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THE UCSD GUARDIAN | MONDAY, APRIL 30, 2012 | www.Ucsdguardian.org
Sallai CONTACT THE EDITOR Arielle leisure@ucsdguardian.org
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lifestyle
The Guardian
Off-Campus
Housing Guide University City ................................... La Regencia By Angela Chen When it comes to apartments in the UTC area, there’s far more similarities than differences between complexes such as La Regencia, Costa Verde and Archstone. La Regencia’s rent is comparable to the other options — around $400 for a double, $650 for a single — and the buildings all have pools and gyms. The rooms are decent, though shabbier than the Costa counterparts. At Costa, most apartments come with their own balcony, while Regencia’s version of a “balcony” is a partitioned-off portion of a courtyard. Both share the typical evils of UTC living: unreliable maintenance, slow elevators and nightmare parking. The truly unlucky have tandem parking (one car in front of the other, so the car on the inside is effectively trapped), and the rest of us do six-point turns to maneuver into tiny spaces set off by enormous columns. Depending on which side of La Regencia you live, you’re next to either the second or third Arriba shuttle stop. Aim to live on the Regents/Palmilla side: You’ll be two minutes from the second stop and will usually be able to get a spot (albeit, sometimes standing room only). If you’re on the third, prepare to be passed over time after time. Whichever side you end up on, you’ll be able to experience the greatest delight of La Regencia: living in the backyard of Vons. But caveat emptor: While the one-minute walk to the grocery store is wonderful for convenience, it’s awful for enabling access to every late-night Los Primos (open until 1 a.m.!) craving.
andrew R uiz /G uardian file
Pines of La Jolla By Rachel Uda You will have to sacrifice access to water every other Tuesday from 12 p.m. - 1 p.m., but Pines of La Jolla’s proximity to a UCSD shuttle stop is well worth it. The complex houses mostly two-bedroom units.
La Jolla Village park By Margaret Yau
Living in an apartment is overrated. Let’s be honest, your slobby ways can’t feasibly fit into a cramped apartment with four other equally messy roommates. You need a house. You need Mahaila. The townhouse complex, officially known as La Jolla Village Park, is located on the corner of La Jolla Village Drive and Regents Drive. Each house is a short five-minute jaunt to either the MTS bus line or the Arriba campus shuttle, so don’t worry — you’ll never be too far away from your favorite lecture halls. Each house boasts a two-car garage and one additional parking permit, and the largest models have four rooms (one master bedroom, two singles and a converted den). You’ll have to pay for gas and electricity and cable, just like any normal apartment, but the water bill is paid for by the owners of the complex. The trick to landing a house in Mahaila is contacting the landlords, who act as independent contractors. Drive around the complex to see any “for rent” signs — they are usually up around April and May. But be sure to do your research before touring the house and meeting with the landlord — many landlords prey on unsuspecting college students, charging them $500 more a month than the average asking price for a broken apartment next to a loud, busy street. A ndrew O h /G uardian file
nobel court By Nicole Chan
international Gardens By Tiffany Chin
Nobel Court is a comfortable and convenient choice for students who don’t have a car in San Diego. The complex, which is accessible from campus via the Nobel shuttle, is located within walking distance to La Jolla Square Village and the Vons shopping center. Nobel Court is a newer apartment complex that offers an updated gym facility, secure entrance and comfortable digs. The complex is not the ideal place to throw a party — street parking can be hard to find and the complex’s residents are mostly composed of retired couples and small families. Nobel Court only has single and double apartments, and rent is slightly steep — a double runs about $1875 per month.
Without compromising cost and convenience, La Jolla International Gardens provides reasonable living for the student on a budget. Advantageously placed alongside the Arriba shuttle — not to mention near Vons and Ralphs — it’s simply a hop, skip and a jump back to your ever-welcoming bed. With the price for a two-bedroom apartment starting at $1600, two guaranteed parking spots, and fairly quick maintenance, it’s no wonder why the majority of residents are students (though it’s still eerily quiet past 10 p.m.). However, the winding stairs become a daunting challenge upon move-in, requiring you to use months of Tetris training in Physics lecture to lug your furniture up to your new home. But once you get past the hassle of dragging your bed frame and couch up the unbelievably narrow, winding stairs, it’s smooth sailing for the rest of your stay — as long as you don’t mind a cold shower once in a while.