Transportation:

• CU-MTD: The bus. With your UIUC Student ID, the bus is *free,* otherwise it's $1 a ride. Reliability-wise, it can be 5 minutes early to 10 minutes late in general, and at worst in inclement winter weather it's a good idea to allow for around a half hour of leeway.


• SafeRides: If you stuck around the department to finish your dynamics homework and realize it’s 2am and you have no way to get home…You can get a free ride from the bus system as long as it’s not to the bar or the hospital.  Call 265-7433 and give the dispatcher your name, phone number, pick-up location, and destination.  In fact they will pick you up from anywhere with the “SafeRide Zone” and there are a few buses that run overnight as well.

• UIUC's Parking and Public Safety Websites
• If you're just visiting, it's easiest to park at a meter on Gregory Street provided a spot is open (see picture below)



• More Permanent Parking Situations : You can buy a student permit for over $400/year, but you will not be able to park in the lot next to the DAS!  Most students look for free parking on streets surrounding DAS, use the meters on Gregory Street next to DAS, or tempt fate by parking in a lot without a permit. An informal study in 2006 found that the amount of money spent on tickets from parking illegaly was roughly equal to the price of the student parking permit.


• Student Parking Realities: Tickets on city streets are $10; Tickets in the university lots are $25.
  Parking is free on Gregory St. after 5pm. You’re able to park in the lots near DAS after 5pm (after 4pm in winter), but only until 2am! They will tow your car after 2am -- something to be aware of for late-night study sessions.


• Where can you park for free near the Department?
  Some of the residential streets north of the Department (north of Springfield) are not metered or restricted. There’s also a stretch a few blocks east of the department on the north side of Springfield that’s not regulated or metered.

Housing General Information:

Most leases in the Champaign-Urbana region run from August to July, and the management around here tend to pressure students a little into renting for the next academic year (like 2008-2009) in the fall of the current academic year (2007). Further from campus, leases are much more flexible, and the bus system will pretty much get you anywhere in town. Typically, off-campus housing close to the university is more expensive and further from campus is cheaper.

Some of the major landlords on campus are: CPM management, JSM management, Barr, and Ramsaw-Smith. There have been some unsavory rumors about Barr and CPM in the past (not cleaning apartments adequately, etc., but students that have lived in their complexes recently have not had any issues. Here are the websites and phone numbers of the more prominent property management:

CPM: (217)328-3030
JSM: (217)359-6108
Barr: (217)356-1873
Ramshaw-Smith: (217)359-6400
Gabe’s Place: (217)344-0700
Faron: 217-352-8540
Weiner Companies: (217)384-8001
CU-Living: (217)841-4549
Robeson: 217-239-6677
Regency: 217-356-2533

Internet Searching:
News-Gazette (local newspaper)
Craigslist (online classified ads)
Daily Illini (student-run campus newspaper)
ChampaignRent.com
CIApartments.com
ApartmentRatings.com

If you're looking for month-to-month leases, one of your best bets might be University Housing. Rates there are in the $500's-$600's per month for a monthly lease. (click on apartment rates)

Another great resource is the Tenant Union on campus. (Phone: (217)352-6220) They can help you find housing, tell you who to trust, and warn you of potential problems. They do tend to be more geared toward undergraduates, though.

Below is a map of the Champaign-Urbana area, outlining areas you probably would want to avoid when looking for places to live (as a student).

Section 1: This is the area right along Neil St. A heavily-used and very noisy train track runs next to Neil. It's not a dangerous area, but you might not get much sleep here.

Section 2: The areas north of University are more run-down, and have a higher crime rate. While Champaign-Urbana is not a very dangerous town, I would not recommend living there as a student.

Section 3: This area is where the undergraduate students tend to live; things can be pretty noisy here until the wee hours of the morning (especially around Basketball & Football games).

Section 4: This area is where all of the restaurants are. It's not especially noisy or unsafe. It is, however, heavily congested with traffic. It's a great area to be if you don't have a car, because you are close to major restaurants and stores. However, if you do have a car, this is a better place to visit than live.

Housing Recommendations:

The following is a case-by-case series of reviews by grad student experiences of their rental properties, collected over Summer 2007. In most cases the reviews reflect the 2006-2007 academic year. They're sorted according to distance from the department -- closest spots are first! Hopefully those of you looking for particular rental properties find this helpful.

