<p>Hi. My daughter is looking for off-Grounds housing for next year and mentioned the Grove, among others. Has anyone here ever heard of it? Any opinions are appreciated.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Most apartments in Cville you can get a good idea of how they are just from the outside. Some buildings look old and dated and the interiors are going to be along the same lines. Some look newer or well maintained and cared for and these are going to have interiors a little more updated. This isn’t set in stone, but generally a good rule of thumb.</p>
<p>As for The Grove in particular, my friend lived right next door and these apartments looked pretty nice. CBS is a pretty reputable company in Cville, they own lots of buildings and houses. Sure, some people have had bad experiences with them, but this is true of any rental company, and plenty of people have had good experiences with the company. 13th St isn’t far from the Corner either so she won’t be walking very far or in an unsafe area, which is VERY important, especially for girls.</p>
<p>I know my parents were always hesitant about where I was going to live and weren’t keen on off-grounds, so I’m sure you have the same worries. But generally, most places in Cville are pretty decent if not really nice places to live. Leases can be worded funky because places don’t want to be held responsible if a dumb college kid burns their place down, but they also want to make sure if someone trashes the apartment, it’s going to be paid for. If your D is responsible, you don’t have a lot to worry about. I think if she approaches you with somewhere, she feels comfortable living there and has done some research, so I would say take a trip and see the place if you can, otherwise, go for it if she’s comfortable.</p>
<p>This morning’s email – I guess diverse means recreational shooting </p>
<p>Charlottesville Police responded to a shooting incident that occurred on 13th Street at approximately 2:30 a.m. on September 26, 2010. Charlottesville Police believe the incident occurred between two separate groups that may have been known to each other. One individual, a resident of Charlottesville, was struck by a bullet. He fled the scene on foot to the University of Virginia Medical Center.</p>
<p>Anyone having information related to this incident should call Crimestoppers at 434-977-400 or the Charlottesville Police at 434-970-3280. Charlottesville and University Police will increase police presence on the corner and surrounding streets.</p>
<p>University Police want to remind members of the community that the corner area attracts a diverse group of individuals who participate in diverse activities.</p>
<p>the corner is not a great place to live these days!!!</p>
<p>generally speaking, 13th is probably a little more risky than 14th street, I’d probably avoid it. There are some really nice places that have popped up lately. On Wertland Street, the new green building (I believe by CBS) is supposed to be really nice, as is the new building on JPA (I think its 1815).</p>
<p>CuriousMother, not trying to hijack the thread, but as you know, I’m in the same boat as you – looking for off-campus housing for D who is currently a first year. What about Grand Marc and The Pointe? Y’all’s thoughts? We saw Grand Marc, and we liked the fact that it was furnished. It also seemed very social which she saw as a plus and minus. The JPA complexes would be closer to her science and math classes though (bio/chem majors). We’ve been told in order to secure a spot at one if the “better” complexes, you needed to sign the lease in Oct/Nov of this year! What happens to students who do this and then they happen to have a falling out with their roommate? Does this occur very often? What do students do, if anything, to protect themselves? Although they get along superbly now, a lot can happen in ten months. I’m probably worrying unnecessarily, but I’m the perpetual realist, and I’d hate to have her locked into a high rent lease and be miserable for a year.</p>
<p>I lived at GM and liked it. They brought in new management my fourth year (second year in the building) and DRASTICALLY changed things. Drastically in size 48 font. Third year, things went really downhill at the end of the year, things always broken and smelly and stairwells were nasty. The new company came in right before leaving for summer and by the beginning of the next school year, things were cleaned up, replaced, security cameras installed, a local cop was given a unit in exchange for an off-hours security post, community events held all the time. This year it looked even better. I recommend it, and the furnishing is an even bigger plus. Made post-grad plans/move muucchh easier. Not a far walk to anything, either, I practically lived at the e-school and the Corner has a bus stop that runs behind central grounds and the e-school, she can just grab that, and the Trolley is a good going-home option.
Lastly, GM’s leases are pretty nice. You could easily find a place in the spring in there, AND leases are individual, so you can sign up for a 4-bedroom with 3 people and each person pays for their room and use of the common room and that’s it. If your roommate is late on rent, it doesn’t affect you at all, which is really nice.</p>
<p>The Pointe was right across the street, looked like really decent places. Most people who lived there really liked it. The new building going up next to Dinsmore must be this green building, my guess is that it’s pretty sweet too. If it’s new-ish, leases may not go as quick.</p>
<p>And yes, once you get beyond 14th, it starts to get shady. There was a mugging this past May right at the S-bend in Wertland right after bars let out. Cville is full of hooligans (and not the good wahoo kind!)</p>
<p>Thanks, all! </p>
<p>I really appreciate all your first-hand accounts. I have told my daughter about the GrandMarc, and she’s looking into it. She had also mentioned the green building. I won’t get to go visit until Parent’s weekend in November, but I think she and her roommate are being conscientious about the search.</p>
<p>As the mother of a second year, I agree with Shoe. For the big, new complexes, there is no real rush to sign a lease. Grand Marc and many of those other complexes by the corner have apts. available into the summer. Parents should be on the lookout for a booklet sent out by the UVa Parent’s Committee each fall to first year parents and parents of new transfer students. It is meant to debunk the myth that students MUST sign a lease in the fall to secure decent housing for the following year. It may be the case to get the “desirable” large, group houses that many fourth-years live in, leases for those are often signed in the fall, but otherwise, students can wait without much risk, especially for the traditional “second-year places.” There is usually an “off campus housing” fair during Parents Weekend. With that weekend being so late this year, it may be too late to quell the stampede. Bottom line though, there is more off-campus housing in C’ville than there are students.</p>