<p>The lofts look very nice jswdlw! Please report back as to how your son enjoys living there! I will post the website here for others to check out:</p>
<p>[Student</a> Housing - The Loftsby Allen & O’Hara](<a href=“http://www.myownapartment.com/lofts/community/]Student”>http://www.myownapartment.com/lofts/community/)</p>
<p>I’ll keep you updated. I’m pleased with the choice with the options he had available.</p>
<p>I hope I can provide some insight as I know many students living in just about every off-campus (and on-campus for that matter) housing. These are just the ones I’ve visited and the floorplans may vary.</p>
<p>We’ll start with Northgate Lakes and Tivoli. Both are on McCulloch Road literally across the street from campus (north end). The units I have visited at Tivoli have been 4/4 units with a kitchen and laundry room. There is also a sliding glass exit on the first floor, balcony on all other floors. Northgate is pretty and the only issue that I’m aware of is lack of guest parking (they had a dirt lot in the back of the complex as overflow). </p>
<p>Pegasus Landing (Alafaya Trail just north of campus) just got a few gates installed and now has a security guard at the front gate. It is one of the affiliated housing communities and it is immense (over 30 buildings in two phases). </p>
<p>Pegasus Pointe (Alafaya Trail south of campus) is the other affiliated housing community. They just got a new classy-looking sign installed at the front but that’s about it. It is also large (about 30 buildings) but crime there seems to be a bit higher than other communities based on lack of a security gate. </p>
<p>The Gatherings (University Blvd. west of campus) is nice and it is gated. It requires an access card for entry and guests can use a call box. It is a 4/4 townhome style with a master downstairs and three rooms upstairs. Each has its own bathroom and the master has a common bathroom. There is also a laundry room upstairs. </p>
<p>Campus Crossings at Alafaya (formerly University House at Alafaya) is another townhome style apartment complex. Master downstairs and three rooms upstairs. Master has a shared bathroom and there are two bathrooms upstairs (shared with three rooms) as well as a laundry room upstairs.</p>
<p>Campus Crossings at College Station (formerly University House at College Station) is a 4/4 apartment with a laundry room in the unit.</p>
<p>The Lofts and Jefferson Village. I put these together because they’re literally next to each other. They are behind the Publix Plaza off of Colonial (SR 50) and Alafaya Trail (434). The Lofts are nice and they just got repainted to look nice and contemporary (although they’re fairly new apartments). I’ve never been stopped at the entrance to The Lofts when entering, although I have seen a guard sitting in a golf cart several times. I would say Jefferson Village is one of the safest communities. Every single time I’ve visited, I’ve had to stop at the guard and tell them exactly who I’m there to see and what unit number they live in. If I’m not already on their list (guest names must be provided by the resident prior to their arrival), the guard will literally call the resident and ask to make sure we can enter. In addition, they write down your full name and take your car’s make, model, and tag number. The unit I visit there is a 4/4 with nice kitchens and appliances (Jefferson Village is also fairly new).</p>
<p>Victoria Place (across Waterford Lakes Town Centre on north end) is not a student apartment complex, although the parking lot there is riddled with luxury cars that have UCF permits and tags. It is definitely upscale and the apartment I visit there is a 2/2 with a sun room (with a sliding wood door that can serve as a guest room), a full kitchen, a laundry room, and a bar complete with its own sink. This is definitely for the more affluent student. Security there is top notch with an officer (usually an Orange County Sheriff) at the front gate although the gate is access key or call box only. In addition, guards roam the complex at all hours of the day looking for suspicious activity.</p>
<p>There is only one off-campus community I have a problem with and that is Collegiate Village Inn (CVI for short). I do not recommend the place AT ALL. They try to lure you with pictures and model shots but every single person I’ve met that has lived there has had complaints. The first time I went there, I was thrown off by trash bags in almost every corner of the hallways which attracted cockroaches and other bugs. The second time, I was there pretty late and the fire alarm went off. It turns out there was no fire but it literally took about half an hour to shut it off. The rooms look like old hotel rooms and they have a unique smell to them. The pictures on their website of the rooms are just that, model rooms. The mirror in the restroom had spots and there were cracks in the tile. There are private rooms and shared rooms. Keep in mind that CVI is not exclusive to UCF students. Students from SCC, VCC, Full Sail, ESL/CMMS, UTI/MMI, and FIAA can also live there. That means that a student from UCF could potentially be matched up with a student from one of the mechanic schools in Orlando. For students looking for the real college experience, this will be a huge turnoff. In addition, they have continuously increased their prices. They wanted my friend to pay over $800 a month for his single room. This is a building that was built in the early 90s and, in no way, is in tip top shape. They sent him a letter while he was still back home his senior year of high school saying that on-campus housing was full at UCF and that they were his only choice. Of course, that turned out to be inaccurate. I really don’t trust this place.</p>
