<p>We received a pretty bad number, and wanted fairfax. So now I’m wondering…</p>
<p>Out of Shirley/Webster/Shady Oak, which is the next best apartment to have and why?</p>
<p>And how many upperclassmen choose to retain their apartment at Fairfax or in general? If every single group ahead of us chooses fairfax, we should still have a shot, but that’s thinking as if no one or very few people will retain their rooms.</p>
<p>I lived my junior and senior years in Shady Oak and was pretty happy with it. Was a bit of a walk to get food from anywhere in Oakland, but I cooked most of my meals, so it wasn’t a big deal. It became more of a hassle halfway through my junior year after the Giant Eagle nearby on Centre closed down (there was still a nice one further towards Shadyside that was either a long walk or a bus ride away). Wasn’t as much of a problem my senior year once I had a car, though. Also, at that time, cops didn’t ticket for street sweeping on Clyde, so you didn’t have to worry about moving your car then. Shady Oak was also nice since you were still on CMU’s network (not local broadband) as well as cable TV (no clue if CMU TV is still carrying decent programming or not).</p>
<p>Webster wasn’t as good since it’s not all CMU students, so crime was a considerably bigger problem (same with Cathedral Mansions).</p>
<p>Everyone I know living in apartments loves Webster and hates Shady Oak/Shirley. I’m pretty sure Webster is the ideal to shoot for, if you can get a room.</p>
<p>In terms of block housing for Fairfax, you’ll probably be fine. I did block housing for Fairfax last year and we got a pretty bad number if I recall correctly, but still settled an awesome block. In fact I’m pretty sure most of Fairfax is block housing groups, from the looks of things.</p>
<p>Hey, I’m actually a room selection assistant for Housing and Dining. I urge you and your block to go check out the binder we have in the office right now that has all of the block options available in it. You can see how many spots are available in Fairfax and decide which spots to preference as well as see what room layouts and whatnot you would like best from the other buildings.</p>
<p>We actually went to go find the binder, but we thought it too late and went after housing office closed. We’ll try again tomorrow.</p>
<p>I think we’re in the high 30’s out of 49 or something. Hopefully we pull through nicely with Webster/Fairfax. I’ll be in a triple, but I know people wouldn’t be too thrilled for an efficiency apartment.</p>
<p>So, we got Webster. Fairfax only had efficiency doubles left.</p>
<p>The only thing I’m worried about is the distance. 15min walk when I come from Morewood Gardens now seems absurd. I plan on walking out and judging the distance myself, but in the meantime I’m still a little anxious.</p>
<p>You get used to it. Just don’t cut through the parking lot of WQED late at night alone. Every now and then kids from the nearby high school sit in the bushes with BB guns and snipe students walking by.</p>
<p>I have yet to find this shortcut everyone speaks of, simply because my friends and I checked out Webster at 1 in the morning (was coming from an event at Pitt, so why not?) and we didn’t feel like getting mugged.</p>
<p>Some guys who attended the event with us who live in Webster let us in and showed us their apartments and I’m very pleased. The hallways make me feel claustrophobic but that is the only negative thing I have to say about Webster. Can’t wait.</p>
<p>The shortcut goes from the back left corner (facing from Forbes) of the Morewood parking lot.</p>
<p>Just a note, if you’re living in the Oakland apartments be sure to drop your meal plan. It’s totally not worth it.</p>
<p>Oh…everyone I know calls it the “Rape trail”…I’ve only used it once to avoid getting to Bahngra in the Burgh late.</p>
<p>Haha, sounds about right. During my four years at CMU the worst police reports I saw from that area were students getting shot with BBs at night or randomly pelted by a bunch of snowballs. During the day it’s perfectly fine, and I actually have a picture I took of the bridge with some fall colored leaves around it hanging in my office at work.</p>
<p>I was an RA in fairfax last year, and that trail actually got significantly remodeled and improved. The foliage was pushed back, stepping stones inserted, and the lighting vastly improved. There are also cameras on the radio station, so honestly I always felt safe on that path.</p>
<p>The one that was a little sketch and I should have probably never taken (but always did, and at 2-3am) is the road up the hill to fairfax from the parking garage under the collaborative innovation center. If you are going / coming from the west side of campus, this is actually the fastest route.</p>