Housing Guide December 2023, Student Life, Washington University in St. Louis

Housing Guide Fall 2023 | Student Life 1

FRONT COVER

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

Housing Guide Fall 2023 | Student Life 3

Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

TABLE OF CONTENTS 7 Lessons from living alone 20 Housing hacks 8 South 40 versus the Village 22 Roommate tips and tricks 11 On-campus or Off-campus?

26 “Do it” advice for budgeting 13 Five tips for having a clean room “I’m a big kid now” adult 27 realizations 14 New recipes for a new apartment 16 Don’t be afraid of traditional dorms 29 Residential Life Guide

2023-23 STAFF LIST

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Grace Tyau Special Issues Editor

Via Poolos Clara Richards Editors-in-Chief editor@studlife.com

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

Welcome to Housing Guide 2023!

We know that finding housing can be a stressful process: you have to navigate awkward social situations, the WashU housing portal, or unresponsive landlords. On a smaller level, you have to pick a dorm theme (or choose chaos), buy kitchen supplies, and remember to take out the trash and run the dishwasher. The Housing Guide is chock-full of housing advice: how to bake from your dorm room, the pros of living in a traditional dorm, lessons from living alone, and photos upon photos of all your possible living options. Whether you are a firstyear who is thinking about living in the Village, or a rising senior who is looking for an off-campus lease, this issue passes

down some of the knowledge that we’ve learned the hard way. If you take away one thing from this guide, I hope it’s that whatever happens, you’ll get through it. A bad roommate can be ignored for a few months, dirty dishes can be cleaned, and a nosy landlord… well, your lease will only last so long. We hope you enjoy this guide and use it for tips and a good laugh.

Happy reading and best of luck with finding your next dorm/ apartment/house!

- Via Poolos & Clara Richards, Editors-in-Chief LYDIA NICHOLSON | STUDENT LIFE

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Lessons from a

Housing Guide Fall 2023 | Student Life 7

brief stint of living alone Via Poolos Editor-in-Chief Let me preface: I have a distinct fear (likely enhanced by two shifts in quarantine housing freshman year) of living alone.

The isolation; the lack of human warmth; and the possibility of having to deal with robbers, many-legged bugs, or clogged drains by myself kept me securely in the “will always have roommates” camp. Sure, I never minded (and often enjoyed) a few hours of a quiet apartment.

But at the end of the day, I always preferred another person to co-exist with.

So you can imagine my horror when, after deciding to sublease an apartment over the summer, I was informed by the previous tenants that they couldn’t find any more subleasers. I would be alone in a three-bedroom apartment for the entire summer. Immediately, I was overwhelmed with anxiety. What if I had trouble finding social plans on the weekend? What if I couldn’t fall asleep without the noise of someone else brushing their teeth in the room over? However, I clearly lived to tell the tale — and shockingly, actually enjoyed living by myself for a few weeks.

Here are a few things I learned from my stint of solo-ness.

not be interrupted by someone coming in and asking where the trash bags are, or asking if you have tape that they can borrow.

It’s rather calming.

Everyone should throw more dinner parties

A perk of living by yourself: you can have anyone over, at any time you want, without asking your roommates’ permission (and no, I’m not talking about what you think I’m talking about).

I’m talking about dinner parties.

At home, my family has always sat down to dine together, and I missed having company while I ate. So I started inviting people over to dinner and calling it a “party.” It’s a fantastic ordeal — you boil a bunch of pasta, everyone brings a side dish, and you sit, chat, drink a beverage of your choice, and everyone leaves by 9 p.m. The effort-to-reward ratio is unmatched.

Living alone means you learn about your living habits

I don’t necessarily think that living alone means you get to know yourself better (I know

myself perfectly well, having to live inside my own head all the time). But I do think it’s a useful tool for understanding the ways you want to habitate. I realized, for example, that I don’t like dishes in the sink. And that I enjoy snoozing my alarm with no repercussions. And that couch naps in the late afternoon on a weekend are blissful. Without the interference or judgment of other people, you can hone your living style to exactly the way you want it to be — this is useful knowledge for vetting your future roommates or partners.

Self-consciousness about music taste is stupid

I didn’t develop a music taste until middle school, when I received my first iPod. My parents listened to NPR in the car and classical and jazz at home, so my first taste of Taylor Swift was like discovering there was a new color in the rainbow. That being said, my music taste is still a little undeveloped, and yes, I’m often embarrassed by it. I like pop music. And country. And slow, sad songs in the shower, and Lil Wayne when I lift. When I was by myself over the summer, I

blasted whatever songs pleased me at the moment, even if that meant playing the same three songs on loop until my ears bled. And it made me think — it’s really dumb to be ashamed of what music makes you happy or confident or that hits the dopamine button in your brain.

Even if you’re not living alone, play whatever you want.

It’s okay to like having roommates more

I have roommates for the school year, and they’re really lovely. In the end, I found that I enjoyed living alone, and — for the most part — wasn’t lonely, but rather content puttering around the apartment by myself. However, I also love coming home and finding someone willing to chat about their day and willing to listen to mine.

Or someone to throw holiday parties with, or sing songs with, or who I can listen to the songs they play when they shower at night while I’m in bed. I now know that I can, in fact, live by myself — and that it’s really not so bad. I also know that I like cohabitating — even if there are sometimes dishes in the sink.

