‘Cuse. Flag. (Flickr)
With all the horror stories you hear about crumbling apartments and shady rental practices, finding the best off-campus housing can make you feel a bit like Nicholas Cage trying to locate the treasure (or a legitimate movie role … Ba-Dum-CH!). The odds seem to be wildly stacked against you, and the pressure of it all can cause you to look and feel a bit nuts.
Lucky for you, you don’t need to solve cryptographs to find what you want. We crawled through hundreds of reviews on Google, Facebook and ApartmentRatings and settled on a list of the top five apartments near Syracuse University. According to our research, we think these Syracuse University Apartments are a pretty safe bet.
Just a short stroll from campus, BLVD404 offers Syracuse off-campus housing to students. In an impressive show of legitimacy, the community has garnered exclusively five-star reviews on both Facebook and Google. Residents say management and maintenance are friendly and helpful, and the apartments have more than enough conveniences to make you feel like you like you’ve already landed a well-paying job sans diploma. And if the reviews weren’t enough to entice you, one of BLVD404’s investors is legendary Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim.
Our favorite review:
“I am a resident at BLVD404 who just recently moved in. The management, staff, and maintenance have been extremely helpful with my move in. The apartments are beautifully and thoughtfully designed for professional college students with every amenity needed. My move in has been stress free, quick, and easy. I am a senior at Whitman and it is the nicest and closest apartment within walking distance. I feel extremely safe here with the security system they have set up. I have looked at a ton of different places that did not even come close to comparison.”
University Village on Colvin offers furnished two and four bedroom units to students at SU. The complex maintains a 4.0+ rating with over 30 cumulative reviews on Facebook and ApartmentRatings, and we can see why. Past and current residents seem to appreciate the building’s impressive amenities, all-inclusive utility package, and friendly staff. Similarly, the apartments are spacious and clean, and each resident even gets a private bathroom, meaning you’ll only have to unclog your hair from the shower drain— it’s not gross if it’s yours, am I right?
Our favorite review:
“I have lived at UV for 2 years now. The apartments are beautiful. The walls are freshly painted and the color scheme is great. Much nicer than campus dorms. I love that there is privacy and you have your own bathroom. Plus you have free laundry and heat and AC which I never have had in dorms. The beds are so nice too! When I came back this last year I ended up getting a tempurpedic mattress in my apartment along with new couches. The staff has been great! Maintenance responds to requests in a timely manner and staff are available all hours of the day. Its nice, especially when you are locked out of your apartment at 3 a.m. The only concern I had moving into UV was being off campus but the buses come very often and its so convenient. I love it here! I would recommend SU students to live here without a question!”
Located in a serene, wooded setting, Maplewood Apartments offers one and two bedroom units that are popular with graduate students attending SU. Despite its quiet location, the community is convenient to shops and public parks, making it both relaxing and comfortable. In a sea of positive reviews, multiple residents made mentions of staff members Hal and Sue, saying they are likely to drop whatever they’re working on for a resident in need. Also, reviewers seem to love the fact that the grounds are well-maintained, and there is never a shortage of parking.
Our favorite review:
“Great apartment complex, staff is awesome and friendly. It is quiet for having so many apartments and has a lot of parking. Sue is the manager and she is wonderful. Hale is the complex maintenance manager and he is available anytime of the day, anytime, anywhere. He will drop whatever he is going to help someone.”
Compromised of four historic buildings in the heart of downtown Syracuse, Pike Block is newly renovated to house one to three bedroom apartments. Despite its historic charm, the place is pretty swanky—rent includes heat and A/C, access to their fitness center, sleek finishes and more. In addition to the perks mentioned above, residents seem to love the complex’s aesthetic and its coveted downtown location.
Our favorite review:
“Pike Block is the finest apartments in Syracuse. The look and location do not get any better than this place.”Â
Located only minutes from SU, Copper Beech Commons offers all-inclusive, luxury apartments to students in Syracuse. The complex has made apartment living as convenient as possible to accommodate college student’s busy agendas. The units are fully furnished, utilities are included, and the staff is more than friendly. Similarly, the complex boasts a huge cache of amenities including a fitness center, on-site entertainment and even vending machines to satisfy your late night munchies. Feel free to embrace your inner Emily Dickinson because you’ll never have to leave.
Our favorite review:
“Literally everything you need is included, which is nice because you don’t have to worry about extra fees or monthly bills – just your rent! The staff is awesome too (security, maintenance is prompt, shuttle drivers – all very friendly) Darya and Allison were always willing to help and very accommodating if I had any concerns. CBC is about a 15-minute walk to campus, and has a shuttle that goes from the complex to campus and back. Sure beats paying hundreds of dollars for a parking space on campus. I will miss CBC”
If any of this has piqued your interest, make sure to check out more information on Syracuse off-campus housing and browse a list of student rentals near campus.
Callie Kollenbroich
Callie Kollenbroich has been the Operations Coordinator and Content Writer/Editor at Rent College Pads since 2015. When she's not working, you can find her at home, eating peanut butter out of the jar and bingeing an unhealthy amount of Forensic Files. She's not as lame as she sounds.