Apartment Name: Bailey Apartments
Apartment Location: 911 W. Springfield Avenue
Distance from school: ridiculously close
Methods of transportation to/from school: walking
Name of Landlord/Management: Bailey Apartments
Cost of Rent: $575/month ("large" one bedroom)
Approximate Cost of Utilities: Are any utilities included in rent? Nothing is included...my water and electric run ~$75/month (more in winter), with cable/internet on top of that.
Perception of Landlord/Management: They seem like they keep their properties in pretty good condition, and they've responded promptly when I've had a maintenance request.
Opinion on Apartment: I like it overall and don't have any complaints.
Any other comments? The building is really close to the department (I can see it from my office). Parking is extra, but I'm not sure how much. It was in good condition when I moved in, and the area is generally quiet (no big parties). You can buy internet separately or through Bailey ($300/year payable in August). There are some city of Urbana fees that are also now due up front, but I'm not sure how much they total (this year they were $10/month).
Website: www.baileyapartments.com
Would you recommend this to incoming students? Yes
Overall Rating 1-5 (5 being the highest): 4

Apartment Name: Bailey Apartments
Apartment Location: Corner of Springfield & Lincoln
Distance from school: Across the street from the department
Methods of transportation to/from school: 20 second walk
Name of Landlord/Management: Bailey Apartments
Cost of Rent: $475 in old complex (where I am), $530+ in new complex (where I am going)
Approximate Cost of Utilities: Gas + Electric between $45-70. Only bill over $100 was during extremely cold(sub-zero) period in Feb.
Are any utilities included in rent? Just monthly bug spraying.
Perception of Landlord/Management: Awesome. If you need help, it gets taken care of. Christy Gibbas is nice and takes care of things.
Opinion on Apartment: These were the nicest apartments that I found when I was looking for a place close to campus. There is an older building and a newer one. The old one is just fine, but I am moving into the newer one next year. I don't plan on leaving Bailey anytime soon though.
Any other comments? Two negatives: 1) I was told it would be cleaned before I moved in, but it wasn't. I had to spend time doing that myself. 2) Parking fee, Urbana recycling fee, security deposit, and internet all up front to cover the entire year. It adds up.
Website: www.baileyapartments.com
Would you recommend this to incoming students? Yes.
Overall Rating 1-5 (5 being the highest): 4.5

Apartment Name: Landmark Apartments
Apartment Location: 502 W Main St, Urbana, IL 61801
Distance from school: 3/4 mile (10 minute walk to department)
Methods of transportation to/from school: Walk, bike, bus (10 Gold)
Name of Landlord/Management: Mike Eiskamp
Cost of Rent: 595$ for a spacious 2-bedroom apt. They also have studios and 3 dr. Parking is extra, but there's free parking in the street.
Approximate Cost of Utilities: Are any utilities included in rent? Heat, water included in rent. Electricity not included (~30-40$/month), phone, cable, internet not included either. Laundry is 75 cents for wash, 50 cents for dryer.
Perception of Landlord/Management: Great management. They usually answer to any issues the same day.
Opinion on Apartment: Our apartment was great, new carpet all over and new countertop in kitchen. 1st floor apts have small patio.
Any other comments?  The apt is really close to downtown Urbana, which has a few good restaurants and bars. Strawberry Fields (organic grocery) is just a block away. Schnucks and Save-a-Lot (general grocery) are not far either. The neighborhood is safe and quiet, although make sure you lock your bike up good (with chain through tires etc.) because I have had my bike seat and bike tire stolen.
Would you recommend this to incoming students? Definitely would recommend. Plus it's not run by "Campus Property Management" which I have heard really bad things about.
Overall Rating 1-5 (5 being the highest): 5

Apartment Name: Lincolnshire Properties
Location: 111 S Busey Ave, Urbana, IL (they also have some properties in Champaign, but may be a little far)
Distance: 5 minutes walk from DAS; 15 minutes walk from Illini Union
Name of Landlords: Charles and Ginger
Cost: Fully furnished; they have one two three bedrooms priced from $560 to $1200.  One-bedroom rent includes heat. Extra cost for parking.
Comments: Very close to our department (5 min walk). Good landlord, they have no complains in Tenant Union. Good neighborhood.  I like this apartment and recommend it.
Website:  http://www.lincolnshireprop.com/index.html
Over rating 4.5

