Housing and Residential Experience will be closing the Mayfield Lodges as of March 14, according to notification sent to residents on Feb. 18 at 3:25 p.m. CST. The email cited issues with heating and hot water as the reason for the closure.
Across the 20 houses, there are approximately 150 students who currently reside in Mayfield Lodges, and all residents will be relocated to available spaces on campus. Students were given the option to move on Feb. 18 upon completion of the “Mayfield Reassignment Form” by 6 p.m. CST. Students who wish to move at a later date were asked to complete the form by 4 p.m. CST on Feb. 20.
“As you are aware, the Mayfield Lodges have experienced several heating and hot water issues this semester,” the email reads. “The safety and well-being of our residents is of the utmost concern, and we have made the difficult decision to close the Mayfield Lodges for the remainder of the academic year.”
In the reassignment form, students have been asked to rank their top two housing preferences, and HRE said they will try to accommodate requests for specific roommates and single rooms, “pending space availability.” Failure to complete the form will result in random assignment. Students who have lived in Mayfield Lodges this year have all been housed in single rooms thus far.
Sophomore Sylmond Domingo expressed frustration with the timeframe of the closure.
“I am honestly shocked. They have given us short notice to relocate, we basically have been evicted,” Domingo said.
In an email to The Hustler, HRE clarified that the Mayfield Lodges have been experiencing “intermittent issues with underground water lines” that have impacted heating and hot water facilities. They said the decision to close the Mayfield Lodges was made in the interest of avoiding future disruptions ahead of winter weather. The Nashville area is expected to experience inclement winter weather on the night of Feb. 18, with potential for up to two to four inches of snow.
Junior Stephanie Yu said she found the short notice of the closure unprofessional, particularly ahead of the inclement weather.
“It’s interesting they sent the email so late without a text notification or other explanations as it seems very abrupt and unplanned,” Yu said. “With sending [the email] the day before the snow, it seems like there have been serious issues where we would have to move out sooner rather than later as they could’ve waited another day for the snowstorm to pass.”
HRE also said “large-scale repairs” will be completed ahead of the 2025-26 school year, allowing these buildings to be utilized in the ongoing housing process. Residential Advisors located in the Mayfield Lodges will retain their positions and will be relocated to available spaces in Highland Quad.
Sophomore Albert Wang — an RA in a Mayfield Lodge — said he has been notified of issues with heating every Tuesday this semester which has led to weekly concerns about broken pipes.
“I definitely didn’t expect that they would close down the Mayfields,” Wang said in a message to The Hustler. “However, in retrospect, when you’re an RA and you regularly get texts about heating and hot water, and other RAs voice those complaints to me every week, it really does make sense why they would choose to close them.”
Wang said he believes the decision to close the Mayfield Lodges was made during a staff meeting on the same day of the announcement in anticipation of the winter storm. He also emphasized his gratitude for the relocation process in order to accommodate repairs to the buildings.
“At the end of the day, we just want to make sure our residents are safe and have access to good living conditions, so while the news definitely shocked me, I’d hope that it is for the best for our residents that the decision to gut the Mayfields was made,” Wang said.
In the email to students, HRE offered moving assistance and a “clear relocation timeline” for those who indicate interest in these services.
“We understand that this change may be disruptive, and we appreciate your patience, flexibility and understanding as we work through this process together,” the email reads. “Please know that your safety, well-being and comfort are our utmost priorities, and we are committed to supporting you every step of the way during this transition.”
Sophomore Enya Bullard cited issues with facilities while living in a Mayfield Lodge this year, including an instance of flooding due to pipes that burst. However, she expressed appreciation for the relocation process as she has already received notification that she will be moved to her preferred housing, a residential college single.
“I was really frustrated and shocked, although I knew our Mayfield had a lot of issues,” Bullard said in a message to The Hustler. “We frequently had fire alarms, pipes bursting, hot water not working or no water at all and the [air conditioning] being broken. I am glad that I get a better rooming choice with the new assignment!”
