Commons apartments are popular because they have washers and dryers in the units. They are with Chatham and Patterson and the recreational area but around the corner kinda not right at the main stuff. You can safely walk to outlet stores and some restaurants. DD had car so not sure about bus but I know it has a stop there. She never complained about the management or operation of the complex.
Chatham is right at the main bus stop, very convenient if no car. Across from the recreation area. Complex hosts many of the housing events. Considered to be in between party and sedate.
Patterson is next to that so only a long block or so walk to Chatham to the bus stop. It is the newest complex of them all and reported to have bigger closets and newer appliances. Considered the sedate complex - I think DD said some referred to it as the retirement home or something like that. She probably would have been happy with that.
Vista Way is where check in occurs and is in the corner of I-4 and 535. It has the look of a "cheaper" apartment complex, surrounding by parking lots. You can walk to the Chickfila, gas mart, Walgreens and some more. Being main hub, all buses come here, a few more services, computer labs and some classes taught here. It is the party complex. DD got reassigned here in spring and was not happy. Upon arrival she was surprised her apartment had been newly refreshed. That didn't last long when they were infested with bed bugs and locked out with no clothes or anything while they chemical blasted it. Had to go to Walmart to buy pajamas and luckily roommate family was in town so they bunked in their hotel. She missed days of work over the "handling" of the situation. She had to wash all, throw out all bedding and buy more, treat her items that couldn't be washed. Cost us alot more than lost pay. Very frustrated with the management here. She checks out tomorrow to head home. Guys seem to be less bothered by Vista than Gals.
Aside from the above to consider are:
- They are all different prices and for many kids that is a big deal. At Vista DD figured each week it took two shifts to pay rent, 1 shift for gas and groceries and the rest was play money. Look at all the prices and see what you think works.
- Room mate combinations, how many per room and how many bedrooms in each apartment. It's like a puzzle putting in your choices to hope to box in what you want. Fall DD and 3 roomies picked each other, put in their choices and were happy to get them. Spring it was just DD and one good friend she made so they tried to be more flexible to make sure they didn't get Vista ... but they did.
As others said how good or bad depends on what your college dorm experience has been and know that no matter what you put in for, no guarantees. The upside it's only 4-5 months.