Having your own space is very peaceful

Okay, okay, I know. This is so cliche. But it’s true! Without the clatter of other people, you know, existing, an empty apartment is a lovely place to daydream, read, or nap. In the morning, you can hear the birds chirping instead of the muffled sounds of your roommate singing along to Kanye West’s “Good Morning” in the bathroom. In the evening, you can watch the sun go down while you play lo-fi beats and

ILLUSTRATION BY RYAN DAVIS

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

SOUTH 40 VS. THE VILLAGE Amelia Raden Junior Forum Editor

After a long back-and-forth, my roommates and I decided to live in the Village instead of on the South 40 for our sophomore years. Although I was definitely Team South 40 in the beginning, I am actually super happy with our decision.

To make yours a little easier than ours was, here is a list of different factors for how the Village and the South 40 measure up.

Food:

I’m still mourning the loss of Cherry Tree’s oatmeal bar and carrot cake. While there is certainly no Cherry Tree, you can still get most of its coffees in the Village, as well as BD’s Grill offerings.

BD has more variety than Village Dining, but the Village’s proximity to campus makes it easy to grab food from Collins Farms on a Friday when you don’t have class, or run to Olin to pick up Corner 17 on the weekends. And the smoothies in the Village should not be overlooked.

Paws and Go seems pretty similar to the grocery-style station in the Village, but Paws definitely has a broader

Students walk through the South 40 on a beautiful spring day.

selection. Although there are fewer options in the Village, I much prefer that cafeteria environment to BD, where I had anxiety every time I needed to pick up a Grubhub order.

If you’re lucky enough to end up with a Millbrook or Village East kitchen, then problem solved. And even if you don’t,

BRI NITSBERG | STUDENT LIFE Village East is home to on-campus apartment style living.

LYDIA NICHOLSON | STUDENT LIFE

chances are you’ll have a friend who does.

in Steinberg, keep that in mind.

Location:

For me, one of the hardest things to give up about the 40 was those common rooms.

Most of the sophomores living on the 40 have four singles and a common room, and the singles are slightly smaller than those in Village House and Lopata. But if you just adore your roommates and want to maximize shared space, then a common room is a great way to do that.

The Village is a prime location for those who are looking for closer proximity to campus.

You can roll out of bed at 8:25 a.m. and still make your 8:30 in Bauer if you put your mind to it. This also gives you easy access to better study spots on weekends, like the Law Library and Olin. It’s less than a fiveminute walk to the Rec Center for those tempted to do 6:30 a.m. yoga classes.

The 40 is definitely farther away from campus, but the good news is, it probably won’t be any worse than it was last year. If you’re all about getting your steps in, this is one way to do it. And you’ll be closer to Campus Creamery, Habif Health and Wellness Center, and Student Technology Services. Plus, the circulator stops on the 40 significantly more often than it does in the Village, so if all your classes are

Rooms:

Overall:

Depending on your personality, you might prefer the quiet of the Village to the bustling and freshman-filled South 40, or vice versa.

Because of available housing, you’re probably more likely to know more people living in the Village. A lot of my friends chose the 40, and I’m here to tell you that the walk really doesn’t feel that long.

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

LUXURY IS CALLING 1.5 MILES to WASH U Entry access control for residents only

Fitness center with weight, cardio and therapy rooms and towel service

24th floor rooftop lounge and sky deck with 360 degree views of Clayton Community lounge with pool table, wet bar and private theatre On-site Kingside Diner restaurant Pet-friendly community with pet spa High ceilings with oversized windows Amazing views of Shaw Park to the west and Downtown St. Louis to the east

8025 Bonhomme Ave | 314.863.7275 | ClaytononthePark.com Managed & Leased by:

www.2BResidential.com

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On/Off campus:

It depends on who you are Avi Holzman Lily Taylor Zach Trabitz Managing News Editor Senior News Editor Junior News Editor

Off campus Pros:

No RA: You can host a party and do whatever you want without the fear of the dreaded RA knock at the door. ‘Nuff said.

More freedom: Living off campus comes with a sense of ownership that feels adult.

It is your own place that you pay for (boo) but get to make into your home (yay).

Cooking dinner in a real kitchen and eating it on real plates is awesome. So are the smaller things like inviting your friends over to just hang out. It feels different off campus.

Cooking: Cooking or baking in a real kitchen is pretty fun. It might be more effort, but nothing beats the taste of a home cooked meal.

Bigger beds: Not talking to you, folks in Village East, but a full or queen size bed is epic. Getting to flop onto a bed and then spread out is fantastic. Larger. Maybe buy a mattress topper!

Work life separation: Taking a break from school is important and living off campus allows you to take time to yourself to relax.

Cons:

Further from class: If you’re the type of person who wakes up 15 minutes

before your 10:00 AM class, you’re not going to like this one: it takes longer to walk to class when you’re off campus.

Landlords: It’s not that all landlords are difficult, but some of them definitely will make you wish you could live in a dorm forever. Make sure you read those leases carefully.

No cleaning service: It’s easy to sit back in a dorm and ignore a mess, especially when you know it will be cleaned later in the week.

When you’re off campus, you don’t have this liberty, and have to be conscientious about your living habits and cleaning schedule.

Messier housing: If the infrastructure in your house malfunctions and, say, part of your ceiling falls in, you’ll have to work with your landlord to get that fixed.

This isn’t a big issue if your landlord is good, though.

