Off-campus housing options - need help!

Colleges and Universities A-Z The University of Texas at Austin
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<p>My son's plans to stay at one of the ICC co-ops didn't work out. He's now in a private dorm which has been sold to a fraternity so will not be available next year. I want to start looking now for next year's housing.</p>

<p>I would prefer someplace with meals provided, rather than an apartment. Any suggestions? Is there a site that lists all the facilities within biking distance to campus? Any tips or recommendations about any in particular?</p>

<p>We're paying $650/month right now (no meals) for a private room, which is a lot higher than the ICC or College Houses co-ops but less than the campus housing or luxury private dorms. I don't want to go any higher than that. He sort of got turned off of the co-ops, so I want to see what other options there are.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

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<p>There are not any sites like that unfortunately. The closest thing is this guide for international students, but I don't think that it will alert you of any new possibilities: <a href="http://www.utexas.edu/international/isss/housing/lt_housing.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.utexas.edu/international/isss/housing/lt_housing.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>There is also a nice list of coops here that is linked from the international student guide: <a href="http://www.austincooperatives.coop/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.austincooperatives.coop/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>$650 is a lot for a private room in a private dorm with no meals provided. That is about right/perhaps a little high for a room in a shared apartment around campus.</p>

<p>As far as I am aware, on campus dorms, coops, or private dormitories are your only option for provided meals.</p>

<p>Do you know what exactly turned him off at the co-ops?
Which co-ops did you visit?</p>

<p>My experiences have been with Pearl and 21st street. I would not enjoy living there, but several of my friends do. Food is provided and the rent is cheap, but you also have to put in 4 hours of work each week. For most, work is scheduled and this can be a pain if you get something at an inconvenient time.</p>

<p>If your son is simply unsure of co-ops, he could always become a "friend of the co-op" at 21st street. This is a little known option where you do the same amount of labor as a resident would (4 hours/wk) and pay some nominal fee like 30-40/mo and can use their kitchen and eat the prepared food any time you like. It'd give him a taste of co-op life so that he could decide if it is right for him. This is renewable on a monthly basis. I will warn that 21st street can be a little weird at times. I don't know if that would put him off, but I have not heard of any other co-ops offering something similar... perhaps Pearl does. </p>

<p>Is there any reason in particular that you prefer a place which provides meals?</p>

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<p>Here is the thread in which I explained what happened at co-op. Start with post #29.</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=386058&highlight=lealdragon%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=386058&highlight=lealdragon&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>The reason I want him to have his meals provided is that right now he is living on microwaved food. I don't think that's healthy. And, it's a hassle. I'd rather he not have to spend time on food preparation and have to eat alone in his room. I'd rather he have the benefit of eating with a group, for the socializing. </p>

<p>We did consider doing the 'friends of co=op' thing at 21st. The woman at the office told him when they'd be having orientation, and he actually went, but when he showed up, no one was in the common rooms. So he just dropped it after that. Not sure if she just got the time wrong or what. </p>

<p>Can you explain what you mean by 'weird?' I know there is a lot of partying at 21st. I'm not too worried about that since he's straightedge, and the thriving social life is definitely appealing. Any additional info would be appreciated!</p>

<p>We haven't ruled out 21st St for next year. In fact I plan to call this week to see if he needs to get on a waiting list or anything. </p>

<p>We had to go with the private dorm because, 2 days b4 classes started, there simply weren't any rooms to be found anywhere near campus. It's a nice place, no complaints really, but a dorm with meals would have been our 1st choice. It was a huge disappointment that Royal didn't work out.</p>

<p>We visited all the ICC and CH co-ops, or at least all the ones that didn't have smoking in the common rooms and offered vegetarian meals. Oh, and co-ops are still in the running because he has a cat, so I doubt if he'll find any other dorm that would let him keep his cat. </p>

<p>House of Commons seemed really cool but not cool in the physical sense - no A/C in the common rooms! Seneca seemed nice but not very friendly to him since he's not an upperclassman. </p>

<p>We looked at some of the College Houses, too. Taos didn't seem very clean so that was a turnoff. Pearl seemed a lot nicer, but one of his friends at his dorm said her room at Pearl smelled like pee and they gave her a hassle when she moved out. Not sure whether it got resolved or not.</p>

<p>After his bad experience at Royal, I don't know if he'd be open to staying at an ICC house. We weren't real pleased with how the situation got handled. We felt that since the roommate was in violation of policy he should have been the one to go. But, they have their ways of doing things. I guess it wasn't really a good match. I think my son would do better at a larger co-op with less drama. He's already had plenty of experience working out issues. I know that's an important skill for young adults, so in many cases a good thing, but in his case less drama would be better, I think. He has other issues to be concerned about, like his schoolwork.</p>

<p>He really did like the suites at 21st, and the active social life in the backyard. That was his 1st choice, at first, before changing to Royal. So the more details you can tell me about 21st, the better. Thanks!</p>

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<p>I understand your desire for him to have meals provided.</p>

<p>I'll be frank with you. I meant there is a fair amount of smoke (in the cheech and chong sense) at 21st street. However, there are some genuinely weird things at 21st street like "beer *****" and the dildo plant among a ton of other things. Weird in a good sense. Anyway, while smoking is technically banned in a lot of the suites, for most this rule only applies to tobacco smoke. There is at least one completely smoke free suite though. I'm surprised that you didn't observe any of this when you visited...</p>

<p>I don't want to turn you off from 21st street. It's a great place, and I think that your son would enjoy living there. I know several people who are essentially straightedge and really enjoy living there. 21st street also has the best kitchen, the best food, and the best labor. I love the fact that you can be the editor of the co-op newspaper, brew beer, garden, manage the computer server, mend residents' clothes, or bake snacks at midnight as your labor. The people at 21st street are really cool too. Your sons experience at the previous co-op is totally unheard of at 21st street.
The people at 21st street tend to deal with problems very quickly without intervention from College Houses. Everyone is very considerate of each other. There are a ton of vegetarians at 21st street so your son should have no problems there. </p>

<p>21st street also throws some of the best parties around and the social scene is excellent. Whenever I am in Austin, I really enjoy hanging out there.</p>

<p>If you have any specific questions, please feel free to post back. </p>

<p>I hope I didn't turn you off of 21st street. </p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

<p>P.S.
I personally dislike Pearl St... but I'll save those thoughts for another time.</p>

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<p>Hey, thanks for the info! Yeah I knew there was a lot of weed there. I'm not too concerned about that, as that was the case at Royal as well. He does get a headache from tobacco smoke, so are they at least strict about not allowing cigarette smoking inside?</p>

<p>Whenever you have time and would like to tell me about Pearl, I'd be interested.</p>

<p>I'm going to send your comments to my son. Thanks again!</p>

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<p>I just found out that College Houses is building a new co-op to be opened fall 08.</p>

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<p>i've been to a party at the 21st street coop and i can vouch for noct's concerns</p>

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<p>We visited 21st St yesterday. It seemed like a really cool place. I especially like the vibrant social scene - lots of people hanging out and they seem to do alot of stuff together, including political activism. Yeah the partying is quite prevalent but my son has already encountered that anyway and said it's pretty much true anywhere else too, though perhaps a bit more concentrated at 21st St.</p>

<p>He isn't sure he wants to go thru the hassle of moving inbetween semesters, so at this point seems to be leaning towards staying where he's at for the spring and moving to either 21st St or the new College Houses co-op that will be ready next fall.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone for your comments!</p>