HVCC’s absence of dorms creates options for local apartments
By: Lya Zhang
Staff Writer
Looking for student housing less than a mile away from campus? Get the scoop on three housing developments: College Suites at Hudson Valley, The Valley Green, and Hudson Terrace.
College Suites at Hudson Valley (CSHV) is located at 100 Morrison Avenue, Troy, New York, 12180. It is 0.4 miles away from HVCC which is about an eight minute walk. It boasts 72 units of either two or four bedroom apartments.
The application fee is $75 and there is a $250 deposit before starting the lease.
Through the application questionnaire, students are paired with roommates who have compatible living preferences and interests. If friends want to live together, they can request so through their application.
CSHV offers apartments for 12 months lease, from August to July, but it can be reduced if someone is interested in renting for the remainder of the lease.
Two bedrooms with one bathroom are $950 per month per student. A four bedroom with two bathrooms are $830 per month per student.
Students may also be eligible for financial aid to help pay for their apartment. The first step of determining eligibility is to complete and submit their FAFSA form.
All apartments come fully furnished. A refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishwasher, and ample closet space can be found in the open kitchen. In the living room there is a flat screen TV, sofa, coffee table, and armchair. In each private bedroom, you will find a full-sized bed, desk and chair, and dresser. Also, students share semi-private bathrooms with bathtub and toilet, but have their own basin.
The housing developments are equipped with cameras, fire alarms and two elevators. Pets are not allowed except with a doctor’s note for support. Any guests have to sign the sign-in sheet, and have to state to management if they are staying the night.
CSHV can be contacted by phone at (518)720-6079. Their office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Annalese Myers, a marketing major, moved into the Suites in January, 2019 after moving out from her parent’s house.
“I chose the Suites because of its location. It is so close to school, and everything was already furnished,” she said. “I like it a lot. It is really fun. I was nervous to meet my roommates at first. I was afraid they would not like me, [but now] I like how people are friends with each other, and I can always have people around so that I don’t have to chill by myself. I like to meet new people.”
However, she added, “I don’t like how maintenance doesn’t fix the apartment, like our stove is broken, and I don’t like that they don’t really go over the rules. When I first moved in, I did not know we had to sign in guests and [that] people can only stay over for two days.”
Regarding activities in the Suites, she has not attended any yet.
“The only one I had known about was the Red Party and I did not go because I had to drop my car off,” Myers commented.
Overall, she is glad she chose the Suites.
“It is good to have your own room and privacy, but still live with people,” Myers said.
Naim Anthony, individual studies major, moved into the Suites in August 2018.
“It is better than the one nearby, and they offered more. It is fully furnished, and it is cheaper compared to other places,” he said. “I am enjoying my time here. I like the people here, the diversity.”
However, Anthony feels that there are negatives to the development as well.
“I am not too fond of the loudness at times,” he said. “I can hear people from upstairs, and the laundry room is not clean. People are leaving their clothes there.”
The Suites allows students to change apartments if necessary.
“I changed apartments because my roommates were not clean,” Anthony said. “The dishes, the bathroom, and the living room was not tidy, I couldn’t even use the kitchen,” he added. “It took a long time to change apartments.”
The Valley Green is an apartment community for students only, completely refreshed in early 2016. It is located at 25 Morrison Avenue, Troy, New York, 12180, at the corner of Morrison Avenue and Cottage Street. It is 0.5 miles away from campus, about a 10 minute walk. The Valley Green offers 81 units of private, one bedroom and one bathroom apartment for the price of $795 per month.
Students pay a $36.00, non-refundable application fee, payable online. Students interested need to prove their current or future enrollment, and must have a parent or guardian guarantor sign the lease with a minimum credit rating.
The 12 month lease runs from June 1 through mid-May.
Each apartment has an open kitchen in the living area, and a bedroom with a bathroom. All appliances are included in the kitchen, but furniture is not included in the apartment. Nonetheless, students can rent furniture through rent companies that are linked to the Valley Green. In addition, any guests can come whenever they want.
Jeremiah Stevens, a mortuary science major, chose Valley Green for a few reasons.
“First, it’s close to school. It’s an easy walk,” he said. “Also, I have my own space. Compare this to someplace like the College Suites building, that’s at minimum a two-person apartment.”
Stevens would recommend the Valley Green depending on the person.
“If you’re on your own with a low income, and you want your own space, close to school, it fits the bill,” said Stevens. “However, if you don’t mind living with others, and have the money, I’d look at College Suites. There may be other options a little further from school as well.”
After the recent snow storm, however, Stevens became aware of one of Valley Green’s downfalls.
“We were told to move our vehicles to allow for plowing,” he said. “However, they hadn’t cleared enough snow to make the task easy. We were left to ‘do our best’ with two shovels, and a lady from the office to help us dig out. I felt bad for her, and annoyed that each person had to clear a four-foot square of two-foot deep snow. Also, walkways aren’t kept snow or ice free as they should be,” he explained.
The housing development can be contacted by phone at (518)982-2664 or by email at info@thevalleygreen.com. Their office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment.
Hudson Terrace is located at 221 Stowe Avenue, Troy, New York, 12180. It is about one mile away from campus, making for a 20 minute walk to school. The 48 units include one and two bedroom options. It is apartments for students and family.
The application fee is $40, non-refundable, and there is a $600 non-refundable deposit before paying $801 each month for a one bedroom apartment. The two bedroom apartments are $950. The 12-month lease includes heat, electricity, hot water, internet, air conditioning and cable. A laundry room is onsite.
Each apartment has its own kitchen appliances. Guests are allowed. Pets are negotiable and one cat under 12 lb is allowed. There is an outdoor space for picnics, grilling and barbecue.
Hudson Terrace does not have an office. They can be contacted by phone at (518)328-3203. Guided tours are made only by appointment.
These three housing developments are offering available rooms right now.