Top 15 reasons why Uptown East is your best choice for off-campus living: Confessions of a VU Senior
I think you can agree with me that your senior year should be your best year ever. In this Valparaiso University student’s blog, you’ll learn the top 15 reasons why living in Uptown East Apartments is your best choice for off-campus living.
Confessions of a VU Senior
You’ve survived the dorm life, you’ve worked your butt off, and now you want more.
When I first set out on my search for a place to live off-campus, I heard from friends that Uptown East was the nicest place to live. I heard the amenities were unmatched. Naturally, I wanted to know more. I went out and performed my own diligent research.
Along the way, I talked to various people. One misconception I always heard from them was how hard it is to actually acquire a room… that every room is booked way in advance. I also heard rumors that off-campus Uptown East Apartments did not come furnished. Both of these statements I found to be completely false.
Demystifying the rumors
While the room spots are competitive, you shouldn’t have a problem living at Uptown East if you make it your goal. Just start a little early and get in contact with the Uptown East Apartments personally. That’s what I did, and I had no issues getting into a room. I’ll also say, my room, and every room, is in fact fully furnished.
Still, I had heard of a few instances where people had heating issues. I read in an article from the local newspaper that one room had no heating during the winter, and a student and her family were deeply upset.
So I set out to make my own discoveries
Apparently, the owners were having problems with their management company. Recently however, the management company was let go, and the owners of Uptown East assumed all operations.
The owners didn’t want to just fix things. They planned on starting from scratch and updating everything, from new heating and air conditioning, to all new amenities. The owners wanted to set things straight again. Since then, Uptown East has been undergoing massive renovations which I have found are making Uptown East absolutely incredible.
Everything at the Uptown East Apartments is like brand new. The rooms are being redone. It’s like when you go to a hotel that was recently renovated, and it feels brand new. That is how Uptown East is, only you get to be there all year, not just a few days.
I’m really excited about it. Here are the top 15 reasons why I’m living in Uptown East this year.
15.) Parking
Uptown East Apartments have reserved parking spots available for their residents. Parking is a notorious issue for students at VU, so it’s nice to come back without the stress of searching for that last parking spot. Your friends and family will also have a place to go in the guest lot.
14.) Your room comes with a flat screen TV
In the living area of every Uptown East unit there is a flat screen TV mounted on the wall, centered in front of your brand new furniture. You’ll no longer need to dispute over the television in this location, and if you want another TV? Simply bring your personal one to your bedroom. Fall asleep on your brand new mattress while watching your favorite shows.
13.) 24-hour private study rooms
Often times we want to do our work away from where we live. Uptown East has 24-hour private study rooms available so you can get away without being far away. Make these rooms your new work stations. When finals are coming up and the library is filled, you’ll always have a place to study.
Those private study rooms on the 3rd and 4th floors of the Christopher Center that are extremely sought after and almost impossible to get into? They are now in your apartment, without the competition.
12.) Electricity is included with your rent
Each resident gets $30 towards their electricity bill every month. That being said, you are either walking away without a monthly bill, or your bill is going to be hardly noticeable.
11.) Your room has high-speed internet and cable
There are no extra fees to pay. Each unit comes with high speed internet and DirecTV so that you can spend less time on the hassle of setting everything up, and more time on the things you love.
10.) Balconies
Everyone loves the ability to simply walk out the door and be outside. You can get that fresh air and relax, maybe even some sun. Select units at Uptown East have their very own balcony. Who thought you could grill in college?
9.) Brand new electric stove
An essential to every desirable apartment is walking in and finding yourself with a great kitchen. Uptown East just got brand new electric stoves that work incredibly. It’s time for you to be a master chef and make your own fresh meals.
On top of this, each kitchen has a wood style floor with refreshing marble countertops. It’s the epitome of a modern kitchen.
8.) Exclusive Uptown East Student/Parent Discount Program
Uptown East Apartments have made friends with several local businesses. This is extremely advantageous for you because you will be able to dine in locally with discounts that no other person in Valparaiso has access to. Imagine eating at your favorite restaurant Downtown, and when you get your bill it says, “Uptown East 25% off”. You can eat out nicer, and you can eat out more frequently. Your friends and parents will always want to be with you.
7.) Proximity to hidden gems
Uptown East is around a 5 minute walk or couple minutes drive from Downtown Valparaiso. The local restaurants in Downtown Valparaiso are simply incredible. I am a quite a food snob, and let me tell you, the restaurants in Valparaiso’s Downtown do not disappoint. When my family treats me, I always ask to go Downtown. I highly recommend Don Quijote or Pikk’s Tavern.
Downtown is also a place where you can find various festivals and concerts throughout the year. In the winter, adjacent to the amphitheater, there is an ice skating rink underhead a state of the art pavilion.
6.) Proximity to your needs
In the opposite direction, Uptown East is around a 10 minute walk, or just a couple minutes drive away from a shopping center that can satisfy all of your needs. Whether you need to go to Target for some toiletries, Best Buy for electronics, Aldi for groceries, or Menards, you’re just minutes away.
Around this area you’ll also be surrounded by various chain restaurants such as Five Guys, McDonalds, Panera Bread, and Coldstone Creamery. Coldstone Creamery boasts of having very impressive desserts. If you’re in the mood, look no further.
5.) In-unit washer and dryer
Everyone knows how bad it sucks to do laundry in a dorm. It’s a serious time commitment to watch your clothes, and often you’ll get down to put in your load of laundry, and every washing machine is already in use. Now your schedule is disturbed because you have to wait by a machine…
At Uptown East, your brand new washer and dryer are located right by the entrance of your room. Get your laundry done whenever you want without even having to leave your unit.
4.) 24-hour fitness center
Uptown East has a brand new workout facility available to all Uptown Residents. It has all new modern equipment, so you won’t even need to pay for a gym membership. The room is open 24 hours, so no matter your schedule, you’ll have time to get your workout in. This is luxury at your fingertips.
3.) Walkability to classes
Amongst all of the Valparaiso Apartments, Uptown East is by far the most ideal for a college student. I will literally be just a few minutes walk from the Harre Union, and with that, extremely close to any of my classes regardless of where they might be.
2.) Your room is furnished with all new, brand new furniture
You no longer have to worry about buying an expensive bed, couch, or chairs, and then figuring out what to do with everything when you move out. Uptown East Apartments comes furnished so that you’re ready to live there the moment you walk through the door.
Uptown East recently went through massive renovations and now has a brand new feel to it. Luckily for residents, all of the furniture is in fact, brand new, and it’s going to be in your room.
1.) Private bedrooms and bathrooms
Oh, this is hard to beat. Your “roommate” no longer sleeps five feet across from you. Try, they sleep another room down from you, and you each have your own bathroom attached to your private bedroom too. It surprisingly gets better. Everyone also gets their own California walk-in closet. I couldn’t fill it up if I tried.
The takeaway…was the choice that obvious?
As someone who is looking to live in Chicago next year, I jokingly worry that I won’t be able to replicate the quality or value of Uptown East, even as a young professional making good money. Uptown East is that good, it has it all…. I’m going to have an amazing senior year.
Uptown East was the obvious choice for me to live at for my senior year of college. The value and quality were unmatched with anyone else in town, and I couldn’t let the opportunity slip past me. I want my senior year to be my best ever, and Uptown East is going to let me live it. Uptown East is the best off-campus housing in Valparaiso.
These are my top 15 reasons why I’m going to be living there next year.
Matt Jano Janesheski
