Ponderosa Village Apartments

Building structures cheaply constructed. Right next to a train on Evans which will blow its horn at 2 am. Expensive relative to what grad students are paid. Management does not keep accurate records of anything, e.g. they claimed they had no record of my security deposit after I had lived there for four years. I thought being on campus, there might be more community, but I guess they work grad students so much for so little pay, no one has time to meet fellow students. Consequently, the value of living on campus is reduced.

Big apartment for cheap. However, it's a bit dirty and you have to walk through dirt and mud to get anywhere

The perk is you can walk to class or work as a graduate student. Great for those without cars! But I’d you do have a car you still need to buy a UNR parking pass and since the complex is right next to the sports fields every day and night you hear loud sports practices occurring. The large football and baseball games interrupt quiet studying. The walls here are also very thin so be prepared to hear your neighbors.

it is safe for student housing and close to campus.

Very expensive and rent is being increased despite no stipend increase for students

For the most part, Ponderosa Village is a great place for graduate students and faculty to live when attending UNR. The rent is the most affordable I was able to find for a one bedroom apartment, the floor plan has plenty of space, and since it's on campus and you can walk most places, you can save money on gas and car insurance. The downsides include the kitchen is quite small, maintenance may be needed pretty often depending on your luck (I haven't had to call maintenance but my neighbors have several times), and there is a trash problem. The trash problem isn't due to the management mind you, they're trying there best to handle the situation, it just comes down to residents being negligent and leaving their garbage next to the dumpster without putting it inside. Overall, I'm very happy at Ponderosa Village. There are a few things that need improving, namely the trash problem and volume of maintenance requests for some residents, but it's an excellent place for graduate students and faculty.

The apartment complex is average, it is not very clean in the outside and there are issues with trash management.

On another note, the management of the place is not great.

First, the pros: The property is well-secured with gates and heavy front doors, so I feel relatively safe at home. Of course, I live on an uper level, so those at ground level facing the parking lot may feel differently. The bedroom and bathroom are good-sized and private and I pay my half of the rent through a separate lease from my roommate, ensuring that if she leaves I am not responsible for her part of the bill. I appreciate that each bedroom has its own bathroom and that the unit has its own washer and dryer. The windows are large and allow in plenty of light. My particular unit has a nice view of the sunrise and hills.

Now the cons: There is virtually no storage space. The kitchen is very small, especially as it is shared between two people. Everything from the counters to the fridge to the carpets are clearly the cheapest options available. Trash builds up all over the property, cluttering the parking area and pathways as we don't seem to have enough dumpsters for the residents and nobody at the offices cleans up the property. The same bird poop has been on the railing, steps and landings of my unit for over 6 months. Parking is not just far away, but there are no designated pathways, so we're trudging up dirt paths that get muddy or aren't cleared of snow in the winter. Additionally, parking is not covered, so that's another couple hundred dollars a year. There is no guest parking to speak of, which presents additional challenges. There seems to be a high turnover rate for employees in the offices as it's always someone new. The offices are often closed during the hours they are supposed to be open and I almost never get responses to calls or emails, so I've given up trying. The location also means loud trainings on the practice fields, loud game nights, and bright parking lot lights at all hours, but that is to be expected with campus living.

Overall the unit itself has some appealing features, but gor the cost of the rent to not have much of an outdoor space, no swimming pool or gym membership (except through student fees), to have to pay separately for parking, and to have to live with a roommate because individual units are so expensive... it just doesn't measure up. Especially with the lack of care from management.

In my opinion, Ponderosa apartments are overpriced but they are a good choice because are close to campus. Although, are far from any marketplace but there is a 7 eleven close by in case you need some stuffs.

The apartment is spacious, good for health. The heating system has problems.

Neat and affordable.