apartments and other infrastructure problems. Each family received $1,200 to $1,500 for moving expenses, Kha said.
The residents of almost 20 apartments will move out today, Kha said.
A few residents have special circumstances and the UA is trying to provide assistance, she said.
One student, Jake Elkins, said he will move into a nearby wash and live in a tent. He plans to move his belongings to storage today and sleep in his apartment tonight.
"I kind of would like them to carry me out," said Elkins, an urban planning graduate student.
Kha said the UA has sent Elkins written letters, asking how the administration can help him find a place to live.
Charla Carr, a former UA student, said her health, as well her 6-year-old daughter's health, has improved since she moved from Christopher City.
Kylee, Carr's daughter, developed asthma problems from the mold in their apartment last year, she said.
"It definitely took a toll on her," Carr said.
Carr dropped out of the UA this semester and moved home to Seattle to be closer to Kylee's doctors.
"There's never been a question in my mind that it needed to be closed down," Carr said.
Carr added that she hopes somebody makes sure the UA follows through with the promise of a new housing facility.
"Somebody has got to keep those (families') interests at the forefront," she said.
The new family housing facility will most likely be built on the existing property within three years, Kha said.
She added the mold and asbestos in the existing complex will not have any effect on future structures built on the site.
"With the closing of Christopher City because of mold, it also closes an era of history," Kha said.