Cooking: If you don’t like to cook, get ready to walk to campus for all of your meals or spend all of your money on takeout.

No swipe access to residential and campus buildings: This isn’t an issue until you really need to get into a building at night for a meeting or to see friends on campus and you can’t get in.

Hopefully someone will be walking in ahead of you and you can trail behind.

Hard to do work at home: You aren’t as close to study spaces, which could become an issue if you’re like us and can’t work where you live.

On campus Pros:

Near amenities: When you live on campus, the world is your oyster. Everything is a five minute walk away: Bears Den (BD), the gym, class, it’s great.

Easy food access: Yeah, BD or Village food is… fine, but a hot meal late at night goes a long way when you do not have to cook. The South 40 (S40) is really the center of the world on campus and it is loud, but there is something to be said for living near where everything is going down.

Free laundry in the building: A couple dollars a load might not seem like much, but it adds up over time. Don’t take free laundry for granted.

Close to class: The walk to campus through the underpass will seem like an easy stroll once you’re living off-campus. It’s easy and convenient to get to classes, especially when you’re running late in the morning.

Cleaning service: You probably do not think of it that frequently but there is someone who comes and cleans your dorm’s bathroom. It’s a major time saver and a real luxury, an off campus bathroom can get messy quickly and no one wants to clean a toilet…ever.

Live near your friends: Living just a short walk away or even in the same building as a friend is great! You can do late night study seshes, gossip circles, or mini-functions and be able to walk home with ease and safety.

Tempur-Pedic™ mattress: Can’t talk about this enough.

The mattresses on campus

are so comfy I remember falling asleep in an instant. The mattress was soft but also firm; it could cost a million dollars and I wouldn’t care. You will not find a better mattress off campus anywhere. Trust me.

Longer beds: I (Avi) am six feet fall and my feet somehow hang off the edge of most beds. It stinks, especially in the winter when your feet are always cold. Having an XL twin bed is amazing.

Cons:

You live near your enemies: If there’s someone you’re trying to avoid, it’s not going to be easy when you’re eating and living in the same place. Either burn fewer bridges or move off campus.

RA’s can be annoying: Living in the comfort of your dorm is great. Having to go to mandatory floor meetings and RA one-on-ones is not. Even if they’re well intentioned, it can be frustrating to have to take time out of your schedule to meet with them.

Twin size bed: It is snuggly when you are sleeping alone, but if you have a friend over it feels real small real quick. My best advice is figure out how to get snuggly and if you have a friend over bring a fan.

No kitchen: If you love to cook or bake, you can do it on campus, but not with the ease and comfort that you can in your own home.

Fire alarms: If you know, you know. Getting woken up by a fire alarm blows. There are few things worse in this world than being woken up by a shrill fire alarm.

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

APPLY. GROUP. SELECT. Stay connected to campus with WashU’s Northside Residential Communities, available to all upperclassmen.

Tuesday, January 16, 2024 | Housing Application Opens These safe and secure communities include shuttle stops to main campus, unique layouts, furnishings and amenities to make it a more independent living option than traditional dorm rooms.

Options include: OFF-CAMPUS APARTMENTS Rosedale Court Apartments The Lofts Apartments Greenway Apartments University Drive Apartments

ON-CAMPUS SUITES & APARTMENTS Millbrook Apartments Village East Apartments Village House Lopata House Chapter Facility Housing Sophomore Suites on the South 40

Housing Guide Fall 2023 | Student Life 13

The importance of cleaning: Five tips to have a clean dorm room

Elaheh Khazi Staff Writer

Often, with the amount of work and extracurriculars that we college students fit into our busy schedules, we may forget to clean our home spaces. However, a clean room and a tidy habitat are essential. Numerous articles and psychological studies point to one crucial fact: Cleanliness and hygiene are not only good for your physical health but also your mental health. Cleaning can be refreshing and rejuvenating, leaving you with a sense of order and consistency, giving you better focus, and regulating your emotions by releasing endorphins. Do not underestimate the benefits of what a good deep clean can do for you! Here are five tips that help me stay clean and that will inspire you to go get out your vacuum and Lysol wipes to start doing your weekly Sunday resets.

1. Pick out a time and day to clean your room and dorm space.

Giving yourself a specific date and time to do deep

cleaning is very helpful.

Eventually, it will become a part of your week-toweek schedule. Since we are often overwhelmed with work during weekdays, the weekend is the perfect time to clean your home space, in addition to doing some other fun things. Remember, setting a goal for cleaning at the same time each week will help you clean consistently.

2. Start with the small things, like simply making your bed.

Sometimes, our rooms can be so messy that we may not know where to get started.

Just start small. You can focus on one part of your dorm, such as your bed, desk, or carpet. For example, you can make your bed, put away loose items of clothing, and wipe down your desk. Once you clean one part of the room, you can continue or take a short break and get back to deep cleaning. Cleaning should not be stressful; instead, it should serve as a time to help you reset for the new week.

3. Give everything a designated place.

Another

thing

that

helped me over the years to keep clean is assigning places for different items.

If we simply put everything everywhere, then we will have a growing mess that will continue growing.

Thus, try to find places for specific items. For example, all your school supplies can go into one cabinet, and all your socks can go in a particular drawer.

4. Play some music and have a fun dance party while you clean.

Never underestimate the power a good tune has on helping you clean your room.

Just plug in those AirPods, blast some of your favorite songs, and start cleaning.

