<p>Can anyone tell me about the Residence on 5th? What are the advantages and disadvantages--I know people say it's far, but how inconvenient is it? Moreover, how big/small are the dorms? Are there any facilities in the building? [The website for the dorm doesn't have too much information.]
Thanks so much!</p>
<p>The dorm is a renovated hospice for the elderly, so a bunch of people have died there. I mean. No big deal.</p>
<p>– In all seriousness, it’s a really nice, clean, new dorm with good-sized rooms from what I’ve seen. It’s about 10 minutes walking distance from campus, but close to Craig street, which has great food and local shopping. It’s also close to several major bus routes (61 lines, 500, 75, etc).</p>
<p>The dorms are (in my opinion) absolutely the nicest dorms I have ever seen, at least on the CMU campus. The biggest downside is the location. It’s not too far, but it would definitely be an inconvenience. However, the dorms are very large and spacious, and the setup is so nice. They are all triples (I believe - at least all of the ones I have been in are), with sooo much space, and a nice common area. The community in the Rez at least this is year seems wonderful (they all seem so close knit). I know I said it a bunch already, but the facilities are beautiful. The only compromise is location. If you really think you want to go back and forth between your room and campus a lot, it might be a big nuisance, but if you want nice dorms, it’s the right place, for sure.</p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that because we’re such a small campus, people’s definitions of “far” tend to get skewed. As California pointed out above, it’s an inconvenience, but if you cut through the steps by WRCT (the radio station down the block) it’s no more than ten minutes of walking to get to Forbes/Morewood (the main crossroads of “freshman” campus) at any given time.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the input! I’m going to have to decide whether the distance is something I am willing to deal with during the winters, but the residence does seem lovely. :]</p>
<p>i noticed that nobody mentioned THAT SHUTTLES RUN REGULARLY AND STOP AT CAMPUS AND RESIDENCE ON 5TH.</p>
<p>Which shuttles stop at the Rez? I ride the PTC and Escort every day but have never stopped there.</p>
<p>I thought all the youngsters know how to use the old Mapquest.
Do they know about Google Maps?
Do they still teach you how to use the map’s scale bar?</p>
<p>You do far more walking at the typical Mall than what you would from Dorm to Class.</p>
<p>I think it’s a beautiful dorm and technically the distance is no worse than the Hill to the ECE building. But I don’t know, seems a tad bit weird to be a female walking alone back to the Rez on a cold winter night at 1 am from Club Hunt? </p>
<p>Could any female residents of the Rez offer thoughts on late night walks back to the Rez-- ??</p>
<p>I recently visited and my friend showed me her room at residence on fifth. The building is really nice. There is a lounge, study room, kitchen area, and some exercise equipment downstairs. There is an elevator and the rooms are pretty nice. However it has less of the social aspect that standard dorms have. People don’t keep their doors open. I also agree with what others have said, it’s really not that far of a walk. Oh and also keep in mind that it is a bit more expensive. Overall though, my friend really likes it there. If you’re not big on socializing and like to get work done in your room it seems like a good match.</p>
<p>I found out today that it’s designated a Quiet Living Building–does anybody know how this affects residence hall life? Thank you! :)</p>
<p>I second mom2012and14’s question about the late night walks. Also, rooms in the rez have kitchenettes–is there really enough time to ever use these?</p>
<p>I know if you are in fairfax or catman you are exempt from the mandatory freshman meal plan-- a huge $$ saver.</p>
<p>Not sure if that applies to the Rez. Call housing and ask. The Rez costs more - so that can offset things.</p>
<p>Time-- what’s that-- welcome to CMU. I think my D may have made a box of brownies a few times in her life-- never cooks. Her roomies have cooked regularly-- not sure how?! </p>
<p>If you like cooking- it’s like anything else, you can squeeze it in same as extracurriculars, exercise, etc. Probably weekend brunch at least!</p>
<p>Mac/cheese, ramen, boiled eggs???
Baked chicken, stir fry, multi-course meal-- no way!</p>
<p>Cooking can actually save a lot of time in the long run if you don’t mind eating leftovers. When I moved into Shady Oak my junior year and was finally able to get off the meal plan I found a quick trip to Giant Eagle for a week’s groceries took maybe an hour or two (go with some friends or roommates to make it fun), and then I could usually cook something for dinner in about an hour. It takes an hour just to get your stuff together, find some friends to grab a bite with, and then get something to eat (unless you like eating Subway every day, but then you’re always going to smell like Subway and nobody wants that). If you make your own food, there’ll be enough for at least another meal or four as well.</p>
<p>I cook almost every night, and I’m fairly busy. The trick to this is to not plan full-course meals, but to make things like pasta and veggies with some store-bought marinara - tasty and healthy but quick to make. :)</p>
<p>I don’t live in the Rez, but many of my friends are in Fairfax and I’m living there next year - about half a block away from the Rez. The walk at night is safe and I’ve never felt endangered or had anyone threaten me. The most that’s ever happened is some drunk bros were shouting out their car window at me during Carnival while driving at my walking pace, but… really, it’s Carnival weekend. That’s to be expected.</p>
<p>What is the effect of it being designated as a Quiet Living Building?</p>
<p>at night, male or female, single or in a group, the walk Forbes - Craig - 5th, Morewood - 5th, or Morewood Parking Lot - 5th should be perfectly safe. There are usually 2-3 cop cars that drive by on a single trip at night. The one path I would discourage too late at night is the Collaborative innovation center parking garage - neville - 5th. Even though it is the shortest, it is not well lit at all. I wouldn’t say you’ll get mugged, but there’s no sidewalk for a stretch so there is probably a non-zero chance you’ll get run over by somebody flying around the turn.</p>
<p>Nobody uses the shuttles/escort. They’re inconvenient, often rude, and generally suck for such a short distance that they don’t usually service (I’ve tried to hop on one before and kept getting told that the next route was REALLY the one i wanted to get on).</p>
<p>The walk in the snow will add 5-10 minutes, and kind of sucks.</p>
<p>Fairfax is also quiet living, as we share the building with non-cmu housing residents (ranging from old people to cmu students who got the rooms directly through fairfax). Basically the way it goes here is you can be as loud as your neighbors are fine with. Music in the room is generally never a problem… party music blasting is technically prohibited, but only if your neighbors complain to your RA or management. The hour of day is an important factor. Since it’s a first year dorm, the rules might be more strictly enforced than at fairfax because RAs will be on duty during the weekends.</p>