Apartment Name: Busey Court
Apartment Location: Intersection of Lincoln and Green
Distance from school: About a block and a half
Methods of transportation to/from school: Walking
Name of Landlord/Management: JSM
Cost of Rent: Upper $400 range when I was there
Approximate Cost of Utilities: Are any utilities included in rent?
 -- Water is an extra $10. Garbage/recycling is free.
 -- A parking spot will cost you $600 a year.
 -- You pay electric, phone, cable. Gas is not used in apartments.
 -- Apartments are all furnished.
 -- Apartments have ethernet, but I never used it.
Perception of Landlord/Management: Generally friendly and helpful.
Opinion on Apartment: This place is advertised as a 1-bedroom, but it is really smaller than a studio. They now advertise a washer and dryer inside the unit, and for the life of me I can't figure out where they would put it! Location is great, and the landlords are good, but it's a bit of a rip-off.
Any other comments?
-- Neighborhood used to be safe. Armed robberies have been occurring in this area for the past year, so it isn't as good as it used to be. Parking will cost you $600 a year, and you need a special permit (which you are not eligible for) to park on the street, so you're stuck paying. You are close to two gas stations with convenience stores inside. They will be a bit more expensive than a grocery store, but they'll help you in a pinch. The nearest grocery store is a mile away.
-- JSM only has leases from August to July. As early as November, they will ask you if you want to renew your lease. If you refuse, they will offer your apartment to whomever signs the lease first...whether that is you or a new tenant. Busey Court is usually a tough sell, though. My apartment did not get rented out until July, even though they pressured me to renew in November.
-- Urbana has a law against management entering your apartment without giving you 24-hours notice. For example, by law they can't just enter your apartment to show it to a prospective tenant. JSM gets around this by handing you a notice saying your apartment is "on display" during specific hours on 6 days of the week. They consider this their 24-hour notice.
Website:  www.jsmapts.com
Would you recommend this to incoming students? You won't regret it if you're desperate for housing your first year and you have no furniture. Once you're here, shop around for better housing.
Overall Rating 1-5 (5 being the highest): 2-3. Not rock bottom, but you can do better.

Apartment Name: 506 W Elm St
Apartment Location: 506 W Elm St., Urbana, IL
Distance from school: 4 blocks
Methods of transportation to/from school: foot/bicycle
Name of Landlord/Management: Campus Property Management (CPM)
Cost of Rent: $630.00 for 3 bedroom - 1 bath
Approximate Cost of Utilities: Are any utilities included in rent? Utilities are not included. Water ~$30/2 months and electricity ~$90 average whole year.
Perception of Landlord/Management: OK. Any complaints have been handled fast.
Opinion on Apartment: Very good.
Any other comments?
-- The apartment does not have washer/dryer - only thing I dislike. It is very close to bus stops and ~5 blocks from one of the main terminals. There are two bus lines that run one street north and south of the street I live in. One of the lines run every day to late hours. It is close to the organic store Strawberry Fields (go by foot) and somewhat close to Schnucks on Main and Vine. Very close to location of Urbana's Farmer's Market. You are also close to various parks, including Crystal Lake Park.
-- I've always felt safe walking in the neighborhood at any time. You need to pay extra for parking space. The complex has 2 and 3 bedroom apartments.
Website: http://www.cpm-apts.com/

Apartment Name & Location: 304 E Clark Street, Champaign, IL   (North-West of UIUC)
Method to school: bicycle 10 minutes to Illini Union, 15 minutes to DAS
Cost of rent: I only know 4-bed room apartment about 950$ or so, but they have 1-bed, 2-bed rooms. The utilities cost about $100 every month, winter maybe more.
Opinion on Apartment: full furnished, Center Air, and they will clean the apartment every month, and they have no complains in Tenant Union.
Other comments:
--This apartment is near FAR EAST, and AM-KO, so student from Asia may like it. And it is convenient to take 2 RED, or 100RED to Market place the Mall, Meijer, Walmart.
-- It is in the north of White street, so maybe less safe, but not so serious. I have stayed there for one year. I feel OK. You need pay extra for Parking.
No website. But it is easy to google the telephone.
Would you recommend this website to incoming students? I recommend it.
Overall rating 4.0