Before you know it, you will have gotten more steps in for the day and achieved a pristinely clean room with the help of your favorite music artist.

5. Do not let trash and messes build up.

Lastly, going forward, to prevent big messes from building up, make sure to

clean up after yourself each day. This way, at the end of the week, you do not have to deal with all the trash and piles of clothing you have left in the middle of your room.

Remember, prevention is the best solution! So clean a little every day so that you do not have to deal with big messes each weekend, and be consistent with your hygiene.

*****

I hope these tips help you keep clean. Remember, having a clean space is very important for one’s overall health and well-being. Do not forget the importance of good hygiene, even though college is overwhelming and things can get a little stressful sometimes. Just know that a clean space will only help you to do better and be better.

has

ILLUSTRATIONS BY SOPHIE LEONG

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

Three recipes to try in your new apartment Elizabeth Grieve Staff Writer Living in an apartment comes with all sorts of changes. For many, moving off campus means committing to making your own food and no longer relying on the convenience of Bear’s Den or Paws and Go. Not only is cooking an added

responsibility on top of a busy schedule, but planning and generating meals can also require a lot of time. To help with this transition, I compiled three of my own recipes that are perfect for first-time apartment dwellers and first-time cooks alike. These dishes all taste great and require minimal equipment (trust me, I tested them in my dorm).

Roasted Tomato Gnocchi This dish was largely inspired by stumbling upon a package of dried gnocchi while shopping at Schnucks. With some leftover butter and tomatoes in my fridge, I threw together this recipe while I was preheating the oven to bake a cake (hence the roasted tomatoes). Ready in only a few minutes, this dish is simple and comforting.

Ingredients: 1 package of dried or fresh gnocchi 1 tablespoon of butter 10-12 cherry or grape tomatoes Grated parmesan and pepper to taste

Equipment: heat-safe bowl, oven-safe pan, saucepan, heat-

safe spoon

Directions: Preheat the oven to 400F. Slice each tomato in half and spread out the tomatoes on the pan. Roast the tomatoes in the preheated oven until the tomatoes are blistered and bubbly — around 10 minutes. In the meantime, cook the gnocchi according to the instructions on the package. Place the butter in a bowl, and once the gnocchi is done, spoon the gnocchi directly into the bowl on top of the butter. Once the butter is melted, stir in the roasted tomatoes and parmesan, along with some freshly cracked pepper.

Blueberry Muffins/Bread Since I was young, this has been my go to base recipe for any sort of quick bread. This recipe is loosely based on the recipe from the “Better Homes and Gardens” cookbook, which I’ve adjusted and simplified over the years. The blueberries are a tart compliment to the sweet and flaky dough. If you don’t have a muffin pan, you can put the batter in almost any other pan and make bread instead.

Ingredients: 2 cups of flour ½ cup of sugar 2 teaspoons of baking powder A pinch of salt 1 cup of milk ¼ cup of oil or melted butter 1 egg 1 cup of blueberries (fresh or frozen) Equipment: Mixing bowl, large spoon for mixing, measuring cups, muffin tins or alternate pan, cupcake liners or parchment paper Directions: Preheat the oven to 400F. Mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl. Using a spoon, create a ‘well’ by making a large hole in the center of the dry ingredients. Beat the egg and pour it into the well along with the milk and oil. Then, slowly mix the wet and dry mixtures together until just combined, adding the blueberries right at the end.

The batter will be lumpy, but all of the dry mixture should be moistened. If making muffins, line the muffin tin with cupcake liners, spoon the batter into the tins, and bake for 18-20 minutes.

If making bread, line the pan with parchment paper, pour the batter in, and bake for 35-45 minutes, or until a knife comes out without any batter on it when stuck in the center.

Goat Cheese and Cherry Salad Fresh and filling, this salad is perfect for a quick lunch. I created this recipe to use up some extra goat cheese leftover from another recipe, and soon discovered that it pairs wonderfully with the sweetness from the dried cherries and the richness of the balsamic. Don’t be shy to experiment and customize this recipe to your liking.

Ingredients: 2 cups of lettuce of your choice Dried cherries or dried cranberries 1-2 ounces of goat cheese A quarter of a red onion Roasted chicken, if desired 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar Salt and pepper to taste Equipment: cutting board, knife

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MANUEL LOPEZ

Directions: Wash, dry, and cut the lettuce. Peel and slice the onion, and dice up the chicken, if desired. Using a fork, break up the goat cheese into small crumbles. Top the salad with the cranberries or cherries, and drizzle with the olive oil and balsamic.

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299 DeBaliviere Ave | 314.530.8482 | ExpoatForestPark.com Managed & Leased by:

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

Don’t be afraid of traditional dorms Lewis Rand Sydney Tran Staff Writer Head of Design Every tour of Washington University finds its way to the South 40. Prospective students stop at the Clocktower, are shown a modern double, and likely — if you are like either of us — admire how new and nice it is.

However, hidden from every prospective student — and even from some less adventurous firstyears — are the traditional dorms.

Constructed in the 1950s and 1960s, the three traditional residential colleges of the South 40 are JKL (Shanedling, Dauten, and Rutledge), HIG (Hitzeman, Hurd, and Myers), and Lee and Beaumont (Beau).

Once you get past the lessthan-attractive, slightly-worn red brick facade, you will find the best residential experience on the South 40.

