Cooperative living at UT Austin?

blackbearies
Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:35:15 +0000

Co-op living around here can be really great. I live in an ICC co-op in West Campus, and I have to say, the familial environment is great and it’s nice to live in such an eclectic ecosystem of people. The prices are great and the labor is both reasonable and potentially enjoyable, depending on your duties.

I know a few people that have lived at 21st street, and they say that although it’s enjoyable, it’s much more like apartment living due to the expensive facility and more divided suites (in comparison to living in one house). A lot of the other College House co-ops have similar apartmental environments.

There are some other independent housing options (Whitehall, Sunflower, Deusches), but I can’t personally voice an opinion about them; I’ve never met anyone who’s lived in one of them.

Bottom line, I’d recommend an ICC-operated coop. The houses are diverse and facilitate many different lifestyles and living environments. There are quieter houses and rowdier houses (pretty much directly proportional to how many people live in the house). It’s cheap, cozy, welcoming, fun, and presents the opportunity to live with people who could be extremely different than yourself. It’s great.