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Aventura

E’lysse S., M2

Address: 4431 Chouteau Ave.

Price range: one-bedroom for $1350+, two-bedroom for $1,700+, utilities not included.

Amenities: Full in-unit laundry, private balcony with outdoor storage, dog park, swimming pool, fitness center, fire pits, nice outdoor common areas with grills.

Pet policy: Pets allowed for extra $20/month rent, plus $150 fee and pet deposit, weight limit on dogs. Very pet friendly; there’s a dog park right next to the complex!

Parking: Free gated parking for residents, carports available for $50/month extra. Very small guest parking area but guests can street park outside the complex.

Commute to class: ~12-minute walk to campus.

About: Aventura is very quiet and perfect for someone that doesn’t want to be bothered by loud neighbors or music. It’s located just a few blocks north of The Grove, which has a great strip of shops and restaurants/bars. There are great outdoor common areas to hang out with people (especially during COVID). The balconies and in-unit laundry are wonderful features that are hard to find in St. Louis, and the apartments are very well-renovated and new. The gated parking and security give quite a bit of peace of mind in St. Louis, where car break-ins are not uncommon. The maintenance is also very quick, and they are usually there within a day when I submit a service request. The only drawbacks for me are that the apartments are pretty small and relatively pricey, it can be hard to have a lot of people over because of the quiet hours after 10 p.m., and most people (at least in our class) live in the Central West End instead of The Grove. But I personally enjoy living here and think it’s a great option if you want to live within walking distance of campus.

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Del Coronado

Andy K., M1

Address: 4949 W. Pine Blvd.

Price range: Studio for $1025, one-bedroom for $1,005/1,080/$1,280, two-bedroom for $1,325/$1,400/1,700 (unrenovated/renovated floors/fully renovated pricing), utilities usually around $20-$80/person.

Pet policy: Pets allowed for a one-time $150 deposit and $20/month.

Parking: Gated parking lot for $75/month, uncovered garage parking for $100/month, covered parking garage for $125/month.

Amenities: Laundry machines on every other floor, small gym, package pick-up, bike room, conference and lounge areas, coffee machine in lobby.

Commute to campus: ~10-to-15-minute walk.

About: Del Coronado (DelCo) has spacious one- and two-bedroom apartments in a variety of different floor plans and renovation levels. DelCo tends to be one of the most popular buildings for medical students, so it is always easy to get together with friends in the building! It’s a short walk to campus, Forest Park, Whole Foods, and anywhere else you might want to go in the Central West End. Sometimes the management can be a little slow to respond, but I haven’t heard of anyone having major issues. Overall, I am happy with my decision to live in DelCo and would recommend it!

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Emden

Mimi G., M1

Address: 4942 W. Pine Blvd.

Price: 1,400 sq. ft. two-bedroom/two-bath for ~$1,400.

Amenities: In-unit washer/dryer. Gas stoves. Skylights and master jacuzzi bath if on top (third) floor. Front and back door (leads to fire escape and parking area). Located two-minute walk away from Forest Park, and two minutes away from Euclid Avenue. (Whole Foods, Shake Shack, Kaldi’s etc.). Water included, but not gas, electric, or WIFI.

Pets: Pet friendly, $250 pet deposit.

Parking: Gated, outdoor parking for $100 a month. First spot is free with the unit.

Commute to class: ~10-minute walk.

Instead of moving to popular student housing choices like DelCo or the Core, I ended up choosing a two-bed/two-bath apartment in Emden. First, the place was spacious for the price, with 1,400 square feet for $1,400 a month. This was huge for me as someone who used to share atwo-bedroom/two-bath in LA for triple that price. The building also comes with tons of natural light, exposed brick, in-unit laundry, and has been the perfect place to host, whether it be a small dinner of six or a birthday bash of 20+. Emden is also pet-friendly (great for cats!). The location is great, as Emden is super close to campus, Forest Park, and other popular student apartment buildings! However, the building is somewhat old, bare-bones, and lacks many amenities that other buildings like DelCo and Montclair have. I think the choice is up to the individual, but I’ve been fairly content with mine.

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Metropolitan Flats

JingJing Z., M1 and Sarah S., M1

Address: 4535 Forest Park Ave.

Price Range: $1,525-$1,625 for a one-bedroom/one-bathroom, $1,995-$2,495 for a two-bedroom/two-bathroom, electricity and WiFi around $50/month.

Amenities: In-unit laundry, central AC/heating, gym, dog park, courtyard with grill, food mart, valet dry cleaning.

Parking: Underground in secured lot for $125/month.