There are two types of traditional dorms on the South 40. The first type is a six-person suite consisting of two doubles, two singles, a shared bathroom, a common room, and a balcony, and it can be found in JKL and HIG. The second type is single rooms connected via a hall with a shared bathroom, and can be found only in LeeBeau.

Now, before we attempt to sell you on traditional dorms, we do need to acknowledge that modern dorms are pretty nice, too.

Modern dorms are newer, a little more spacious, and (most importantly) have fewer people sharing each bathroom. An elevator, for those not fortunate enough to live on the first floor, also sweetens the deal. And to make things better, the dorms in “prime” locations — such as Gregg, Umrath, and Zetcher — are all modern.

However, despite the many luxuries offered by modern dorms, they lack the sense of community and belonging fostered by traditional dorms.

Traditional Suites

Traditional suites (JKL and HIG) have a shared common room and connected balcony, which socalled modern “suites” lack.

These shared common rooms allow for a sense of community that no modern dorm can have.

First and foremost, they allow you to create strong relationships with not only your roommate but all of your suitemates.

These common rooms are a great place to make your suite truly feel like a home away from home.

Whether you adorn your walls with posters, lights, or even hang a projector using the strings from your WUSA bags, the traditional suite gives you the opportunity to turn what would otherwise be bare, tan walls into a comfortable living space.

Even more importantly, you get to decorate this space. With your suitemates. Together.

From taking the Metrolink to scouring Walmart, Target, and Five Below for supplies and helping your McKelvey suitemates over-engineer your decorations, the nature of the traditional suite enhances your social experience at the University.

Once you have decorated your suite, it is ready to be used.

If you are a sports fan, it is a great place to have people over to watch games; on a weekend, it is a great place to host people before you embark on that night’s adventure; and on most nights, it is a great place to get some work done with friends, when the library just is not calling your name.

“Dingles” and “Tringles”

Beyond traditional suites, enter the land of “dingles” and “tringles” of the traditional dorm LeeBeau. Due to COVID, rooms that were originally made as doubles or triples were turned into singles (rightfully so — because looking back at the setup of a tringle…it was inhumane).

Unlike other first-year living

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ANAELDA RAMOS

experiences, residents live alone and share a communal bathroom with the floor. While the communal bathroom can be a hassle, it is the tradeoff for a huge living space all to yourself.

You get to see how it is to live on your own and make/decorate a space that you can call your own.

The best part is that there is a lot of space to personalize — I have even seen a personal gym inside a tringle.

Living in solitude comes with its pros and cons, though.

Friends can visit to play Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza on the floor when you are feeling social.

But when your battery runs low. you have a safe space to recharge.

Living alone, on the other hand, means you don’t have live-in friends. You need to get yourself out there and find friends to play Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza with.

Bottom line: LeeBeau is what you make it. Take advantage of being more independent, and make it your space to be productive, to recharge, and to thrive. Most of all, be grateful.

Not many college students get to live alone — especially in a larger space.

Wrap-up

Now, we would be remiss not to acknowledge that traditional dorms do have a few drawbacks. The facilities — including the restrooms — are older, and they lack an elevator, meaning it can be an arduous trek back to your room after a long day if you live on an upper floor.

However, the benefits of living in a traditional dorm far outweigh the slight downgrade of amenities.

Living in either style of traditional dorms immediately pushes you to meet new people (either your suitemates or hall-mates), forcing you to widen your social circle and be comfortable reaching out and connecting with new people. Their friends can become your friends — and while not every connection will become a friendship, through living in a traditional dorm, you are exposed to a more diverse group of people earlier on.

At the end of the day, college is about meeting people and making new friends. And where better to start than traditional dorms?

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

HOUSING HACKS from the Student Life staff

“Stay on top of your chores, even if you do a little bit every day. Putting one thing off starts a compounding amount of future work that can quickly become overwhelming, especially once you get to the part of the semester where you are swamped with schoolwork.“ — Ved Patel Managing Copy Editor

“Do your dishes as soon as you use them.

There is absolutely nothing worse than coming home from a long day of classes and meetings to a sink full of dirty dishes. Also, it is much less effort to cook for yourself when your dishes are always clean!”

— Aliana Mediratta, Junior News Editor

If you make extra food one night, you won’t have to cook again the next day. Leftovers make life so much easier.

That’s pretty cool.

— Lily Taylor Junior News Editor Use laundry machines at off-times, especially if they are not available. If your first class during a weekday doesn’t start until the afternoon, do laundry that morning. It’ll keep you out of the line on Sunday afternoons!

— Jared Adelman, Managing Multimedia Editor

Get a Costco membership with friends (it’s pretty cheap once you split the cost) — that way, you can bulk on items like eggs and bread, and you won’t have to make as many grocery trips. “ — Annabel Shen, Managing Scene Editor

When it comes to cleaning, hold yourself accountable!

Set a schedule for yourself and stick to it!

— Ryan Zimmet Copy Editor If you can get it done in three minutes (picking up your books, taking out the trash, etc.), do it the moment you realize it needs to be done.

— William Labrador, Junior Scene Editor

Organize your fridge so that stuff that will expire earliest is the most visible. That way, you won’t be letting food go to waste, and it’ll keep your fridge cleaner! Also, make a list of frozen food you have — that way, you can use everything before buying more and won’t run the risk of having no clue what lives in the deep dark depths of your freezer.

— Alice Gottesman, Senior Scene Editor

“Check that all of your doors are locked before you go to bed!”

