The place is decent, was picked mainly because it is walking distance to Duke's West campus and there's a Duke Transit bus stop Rent is on the cheaper side, but it does mean that the quality of the apartment is also a little cheap, e.g. thin walls. Maintenance is pretty good about responding in time to requests. There is a pool but no one really uses it.

This is a no-frills apartment complex that is only a 15 minute walk to the Sanford School. While there are bug issues (as most places in Durham do), thin walls, and possible appliance issues, the rent is cheap and the management is generally receptive to maintenance requests.

I stayed in a one-bedroom apartment at Chapel Tower. The rent was affordable for one person and the utilities and furniture package offered made move-in convenient for me. The location is extremely close to Duke, which made commuting somewhat easy. If I missed the bus, I could walk for 10-15 minutes to campus. My apartment also had new appliances which were reliable. The interior is nice enough so that if you take care of the apartment, it can be very cozy and comfortable.

However, I was unhappy overall with my living situation. Chapel Tower is not a very safe place to live. I was often on edge because I would hear people fighting in the parking lot just yards away from where I lived. I was awoken multiple times by people screaming. Someone stole my bike that was chained right outside my door while I was in my apartment. I had to call the police about a domestic dispute that happened a couple of doors down from me. There were a lot of muggings and other incidents in the areas surrounding the complex. I also was not informed prior to move-in that I would be living in the oldest part of the complex where there is no car gate.

The building is so old that something as small as my upstairs neighbor closing her door would cause all my windows to shake. I also was extremely unhappy with the water in my apartment. The pipes are very old, and even with a shower filter, I experienced hair and scalp issues such as dandruff throughout my time living at Chapel Tower. The hard water also scratched my dishes and left spots all over them.

You also have to sign a release stating that there is lead paint under the outer layer of paint in the apartment. It wasn't an immediate problem for me, but it is something that new tenants should consider. They won't tell you about it until you move in.

Moisture also gets trapped easily in these apartments. I was constantly fighting musty smells and mold in my bathtub. The apartment is generally clean, but requires a lot of maintenance to keep it that way. My apartment was also at the bottom of a slope, so when it rained, the area surrounding my place would flood slightly and it was almost impossible to leave my apartment without stepping into a huge puddle. I slipped and fell on the concrete a couple of times.

I felt like I was spending a lot of money to fix basic things in the apartment (i.e. installing smoke detectors that management neglected to install, investing in additional security measures), and I really hated feeling unsafe living by myself. They advertise 24-hour security here, but after the first two months or so I didn't see a single security guard around. Were I to do the process over again, I would just get a more expensive apartment elsewhere. I only chose this complex because my roommate backed out last minute and I had to get something quick and affordable by myself. There are definitely worse places to live in Durham, but I wouldn't recommend this complex to anyone. Living with a roommate here might be better, but I imagine it isn't too different.

Staff are very nice and they will fix your problems asap. You just need to report.

7-8 mins walk

Good for students only

Apartment units are fine. Looks like they'd been renovated before I moved in. Neighborhood is a mix of families and students. Management is very responsive to service requests and pest control. All units come with A/C and heating, washer, dryer, and refrigerator. They're turning a shared laundry space (now that everyone has in-unit appliances) into a small gym. There's a pool that families seem to use a lot over the summer. Free parking for all residents plus guest passes that I think you can get one at a time.

Since the apartment is mixed, there are definitely nights when I hear some parties or arguments. I picked "lots of noise" below, but while it does get noisy, it's never to the point where it bothers me and keeps me from sleeping soundly.

Close to Fuqua is the best part.

Decent apartments, good value for money when unfurnished

Centrally located
Accessible to important bus routes
15 minute walk to west campus