The Problem with West Campus Living

By Krysia Garcia on August 7, 2012

Think Twice before Choosing West Campus

This photo belongs to rutlo (Matthew Rutledge).

Tuition, textbooks, loans—as college students alone, we are spending thousands of dollars a semester just to stay in school. And in addition to this, looking for an affordable and decent place to live tends to be one of the most stressful tasks for those of us who no longer desire the restrictions of dorm-life. Most students attending the University of Texas at Austin understandably seek apartment locations as close to campus as possible; in other words—West Campus. I am one of the many who have chosen this same option, believing that the closer the location was to campus, the better. However, what many naïve newcomers lack is the knowledge of why many older students tend to move out of the West Campus area, opting for better apartment options. Here is a list of reasons to rethink your next apartment choice:

Reason #1: Overpriced Rent

One thing to keep in mind is that the closer to campus, the more expensive the rent. This is, for the most part, understandable. However, from my experience, what you pay is not what you get. Some of the main, big apartment complexes that dominate West Campus like The Block, Quarters, 21 Rio, and J26 (renamed to 26 West after management change) have rooms that range from $800-$1000 more depending on the amount of bedrooms.[1] Compared to the prices of North Campus or Riverside apartments of the same quality, which start at $500 and sometimes even lower, West Campus apartments are essentially robbing you. [2]

This photo belongs to Bludgeoner86 (Justin Taylor).

Reason #2: Never-ending Construction

If you want to live in West Campus, I hope you enjoy the sound of construction in the morning! No matter the season or time, the construction never seems to end. When you think one street or building is done, just turn the corner, and you’ll find another beginning construction. What does this mean exactly? Due to construction, there are numerous streets that need to be blocked ( as if Austin’s one-way street business wasn’t bad enough).

This photo belongs to compujeramey (Jeramey Jannene).

Reason #3: Parking

So, you brought your car from home, but don’t want to pay the $50 to $200 price of a parking garage? Unfortunately, during the school year, West Campus becomes so congested that finding a parking spot on the street is near impossible. Prepare yourself for driving endlessly in circles in search of a spot, or just investing in one. Also, pay attention to “No Parking” signs. Towing trucks are always lurking in the near shadows, lying in wait for you to leave your car for only a minute. Trust me; I know this from experience. Save yourself the steep $200 fine and find somewhere else to park.

This photo belongs to Dominic's pics (Dominic Alves).

Reason #4: Extremely Loud Neighbors

One of the main complaints that many current and former residents of West Campus have is how noisy the streets are at night. In addition to the countless number of parties that occur during the weekend (including those thrown at fraternity and sorority houses also located in West Campus), West Campus also contains several E-Bus stops. For those of you who do not know, the E-Bus is free transportation for students going downtown and deemed incapable of driving home. To put it plainly, there are drunken people, drunken people everywhere. Living in West Campus means having to relocate in order to study at other places, such as local coffee shops or the PCL, because you will almost never find the peace and quiet you need at home.

This photo belongs to Brian Lane Winfield Moore (Brian Moore).

While there are apartments that have proven to be exceptions to the list above, these are just a few of the several problems that students have had living in the area. So, before you set your mind on that conveniently located apartment in West Campus, make sure you are making the right choice. As someone who has experienced living there first-hand, all I have to say is save yourself some money and find someplace just a little further. Even if it’s not in walking distance, UT offers free transportation for students in all of these residential areas. Good luck!


[1] <http://www.westcampusliving.com/> (accessed July 29)

[2] <http://www.westcampusliving.com/blog/austin-neighborhoods/north-campus-austin-tx> (accessed July 29)

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