— Via Poolos, Editor-in-Chief

ILLUSTRATIONS BY TUESDAY HADDEN

Housing Guide Fall 2023 | Student Life 21

MODERN 1, 2 & 3 BEDROOM APARTMENTS in the CENTRAL WEST END

LESS THAN 5 MILES TO WASH U Controlled Access Building & Gated Parking Garages Available Saltwater Pool with Cabanas, Fire Pits & Outdoor Kitchens 24-Hour Fitness Center Pet Friendly with Pet Spa Two, Modern Community Clubrooms with Fireplace Private Patios & Balconies (select units) Rich Plank Flooring Full Washer/Dryer Included in Unit Fully-Equipped Kitchens High-End Finishes Ceiling Fans USB Ports n

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3940 West Pine Blvd | 314.376.4477 | PiazzaOnWestPine.com Managed & Leased by:

www.2BResidential.com

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

Tips for choosing and living with roommates Walls are thinner than you might realize…

— Eliza Stulman, Contributing Writer

My biggest fear is that your friends are not always the best people to live with, and the people you live with are not always going to be your best friends. I have had great roomies and those who hated me, guess who I am still in touch with.

— Avi Holzman, Managing News Editor

My biggest tip is to communicate with your roommates if you have an issue. Being annoyed in silence or doing something passive-aggressive doesn’t really resolve the problem that upset you in the first place. Most people are pretty reasonable if you take some time to set your boundaries.

— Ved Patel, Managing Copy Editor Go random in a suite — at least most of your suitemates will be tolerable.

— Ian Heft, Sports Editor

Don’t. Beaumont #1 baby.

— Quinn Moore, Staff Writer Make your expectations for each other clear as early as possible.

Especially when it comes to things like noise level and cleanliness, having a conversation that you can point back to can be helpful if you have a disagreement later on.

— Joel Swirnoff, Junior News Editor Communicate with your roommate if you have an issue — don’t be passive-aggressive or talk trash about them if you’re frustrated.

— Lauren Smith, Contributing Writer

If you’re not an organized/ clean person, at the very least be decent with common areas. Your own room can be a disaster, but that’s a no-no for shared areas.

— Julia Robbins, Investigative News Editor

Pick people with similar cleaning expectations as you! If you like your common spaces to be neat, but your roommates don’t care, this divide will lead to problems eventually.

— James Ellinghaus, Senioe News Editor

Find people with similar living styles! Doesn’t have to be your besties.

— Via Poolos, Editor-in-Chief You can use the WashU class of (year) insta to meet people, but also try and FaceTime the person to see if you guys have natural/get-along vibes.

— Mireya Coffman, Contributing Writer

Going into my freshman year, I thought I had it all figured out — my roommate and I had been chatting for months before move-in. We had already planned out our room decor, perfected our Pinterest boards, and basically morphed our closets into one. But in the

middle of July, I got a sudden “hey lol i dropped out” text.

Needless to say, it was a pretty shocking experience, but I bravely undertook the task of living in a big scary double alone.

One week before move-in, though, I got an alert from ResLife that I had a surprise new roommate. Despite barely texting before move-in and having very little in common, we’ve become best friends,

Especially when it comes to noise levels (sleep is so important when you have early classes), it’s okay to politely remind roommates to be quiet. And establish quiet hours!

— Sophia Hellman, Contributing Writer

which I attribute to going into the process without expectations. In contrast, some friends who went into the roommate process expecting to be besties with their roomies ended up being disappointed when it didn’t work out. Don’t worry

about going random — going into it without high expectations might actually work in your favor so that you’re more easily satisfied. If you just end up being

cordial, you’ll be okay with it. If you end up being good friends, all the better! And if they end up being a nightmare, take comfort in the idea that one day, it’ll be a really funny story.

— Lore Wang, Contributing Writer

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

BUDGET ADVICE Set up a spreadsheet on your own, and figure out how much money is going in and out of your bank account (and where it’s going). Living on-campus doesn’t give you the full budget picture (rent, utilities, groceries, etc.), but provides a simpler system to learn in.

— Ved Patel, Managing Copy Editor If there is something you want to buy (not need to buy, like food), sit on it for two weeks.

If you are still thinking about it, buy it. If not, you probably just had an impulse for something you wouldn’t use anyway. Being intentional about your luxury items cuts down on wasteful spending.

— Jared Adelman, Managing Multimedia Editor

Buy coffee at the grocery store — don’t spend $5 on it every day on campus (maybe just a couple times per week…).

— Via Poolos, Editor-in-Chief

Do it. It sucks, but do it for real.

— Avi Holzman, Managing News Editor If you’re off campus, I recommend meal prepping!

Sometimes when I go to the grocery store, I end up buying a lot of perishable food that I don’t end up eating. Meal prepping for the week helps me save money and not add unnecessary food waste.

— Clara Richards, Editor-in-Chief

ILLUSTRATIONS BY TUESDAY HADDEN

The simplest method of budgeting is to just keep track of money — make sure you are never caught off-guard with the money coming in and out of your accounts.

— Quinn Moore, Staff Writer

Make sure to budget for essentials that you may not have had to pay for while living with your parents (toilet paper, furniture, etc.).

— James Ellinghaus, Senior News Editor

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“I’M A BIG KID NOW” ADULT REALIZATIONS My dad helped me move in to college when I was a freshman, and within the first five minutes of him being in the apartment, he pointed out six different things that we needed to buy at Home Depot for the apartment.

