Off-campus Living

<p>Calling on Awesome and anyone else who can give me some info. Ds is looking at moving off campus for next yr with 2 others. He's looking on craigs list and due to one roommate wanting to have his dog, and all wanting to keep costs down, their hunt has led to areas beyond Squirrel Hill. The agency is calling it Squirrel Hill but on a map, it is pretty close to Wilkensburg. Given I am far away and can't really help, I would appreciate any advice you can give about off-campus living - which neighborhoods are safer, which commutes by bus are more manageable. I know Pitt has a website for off campus living and I've looked at that. Right now, I'm not sure they are seeing everything that will be available because it is so early. When typically do people have to respond to landlords about whether they are renewing their lease for the following year?</p>

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<p>I would say about now. Generally February is the month where people renew, and as such, is also the biggest month for people to begin looking for apartments or housing for the coming summer/fall.</p>

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<p>Depending on location in Wilkensburg, it’s actually still an easy commute. If you are an easy walk to Forbes Avenue (assuming it’s before Braddock) you can pick up a 61A or 61B, which come relatively frequently (every 10 minutes) during peak hours, and about every 20 minutes on off-peak hours. Those are the two buses I generally use to get to my place in Squirrel Hill, although I live close enough to also use the 61C and 61D if I wanted to (just an extra bit of walking involved). </p>

<p>In terms of ease of commute: North Oakland and South Oakland are the easiest because they are walking distance to Pitt. Technically, some places on the edge of Shadyside also provide this. Deeper Shadyside can be navigated by using either the 71B or 71D if you live close to Fifth avenue, the 71C or 71A if you live close to center, or the 75 if you live close to Ellsworth Ave (however, the 75 only comes around about every 30 minutes). I would say the easiest place to live in Shadyside is somewhere near Fifth Avenue before Highland Ave so that both the 71B and 71D can be used.</p>

<p>Also check out the actual distance from the apartment to campus (obviously Wilkensburg is a bit too far). I have actually walked from my apartment to campus- it’s about 2.5 miles or 30-40 minutes depending on the direction I’m walking in, and on a nice day I don’t mind doing it. If your son or his friends have a bike, that time is drastically reduced (and the commute becomes easier!).</p>

<p>In terms of costs, though, there is always a limit to how much you can pay. I have friends renting a small townhouse in Squirrel Hill next to Forbes Ave (at Shady) and I believe for the 3BR they pay ~$500 a person (and I know it is pet friendly as the one roommate has a dog). If they are looking for something cheaper than that, though, it will definitely be hard to find, regardless of location. For a decent place close to campus (with roommates) I would say ~$500 is the lowest you’ll get for rent.</p>

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<p>Leases do run for a year, so you get stuck with some summer months. My daughter’s leases have run from August to August. I would have liked June to June better. Just something to look at. If you have not already bought it, the insurance for college kids is cheap. It also covers electronics and has a low deductible. CSI is one company? Our household insurance covered my daughter’s belongings when her apartment was robbed ( North Oakland), but the student insurance covered her phone when she soaked it.</p>

<p>Sophomore-to-be son and 2 friends didn’t make the cut on apt/suite list. They’re looking to go off-campus as they don’t want to go back to a double or single. His mom and I would prefer that he stay on campus for at least another year (one reason we liked Pitt was because of the 3 year guarantee.) We’re also not comfortable co-signing a lease to have him live in some run-down slumlord house. Any advice?</p>

<p>parkwood - my ds was in the same boat last yr but they got a call over spring break that someone dropped out and they could have a 4 person suite in PA. It’s a nice suite too so they lucked out.</p>

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<p>Like amandakayak said, they could wait to see if an entire suite opens up. If not, I am sure there will be beds open in suites that were not completely filled. I honestly didn’t know many sophomores who lived off campus, and I recommend staying the second year, as class schedules tend to make it easier to get around if you live on campus.</p>

<p>I think moving off campus is isolating. That built in group in the dorm has some advantages, parkwood.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone for the great advice. Does anyone know if the doubles in Panther and PA halls have private baths?</p>

<p>@parkwood, There are no communal bathrooms in PA or Panther, each double has it’s own</p>

<p>Thanks PittPanther34. Do you know if the doubles in PA and Panther are larger than the doubles in Towers?</p>

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<p>Pretty sure almost everything (except maybe rooms in Holland) are bigger than the doubles in Towers. Those rooms are tiny!</p>

<p>Where is the best place to advertise a summer sublet? Craigslist? DS has got a great place 3 blocks from campus and was awarded a research internship in Germany this summer.</p>

<p>Yes, the doubles in PA and Panther are larger than Towers. However, smaller than Sutherland rooms, if you have seen those. The private bathrooms are very roomy as well (in PA and Panther).</p>

<p>Thank you! My understanding is that Sutherland is freshman only. Is that correct?</p>

<p>Yes, Sutherland is freshmen only. Everything is bigger in PA and Panther…especially the bathrooms. My bathroom in my 5 person suite was basically the size of a bedroom…and we had two of them! Much nicer than the communal ones in Towers!</p>

<p>Rumor Mill has it that the Nordy Dorm is going to be the new UHC dorm. I just checked on the UHC website and seeing as they haven’t put up the housing application for next year yet-- does anyone know if this is true?</p>

<p>Edit: It looks like the way to apply for UHC housing as a freshman this year is different. Instead of just having the application on the website, it’s part of the housing process where you tell PC you’re interested and then the UHC contacts you with the application directly. In that case-- has anyone gotten the application? If so, is the UHC dorm still Sutherland or has it been shifted to Nordy?</p>

<p>Awesome I’m pretty sure this is how it was done last year also. Son had to do the regular housing process through PC and then he received the application information and answered the essay about what would he bring to and receive from the community in order to be in honors housing in Sutherland West.</p>