Phi Chi

Phi Chi is a great place if your are lucky enough to get a spot here and are willing to make a slight commute. It is perfect for those who want a fixed monthly rent amount or for those who do not want to near the hospital around the clock. Further, having upperclassman as your friends and neighbors has been instrumental. There are pros and cons of every place but this by far has more pros than cons. Wouldn't want to live anywhere else and plan to be here for all 5 years that I will be in Ann Arbor.

Physical layout: My apartment had some renovations shortly before I moved in (the bathtub was redone, the kitchen cabinets were updated, and the carpet was replaced with wood floors). My unit also has a more open floor plan than some of the others due to a set of French doors connecting the bedroom to the living room, but this is not typical of the units in the complex. I have really large living room/kitchen windows, so even on overcast days my apartment is very bright. It's a small place, but comfortable for one person. I will note that there isn't a lot of counter space, and the oven is smaller than standard and only has one rack, which slows down cooking.

The walls are reasonably thick. I can occasionally hear my neighbors, but nothing terrible. The temperature control isn't good. In the summer, it was very hot, and in winter my bedroom is degrees colder than my living room.

Amenities: The on-site laundry is a godsend. There's a washer and dryer in the basement of both buildings, and there's few enough tenants that there's rarely, if ever, a wait.

Our clubhouse has a gym, jacuzzi, kitchen, game room, and study with medical reference books. Out back there's a patio with a grill and a great view of the river and the arboretum.

In addition to free parking, snow removal is handled for us and the common areas are cleaned for us.

Location: It's a little distance from the medical school; about 15 minutes by bus and 25 minutes walking. The nearest bus stop is about an 8 minute walk, so keep that in mind.

Management: My sole complaints have to do not with the unit, but with the management company. I was charged an exorbitant cleaning fee before moving in and arrived to a filthy apartment. I asked them to remedy it, and nothing improved. I asked for a refund and was only granted a partial one on the incorrect basis of my not giving them the opportunity to rectify the error. I also have some concerns about security/locks in the complex. However, these issues don't affect my life on a daily basis.

Overall, I wouldn't trade living here and would highly recommend it!

Love the community and how close it is to the medical campus.

Phi Chi is a great place to live. It is sort of a co-op between medical students, but can also function as a simple apartment complex. There is a common space with access to a medical library, TVs/desks for studying/watching lectures, pool table, grills, kayaks (we live on the river), and gym. Phi Chi has some of the cheapest rent you'll find in and around the medical campus side of Ann Arbor. It is a little bit farther than the White coat area, but I personally see this as an upside. We live on the river, right across the river (with a bridge) from the Arboretum. There are running/walking paths all around. We live right down the road from the Furstenburg nature area and a mile away from Gallop park. All of these things add up to an unbeatable living experience if walking downtown to the bars every night isn't essential.

Great place to live. Been there all 4 years. Club house with a library, game room, small gym, and back yard that goes to Huron river with available kayaks.