There were holes in the walls and the ceiling, and then we had to buy weird Swiffer and stuff. It was crazy.

— Avi Holzman, Managing News Editor Get another key. You might (likely will) lose your key, in which case it’s awesome to have a spare. Leaving a spare with a friend could be swell, in case your roommates are gone for a weekend and you’re locked out of your home...

— Julia Robbins, Investigative News Editor

I think my adult realization was my freshman year when my friend and I went to Whole Foods. We were looking at the cakes in the back and talking about how cool it would be to just buy a cake, even though there was no particular occasion.

Then, we realized that we could, bought a redvelvet cake, and had a great time eating it. You get a lot of freedom once you’re out of the house and even more once you get off campus.

— Ved Patel, Managing Copy Editor

Complaining about grocery shopping. As a kid/teenager, it used to be really fun — now, feeding myself feels like just another chore.

— Via Poolos, Editor-in-Chief Figuring out your class schedule. Freshman year, I feel like the only thing I considered when picking my schedule was not having 9 a.m.’s.

Now, when picking my classes, I think about what days I will need to do laundry, when I will have time clean up my room, or when I might be able to run errands or go to the grocery store.

— Elizabeth Grieve, Staff Writer

My roommate and I didn’t like using our cast-iron pan for everything, so we got another steel pan. We both noticed how excited we were about it and realized our childhoods were over.

—William Labrador.

Junior Scene Editor

ILLUSTRATIONS BY MANUEL LOPEZ

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

LUXURY

in LAFAYETTE SQUARE

studios

amenities

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1 bedrooms

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2-bedrooms

clubhouse food & cocktail bar fitness center controlled access building and underground parking pool with sundeck pet-friendly resident events designer finishes quartz countertops full-size washer/dryer in unit n

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2200 LaSalle St | 314.254.2620 | 2200LaSalle.com

Housing Guide Fall 2023 | Student Life 29

Student Life presents

THE RESIDENTIAL LIFE GUIDE 2023

Welcome to Student Life's Residential Life Guide!

If you want to see what residential life looks like at WashU, look no further.

WashU’s dorms consistently rank in the top of the country, and it’s not just because of the Tempur-Pedic mattresses. The Residential Life website has more content on the amenities that each type of housing offers.

2024–2025 WashU housing rates will come out in January, but you can check out the Residential Life website to see current rates.

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

THE LOFTS Outside

The Lofts are comprised of three residential apartments and two mixed-use buildings.

The living spaces are mostly three-person apartments, with a few singles and two-person living situations. Each apartment has a kitchen and living space as well as their own room. The buildings also have common-area lounges with TVs and printing stations, and are located close to many high-quality restaurants on the Loop.

ELLE SU | STUDENT LIFE

Inside

ELLE SU | STUDENT LIFE

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

GREENWAY Greenway apartments range from one person to three person spaces. Each apartment comes equipped with a kitchen, dining room, and living space.

Bedroom

Common Room Common Room

Outside ELLE SU | STUDENT LIFE

Kitchen

Housing Guide Fall 2023 | Student Life 33

Enviable Apartment Living just 1.5 MILES to WASH U

Community

Rooftop Swimming Pool Pet-Friendly Community Fitness Center with Yoga & Spin Concierge Services Private Club Lounge/Game Room Non-Smoking Community Private Parking Garage Controlled Community Access Resident Convenience Market Peel Pizza on 1st Floor

Apartments

Open Floorplans with 9’ Ceilings Quartz Countertops & Vinyl Plank Flooring Stainless Steel Appliances Floor-to-Ceiling Windows Oversided Walk-In Closets Washer/Dryer in Unit Private Balcony - City Views* *select units

212 S Meramec Ave 314.721.1212 | 212Clayton.com Managed & Leased by: www.2BResidential.com

www.2BResidential.com

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

MILLBROOK APARTMENTS Millbrook has three to eight person apartments across four buildings. Apartments have living space, couch, and coffee table.

BRI NITSBERG | STUDENT LIFE

UNIVERSITY DRIVE

UDrive apartments have two to four person apartments across eight buildings. Apartments have a kitchen, dining space, and living space.

ZOE OPPENHEIMER | STUDENT LIFE

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

SOUTH 40 Traditional Dorms South 40 traditional dorms have single, double, and triple room options. Each floor community shares bathrooms, and some halls have suite-style common areas.

Hurd - Outside TYLER HANSON MATHUR | STUDENT LIFE

Common Room

OVER 52 YEARS SERVING THE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY!

NOW LEASING:

1, 2 & 3 BEDROOM UNITS AVAILABLE WITH

LEASES STARTING JUNE 1, 2024 Doubles

Roberts Realty Company 3229 S. Brentwood, St. Louis MO, 63119 Andy Roberts - 314-568-8917 RobertsRealty@gmail.com

Single

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

SOUTH 40 Modern Dorms South 40 dorm common rooms all look a little different, but they generally have good seating for students. Common modern-dorm facilities include a study room and laundry rooms available to all students.

Eliot - Lobby ELLE SU | STUDENT LIFE

SERVING ST. LOUIS FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS

725-5757

Wonderful Apartments in:

• University City • Clayton • The Grove• Richmond Heights • Central West End The Byron Company has been proudly providing great apartments in the best Saint Louis neighborhoods for five decades. We own and manage all of our properties, and take pride in caring for them with our highly-skilled, full-time maintenance and management staff. We think you will find that The Byron Company offers great apartments and great management at a great price.