Pet Policy: Allowed for a $300 fee and $25/month. Limited to two pets per unit. $100 pet fee for second pet.

Commute to Class: five-to-eight-minute walk.

About:

We live in a two-bedroom/two-bathroom apartment (1,170 square feet), and we have absolutely loved it here so far! This apartment complex is on the upper end in terms of rent but the tradeoff for location, the large space, and the amenities have made it worth it. We are very close to school (probably the closest you can get, except for the Core apartments) and to Forest Park (one block away) and all that CWE has to offer. The management and maintenance have been nothing but kind and attentive.

Metro Flats is in the Central West End right across from the hospital and is about a five-to-eight-minute walk from the medical campus. The building and apartments were renovated recently and there are one-bedroom/one-bathroom and two-bedroom/two-bathroom layouts available. The appliances are updated, and there is in-unit laundry! The large windows offer plentiful natural light which makes studying or Zooming from home a rather lovely environment. The building has a small fitness center for residents, a courtyard, a small mart with food and things, and a dog park! Underground, secure parking is available with a monthly fee. Some of the ground-level rooms have little patio areas, and we are on an elevated floor that has a small balcony. If you’re looking for a comfortable and convenient place near campus in CWE and are able to buy in this price range, we recommend Metro Flats!

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Montclair Apartments

Wendy T., M1

Price: $2,655/month for a three-bedroom, two months free if signing 12-month lease.

Pet policy: $300 one-time pet fee, breed limitations on dogs.

Amenities: Communal laundry room in the basement (fee for laundry), mail/package room, coffee machine.

Parking: Outdoor lot and indoor garage, about $80/month, limited space available.

Commute to campus: 10-minute walk to campus.

About: I chose Montclair because it’s one of few apartments with three-bedroom options in the Central West End.

Pros: Our living area is spacious and great for hosting small gatherings. We have hardwood floors throughout the entire apartment, a nice kitchen with modern appliances, and an amazing view of Forest Park. (We’re on the 11th floor!) The front-desk employees are very friendly. The real estate provider, Mac Properties, hosts a lot of apartment-wide events with free food and drinks. There is also a rooftop that’s great for outdoor events.

Cons: This might be specific to our apartment but there have been a lot of small maintenance problems due to the building being old, such as broken window shades, chipped doors, peeling walls, dirty air conditioners, etc. Maintenance is fairly responsive to requests but can’t always fix the problem. Our bathrooms are very small. Also, the laundry room can get quite busy since it’s shared by the entire 16-floor building. The outdoor parking lot is fine, but the indoor garage has tight spaces.

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Parc Frontenac

Sofia C., M1

Address: 40 N. Kingshighway Blvd.

Price range: Studio for ~$1,000, one-bedroom for ~$1,000-1,400, 2-bedroom for >$1,600, utilities typically around $100/month with WiFi.

Amenities: Large rooftop with furniture and amazing views, gym, communal laundry in basement, 24/7 doorman, package reception/storage, located right across the street from Forest Park, bike storage, management company hosted events (such as free beer tasting, cooking class, yoga, etc.).

Pets: Pet friendly (dogs – max 50 lbs., cats, birds, fish) for a $300 deposit and $20/month fee.

Parking: Underground garage for $100/month, covered garage across the street for $75/month.

Commute to class: ~10-minute walk.

I live in a two-bedroom/two-bathroom apartment in Parc Frontenac. The Parc has great amenities, including a newly renovated gym, a study room, free coffee, and a rooftop with great views of the city. My roommate and I have a very large common area that is great for hosting dinners, movie nights, or other festivities. The Parc’s proximity to campus and to Central West End stores, like Whole Foods and Straub’s, makes it a great location for those without cars to be able to access everything they need within walking distance.

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Park 44

Dante N., M1

Address: 4444 West Pine Blvd.

Price Range: Studio price is currently not publicly listed on their website; my one-bedroom loft is $1,165.

Pet Policy: Pets under 25 lbs. are allowed, maximum of one pet. There are breed restrictions for dogs, however. $300 initial deposit with $150 refundable at end of lease. $20 per month charge from that point.

Utilities: You don’t pay for AC or heat, which is amazing! Electric is through Ameren; I pay about $25 a month. Water/sewer bill is likewise about $20 per month. Internet is only through Spectrum, which is $45 per month.

Parking: There is both a garage and surface parking; however there are not many surface spots. Garage is $85 per month; surface spots are $55 per month.

