Moving day is rapidly approaching for Plateau seniors who will occupy the new White River senior housing complex in Buckley.

Construction crews are busily tying up loose ends so the city can grant some seniors’ wish to take early occupancy of their units. Anne Trullinger, president of the nonprofit White River Senior Housing, expressed the seniors’ desires during a recent session of the Buckley City Council.

Authorization was given by the city to allow an early move-in date, provided four things occur. Foremost was installation of a cyclone fence or some other stable barrier around the on-site water retention pond. Other priorities were tending to erosion control and soil stabilization; getting two water meters installed; and getting sidewalks and a driveway completed.

Trullinger said the majority of the 19 units have qualified tenants to fill them. A few other occupancies are in the works and a waiting list has been established.

Trullinger said occupancy must also be authorized by staff with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the federal agency backing the project. The initial occupant of the Buckley complex will be the manager, who should soon be cleared to move into unit No. 20 and begin coordinating efforts by early December.

“We are hoping to orchestrate the move-in days with the manager’s help so that everyone is not moving in simultaneously,” Trullinger said. “Of course it will come down to when people gave notice at their pre-existing dwellings and I would think that the tenants living with relatives for the time being would be poised to move in as soon as they are given the green light to do so.”

Reach John Leggett at jleggett@courierherald.com or 360-802-8207.