Off-Campus Apartment Guide
By: Claire Wong ‘23
With COVID-19, it is extremely difficult to get on-campus housing and many students have opted to live off-campus. There are so many off-campus housing options but what are the differences? After a few interviews and some research, here is a guide to the most popular off-campus apartment complexes around USC!
Element
Pros:
Comes furnished
Apartments in good condition
Maintenance orders completed in timely manner
1 Pool, 1 gym, barbecue grill, and outdoor lounge/patio
Community activities (giveaways, free food, etc)
15 minute walk from campus
Located above Qwench, Burger IM, and DRINK
Cons:
Security team is not very responsive
Thin walls, extremely loud
Gateway
Pros:
Comes furnished
Apartments in good condition
Pool, study rooms, and office center
Community activities (giveaways, free food, etc)
Friendly environment, easy to meet new people
One block away from campus
Cons:
Lots of parties, can get very loud
Poor COVID control
Complaints of homeless people in hallways
Management team is not very responsive
Difficult to pick up packages
Parking is $175/mont
Icon Plaza
Pros:
Comes furnished
Apartments in good condition
1 Pool, 1 gym, game room, and study room
Community activities (giveaways, free food, etc)
10 minute walk from campus, across the street from Fertitta (Business school building)
Located above Starbucks, Wing Stop, Which Wich, & Pizza Studio
Cons:
Random false fire alarms
Management team is not very responsive
Utilities are not included
Slightly more expensive than surrounding apartments
Poor internet connection
The Lorenzo
Pros:
Comes furnished
Newer apartments, in good condition
LOTS of amenities (3 pools, 2 gyms, arcade, theater, study rooms)
Community activities (giveaways, scavenger hunts, workout classes, etc)
Student-only complex
Free food on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Restaurant (Central Kitchen) inside complex
Cons:
Random false fire alarms
Management team is not very responsive
Far from campus, shuttle service is not always reliable
Parking is $50-100/month
The Shrine Collection
Pros:
Comes furnished
Newly renovated
1 gym and barbecue grills/pits
1 block away from the USC Village
Easy move-in process
Cons:
Little security
Management team is difficult to get in contact with
Poor maintenance team
Some kitchen appliances in poor condition
Tuscany
Pros:
Comes furnished
Apartments in good condition
Pool, study rooms, and 2 gyms
Community activities (giveaways, free food, etc)
10 minute walk from campus, across the street from Fertitta (Business school building)
Located above Chipotle, Chick Fil A, and other restaurants
Cons:
Management team is difficult to get in contact with
Slightly more expensive than surrounding apartments
Parking is $100-120/month
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