<p>Alright, so I posted this same question in the transfer thread and there is already another housing thread, but I feel like that one is more about on-campus housing and current UVA students probably aren't checking a transfer thread in droves.</p>
<p>I'm starting to look for a place off-campus, but I'm rather in the dark about where to live. What are the areas predominantly populated by students? What areas are within walking distance of both nightlife/bars and the campus? I have a car, but I don't want to use it. </p>
<p>Any insight from current students/Charlottesville residents would be greatly appreciated. I'm planning on coming down Saturday to check places out, but I'd like to have a little background information. Thanks!</p>
<p>most people either live near the corner, on 14th street, or on JPA (a street that the trolley goes straight down). i know there are a few bars near the corner (it is pretty much all restaurants), but i dont know how popular they are versus the downtown mall (which is not within walking distance of the campus but is accessible by trolley which is how pretty much everyone gets there as parking sucks). not using your car to get around here is a good idea because traffic here is awful.</p>
<p>most popular places to live off grounds would be rugby road and it's off streets, 14th street and it's off streets, and JPA and its off streets. JPA is generally furthest away from the corner and the fraternities, and therefore is generally the rent is much less expensive. The vast majority of students do not go to the downtown mall on a regular basis for a night life. its too far away. the corner has about 9 bars that i can think of off the top of my head, which is where most, if not all bar hopping is done.</p>
<p>14th Street/Rugby Road/Corner area seems to be the best for social stuff, esp for bars, restaurants, and frats. Other roads in that area that you might see a lot are Grady, Gordon, 15th street, VA Ave, Madison Ave, and U Circle. JPA has some nice places, but be careful not to look at stuff on JPA "extended" or really anything starting in the 2000 block. Busses will get you to grounds just fine but it's a hike to pretty much anything but the stadium. Eagles Landing, College Park University Place, and The Woodlands are all ridiculously far down the JPA area. Also stay away from stuff in "North Grounds" because that's not really convenient to undergrad social life either. Hope this helps!</p>
<p>haha i totally forgot about rugby. i just always associate it with frats only, but i do have a good friend who lives down that way.</p>
<p>Areas around the Corner is good (14th street, Rugby). ALso, areas along Stadium Rd by Scott Stadium is convenient for E school.</p>
<p>Virginia schools all seem to have their own off campus housing culture. For example @ JMU you need to start looking for an apartment within a month of arriving for Freshman year. When does the average of campus housing seeker start looking for an apartment at UVA?</p>
<p>while there certainly are people who have housing by october/november their 1st year for their 2nd year, you definately can hold off until 2nd semester to start looking for a place. While you may not get that perfect 14th street apartment, you at least give yourself better chance of living with people you know you'll like. everybody is nice the first month or 2 of school. true colors come out later.</p>
<p>What does that "perfect 14th street apartment" cost per month for say a 2-3 bedroom?
Major coin?</p>
<p>depending on how close and nice, a 3 bedroom can be like 2000-2400 a month...and then utilities ontop of that.</p>
<p>the yellow house on chancellor street is a fortune from what i understand.</p>
<p>I have/will have lived in three different areas off grounds at UVA.</p>
<p>1) Brandon Ave - we lived in the dingy apartments at the end of the road next to Bice. 2BR for 3 people, so I had a roommate, but the rent was around $300 per person - cheap. Apartments were kind of crappy, but verrrry close to grounds and well situated to the Corner (10 min walk).</p>
<p>2) JPA - one of the semi-new apartments around halfway down JPA. Further to grounds (10 mins), the Corner (15 mins), and Rugby, etc (20+ mins). The places on JPA are generally really nice (at least the newer ones), but also pricey..our apartment was a relative bargain for $1600 a month with 4BR, 1.5 bath, dishwasher and washer/drier in apartment. Also a 5 min walk to Scott Stadium which is nice in the fall.</p>
<p>3) We decided to move over to the 14th street area next year, right near Venable school, in a house. The rent is going up to about $500 per person (six people), and it's not even in that great a spot - the closer you go to the Corner the prices skyrocket. There are some nice new developments over there on 15th and also on Wertland that are sure to be outrageously expensive, too.</p>
<p>If you are a first year and you want to get someplace in a cool area of town, i.e. Rugby/14th/Gordon area, you need to have things figured out by October, max. However, if you don't have your heart set on a house or super nice apartment with a great location, there is stuff floating around into second semester (we didn't sign our Brandon lease until wintertime). Be advised, the C'ville student housing market is dominated by a few big companies and they basically have their way with students, which is why the housing crunch starts so unreasonably early.</p>
<p>My ds apartment on 14th street is $525 per person a month. Utilities not included.</p>