Apartment Name: Landmark Apartment 
Location: 502 W Main Street, Urbana, IL  (North-East of UIUC)
Distance: 15 minutes walk to DAS, 15 bicycle to the Union
Cost: Unfurnished, rent including heat and water.  One-bedroom $520, two-bedroom $610, three-bedroom $710 or so. Extra cost for parking.
Comments: This apartment is a little old. When Prof. Makin Mak first came to our school 37 years ago, he lived there. But this apartment has very good reputation, it has no complains in the Tenant Union.  And, it is very cheap, especially for two & three bedrooms. It is also near the Urbana Downtown. 
There is no website, but you can call 217-384-5876 to see if there is available rooms. Usually before April they have rent all the rooms.
Do you recommend this apartment to incoming students: I recommend it.
Overall rating: 4.5

Apartment Name: SunnyCrest Tower Apartment
Location: 1102 E. Colorado Ave., Urbana
Distance from school: 15 minutes by bus
Methods of transportation to/from school: bus ( 2 Red; 5 Green; 6 Orange)
Name of Landlord/Management: CPM
Cost of Rent: 235/mon/person for 2 bedrooms
Approximate Cost of Utilities: Are any utilities included in rent? 10 for water, 30 to 50 for electricity (will be higher in winter)
Any other comments? close to the bus stop, but a little far away from campus, not perfectly safe, but not too bad; washing-machine in apt., very close to County Market
Would you recommend this to incoming students? A little bit far from the campus
Overall Rating 1-5 (5 being the highest): 3.5

Apartment Name: University Family and Graduate student housing
Apartment Location:  1920 S Orchard Street
Distance from school: 1.5 miles
Methods of transportation to/from school: Bus or Car
Name of Landlord/Management: UIUC
Cost of Rent: $480 for unfurnished one bedroom, including parking,
water, cable TV and internet.
Approximate Cost of Utilities: Are any utilities included in rent? Not included, about $70/month
Perception of Landlord/Management: Very good maintenance service
Opinion on Apartment: It is a safe and quite neighborhood. The bus operates frequently.
Website:  http://www.housing.uiuc.edu/
Would you recommend this to incoming students? Yes
Overall Rating 1-5 (5 being the highest): 4

Apartment Name: 611 W Church St
Apartment Location: Distance from school: ~2 miles
Methods of transportation to/from school: bus (orange, green, Loop), and bicycle!
Name of Landlord/Management: Diane & Ron Meister
Cost of Rent: $635/mo
Approximate Cost of Utilities: Are any utilities included in rent?
-- Heat (gas), hot water, trash pickup, and parking are included.
-- You pay for electric ($50/mo), telephone, cable/satellite, ‘cold’ water ($23 every other month)
Perception of Landlord/Management: Generally good.
Opinion on Apartment: VERY QUIET APARTMENTS even if your neighbors aren’t.  Solid Construction, a little dated but unique (wood paneling throughout, and one wall is exposed brick)
Any other comments? The neighborhood is pretty safe, I run by myself around the area without much worry. Grocery store is about a mile & a half away which is pretty convenient, you can ride your bike down there if you don’t have too much to get. 
Does your apartment complex/landlord/management have a website?  No
Would you recommend this to incoming students?  As long as you have a reliable way to get to school (some buses are not always that reliable!)  I’ve had good luck with the “Orange” buses; they run until about 7pm.  There’s other buses that run later but are a little further to walk to get to.
Overall Rating 1-5 (5 being the highest): 4 = Pretty decent.

Apartment Name: Town & Country Apartments
Distance from school: 2 miles
Methods of transportation to/from school: bus (gold/silver line)
Name of Landlord/Management: Town & Country Apartments
Cost of Rent: Upper $400's and up
Approximate Cost of Utilities: Are any utilities included in rent?
   Water, trash pickup, and parking are included.
   Wireless internet is included.
   Swimming pools, fitness center are free.
   You pay for electric, telephone, cable/satellite.
   Apartments do not use gas.
Perception of Landlord/Management: Generally good.
Opinion on Apartment: Apartments are in very good repair. Walls/ceiling are a bit thin, so noise can be a problem.
Any other comments?
-- Neighborhood is generally safe. Bus route is very good for complex...you can use the busses any time between about 6 AM and midnight.
-- Nearest supermarket is a mile away. You can use busses to get to them, but it is difficult to haul groceries with you on a bus.
Website: www.tandcapartments.com
Would you recommend this to incoming students?  Incoming? Probably not. I'd recommend staying near campus your first year, and then moving away later. This place is 2 miles away from campus.  After your first year, I think it's a good choice.
Overall Rating 1-5 (5 being the highest): 4. Mostly decent.