ALL OF OUR STUDIOS, ONE, AND TWO BEDROOM APARTMENTS ARE CONVENIENTLY LOCATED AROUND WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY AND FOREST PARK.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: BYRONCOMPANY.COM

Study Room

Housing Guide Fall 2023 | Student Life 39

BRAND NEW LUXURY LIVING

4.5 MILES TO WASH U Quartz countertops Two-tone cabinets Matte black finishes

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Stainless steel appliances

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Vinyl hardwood floors

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Kohler fixtures

Large, walk-in closets

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Tile backsplash

Full-Size Washer/Dryer

Lavish bathrooms

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Tile shower surrounds

Modern Lighting

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Electronic thermostat

Expansive balconies (select units)

Rooftop Courtyard with Pool, Sundeck, and Grilling and Gaming Areas Fitness Center

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Business Center

Pet-Friendly Community Fitness Center

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Modern Clubhouse

Controlled Access Buildings

Bike Storage

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Elevators

Controlled Access Underground Parking Garage On-site Management / 24-Hour Emergency Maintenance Directly across from SLU Hospital and School of Medicine Close to Universities, Hospitals, Purina & Anheuser Busch Quick Access to I-64/40, Downtown St. Louis & The Metro Link

812 S Theresa Ave | 314.924.6045 | SteelcoteSquare.com Managed & Leased by:

www.2BResidential.com

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

SOUTH 40 Modern Dorms

Modern dorms contain options for singles, doubles, and triples.

Students are given desks, twin beds, and shelving in all of the housing options.

Eliot - Single ELLE SU | STUDENT LIFE

Common Room

Eliot ELLE SU | STUDENT LIFE

Doubles

Park ELLE SU | STUDENT LIFE

ELLE SU | STUDENT LIFE

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

VILLAGE HOUSE Village House contains modern four-person single suites, each suite with two shared bathrooms. There are shared kitchen facilities and laundry, with multipurpose spaces for student access

BRI NITSBERG | STUDENT LIFE

LOPATA HOUSE The Lopata House, located in Village East, has dining facilities, study spaces, a computer lab, and a community kitchen. It contains modern four-person single suites with two shared bathrooms. It also has convenient access to the Athletic Center and Snow Way Garage

BRI NITSBERG | STUDENT LIFE

Housing Guide Fall 2023 | Student Life 43 Each of our communities in St. Louis feature:

-On-Site, Award Winning Management -24-Hour Emergency Maintenance -Convenient Online Services, like Rent Payment -Amenity Packages Designed to Fit our Residents

ASK ABOUT OUR STUDENT ADVANTAGE PROGRAM FOR AMAZING SAVINGS!

CONVENT GARDENS Studio, One and Two Bedrooms 8 minutes from WashU

314.535.1618 conventgardens.com

DEL CORONADO

Studio, One and Two Bedrooms 6 minutes from WashU

314.367.4949 delcoronadostl.com

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023 As of next year, these properties can be leased through Quadrangle Housing only: 520 Kingsland, 6665 Washington Ave., and 6678 Washington Ave.

WASH AVE & Wash Ave has three-person apartments across four buildings.

Each has a dining, kitchen, and living space.

KINGSLAND Kingsland has three-person apartments, each with its own bathroom.

Apartments come with a kitchen, dining, and living space.

Housing Guide Fall 2023 | Student Life 45

GET IN at

1 MILE

BRAND NEW!!!

TO

WASH U

COMMUNITY AMENITIES n

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Pet-friendly community with pet park Swimming pool with sun shelf BBQ grilling stations Resident lounge Robust fitness center Social courtyard Gated surface parking lot Bike storage On-site retail

APARTMENT AMENITIES Designer finishes Granite countertops Two-tone cabinetry Custom lighting Plank flooring Open floorplans Washer & dryer included

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Deli DivINe Restaurant and Mini Market, St. Louis Community Credit Union, Greater Health and Wellness Pharmacy, and Edward Jones Financial Advisor OPEN NOW!

5535 Delmar Blvd | 314.200.4278 | ResidencesatDelmarDivine.com Managed & Leased by:

www.2BResidential.com

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

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Housing Guide Fall 2023 | Student Life 47

Amazing

Apartment

Communities

2

Miles to Washington University

314.367.3300 4910 W Pine Blvd | ResidencesForestPark.com

314.787.2013 40 N Euclid Ave | TheEuclidSTL.com

In the heart of the Central West End across from Whole Foods Walkability to shops, dining and entertainment Close to Top Employers Pet-Friendly with Pet Parks 24 Hour Fitness Centers Controlled Access Buildings Gated/Garage Parking Available n

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Managed & Leased by:

www.2BResidential.com

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Student Life | Housing Guide Fall 2023

Inspiring Community Spaces

Coveted Amenities

- Expansive Sky Lounge and Lobby - Dog Park and Fitness Studio - Resort-Style Courtyard and Pool

- Underground Parking - State of the Art Fitness Center

Amazing Location

Award-Winning Service

- Steps from Forest Park - Best Highway Access in St. Louis

- Five-Star Property Management Team - 24/7 Maintenance and Concierge

5700 Highlands Plaza Drive 314-833-6100 www.encore.apartments