<p>If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I also have plenty of friends living in houses off-campus.</p>
<p>Well, that is a VERY informative bit of info! Thanks GradBoy!</p>
<p>Yes, thank you. D is already talking with friends about getting a 3/3 or 4/4 off-campus next year.</p>
<p>I’m staying at Jefferson Village this upcoming fall and I was instantly impressed with not only the top notch security but the very very nice facilities. It was built in 2007 so it’s new.</p>
<p>Yes, Victoria Place is very nice and safe(my friends daughter lives there) but as it is not a “student” complex it is unfurnished with no included apartment amenities. My friend bought her daughter a complete bedroom set/dining set/and livingroom set from Rooms to Go, and pays additional monthly water/utilites/cable/internet fees (as none are included in the rent). The largest apt. there is a 3 bed/2 bath and most are 1/1 or 2/2’s.</p>
<p>Any rough comparative costs for living off campus vs. dorm? I understand the concept about having more room and nicer accommodations, but is it way more pricey or vice versa?</p>
<p>Depends on the dorms and depends on the apartment. We allowed S to live in The Towers honors section, even though we live close enough he could commute. The Towers is the most expensive dorm because of the 11 1/2 mo. contract. Anyway, he’ll be living off-campus this year at Northgate Lakes, and we’ve figured out that we’ll be paying ~$2000 less/ year, even with paying a 12 mo. contract than what we were paying. We like!</p>
<p>zebes</p>
<p>In general, off campus is a little cheaper than on campus (if you’re staying at a student complex that is). Comparative to number in apartment etc I would say it is cheaper off campus. Someone told me something that I believe is true: you’re paying for the luxury of staying on campus.</p>
<p>The Towers is the most likely option on campus for anyone other than freshman, right? I have been encouraging D to live there next year, rather than moving off campus. However, I do understand the interest of living elsewhere…but a $2000 difference…looks like I will be looking into it more as this year goes on!</p>
<p>A 4/4 in Towers cost’s about $9000 for the year (11.5 months) total. A 4/4 in Northgate Lakes costs $7188 for 11.5 months ( plus $250 move in fee and 49$ application fee, plus any utility overages that exceed the $130/mo. cap).</p>
<p>The Lofts 4/2 is 499/month current special so that is about $6k/year. The Gatherings 4/4 is 499/month with a cap of $185 on utilities. Both complexes waived all move in fees.</p>
<p>Jefferson Village is $500/month (all are 4/4) with $130 cap on utilities and $1 move in fee. So if I’d stayed all year round on campus it would be more expensive.</p>
<p>Jefferson Village looks gorgeous from the online website: </p>
<p>[Welcome</a> to Jefferson Village](<a href=“http://www.jeffersonvillageucf.com/]Welcome”>http://www.jeffersonvillageucf.com/)</p>
<p>Let us all know this fall what you think about it after you have lived there awhile.</p>
<p>Will most certainly do.</p>
<p>Does any girl going to UCF in Fall '09 need an apartment??? Room at the Village at Alafaya Club (3 minutes from UCF, shuttle to campus, etc) available for rent!!! Contact me ASAP!!!</p>
<p>Northgate lakes apartment early move-in for S today. So far so good. Pleasantly surprised on cleanliness of apartment. Not perfect, by any means, but pretty darn good. Everything in working order, except dryer door a bit bent so sometimes pops open. Put in a maintenance request on that … but that’s about it. Carpet clean, smells clean … yeah! New couches. Overall, looks goods. Also got apartment they wanted, 3rd floor … helps w/ the whole noise thing and balcony faces trees and lake. Really pretty. </p>
<p>zebes</p>
<p>Sounds good Zebes, keep us posted. Northgate is on my daughter’s short list for next year. Also on her list are Riverwind, The Lofts, and Jefferson Village so if anyone knows anything good/bad about them I would love to hear. Thanks</p>
<p>My S started moving in today to The Lofts. I was very surprised at the apartment. Everything was clean and in excellent condition. A few minor maintenance items are needed but overall very satisified.</p>
<p>The floor plan my S is in, is the 4/2 loft and the rooms are 9 x 8. I was a bit worried about the configuration of the room and the shared bathroom. However with moving the dresser into the closest and taking the doors off the closest was a good configuration. Stereo and small tv will go in the closest. The tv is just for the game systems. ;)</p>
<p>In addition we moved the bed where the foot of it faces the closest. He is upstairs and the 4th roommate is not moving in anymore. We will be bringing his small frig to his room as to ensure small items are not used by his roommates.</p>
<p>The bed is a shorter version of a loft and provides excellent storage underneath.</p>