Amenities: Standard appliances including fridge, microwave, stove, oven, dishwasher. Communal washer/dryers on the second and fourth floors, $1.99 per cycle. Balconies on some units; additionally, some units on the first floor open to the communal courtyard which includes patio furniture, cornhole, and a grill. Secured package room. There is also a communal business center on the third floor with a printer.

Commute to campus: ~20-minute walk, ~three-minute drive.

Commentary: I really enjoy my apartment in Park 44! I live in one of the loft units, and I enjoy the open design and how large the bedroom is as a result. Of course, this is not for everyone as it means the bedroom is open to the rest of the living space in the apartment, albeit on the upper floor. I live alone and the apartment has been a great size: not too big but I also do not feel cramped. The 20-minute walk to campus is a little bit longer than some of the more popular apartment buildings, but I have enjoyed the daily walk, and I always have the option to drive over to campus if it’s pouring outside. You’re still in the CWE and close to the most popular apartment buildings among medical students, so it is easy to have friends over or head over to their places. That being said, there are not a lot of medical students who live in Park 44 itself — and although I have not had any problems at all connecting with my classmates, those who would want to live somewhere with more medical students might not find that here. Management is excellent, and I have had zero problems with the apartment itself. I haven’t had to submit a maintenance request my entire time here. If I did need to, I have heard from other residents that they are very responsive. Overall, I enjoy my apartment very much and would recommend it!

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The Core

Abby H., M1

Address: 718 & 818 S. Euclid Ave.

Price range: $750 – $1,700, with a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments (utilities included).

Pet policy: One pet (25 lb. limit) per unit in 718 building; $200 deposit and $100 fee.

Amenities: Fully furnished (with in-unit washer and dryer and Smart TV), 24-hr gym, utilities, cable, internet, game room, rooftop, group study library, barbecue/picnic areas, and secure package receiving.

Parking: $79-$85 fee depending on lot.

Commute to class: two-to-three-minute walk.

The Core is a very convenient place to live while transitioning to a new city! The apartments come fully furnished with an in-unit washer, dryer, and Smart TV. There are many great common spaces for socializing, including a 24-hour gym, game room, rooftop, and library. Rent is reasonably priced and includes utilities, cable, and internet. It only takes me five minutes to walk to class in the morning, and when I need a study break, Forest Park is only two minutes away! I’ve met so many of my medical school friends at the Core, and I highly recommend these studio apartments for anyone who (like myself) enjoys having their own space yet wants to keep their classmates close by.

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The Parkway

Srinand P., M1

Address: 4961 Laclede Ave.

Price range: Studio for ~$850, one-bedroom for ~$975-1,050, utilities included.

Amenities: Carpeted floors, communal laundry in basement, entry system, optional valet trash service.

Pets: Cats only, $25/mo. per cat, up to two cats.

Parking: Surface parking for $50 per month.

Commute to class: ~12-minute walk.

The Parkway is super affordable and close to campus, with easy access to parking. The valet trash service is awesome, and management is great overall. The sole downside is that this is an older building without some of the amenities of the more modern buildings nearby.

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The Residences at Forest Park

Isa G., M1

Address: 4910 W. Pine Blvd.

Price Range: Studio for $1,335, one-bedroom/one-bathroom for $1,540, two-bedroom/two-bathroom for $1930, utilities around $75-$95 per person, including WIFI.

Amenities: Gym, bike storage, complimentary coffee, two outdoor patios with grills (one is the dog park, and one is the human park), postal package service, washer/dryer in the unit.

Pets: Pet-friendly with a dog park.

Parking: Gated uncovered lot parking for $60/month.

Commute to Class: 10-to-15-minute walk from classes, 5-to-10-minute walk to the hospital.

The Residences at Forest Park is a gorgeous, historic building, smack-dab in the middle of the Central West End and a mere 10-to-15-minute walk from our classes in the Farrell Learning and Teaching Center. It’s literally feet from Whole Foods, Shake Shack (a burger joint), Kaldi’s (a coffee shop with Wi-Fi and seating), and several other residential buildings like Del Coronado, Parc Frontenac, and the Orion. At the Residences, you’ll get to enjoy in-unit washer and dryers, hardwood floors, gated parking, free coffee in the lobby, a fitness center, a bike storage area, and two courtyards (a dog park and a “human” park), all while being supported by attentive management staff and (relatively responsive) maintenance. Additionally, the building is extremely quiet — especially if you live in one of the “arms.” (The complex is shaped like an M.) Overall, this has been my favorite, most spacious apartment that I’ve lived in over the past nine years, though definitely in the pricier range (and the appliances are rather old). However, if it’s within your budget, I can’t speak highly enough of this pet-friendly and medical student-friendly building!