The Lady

Great views in downtown Columbia, 5 minute walk to the law school.

So I personally like this building, but I know a lot of students have a love hate relationship with it. The pros: the building is secure, clean, no major bug issues, and the staff are very nice. The cons: you can sometimes hear neighbors and getting to your car can be a pain (depending where you live in the building).

Frankly, the biggest drawback to this building is it's EXPENSIVE. You are simply paying for the location and walkability. If that's enough for you, that's great. But don't expect amenities to match the price. Nothing is horrendous, just keep in mind it's pretty expensive for what you get home/amenities wise.

Friendly community. A lot of my classmates live in the building. There is a study area and it is very quiet usually. Parking garage is connected so you never have to technically "walk outside" to get to your car. The building is also SUPER safe. You need a key fob to get inside the building and also need a key fob to use the elevator. There is valet trash and a maintenance man who is amazing!

When coming from out of state, I wanted to live in an apartment that was within walking distance to the school, as I was unfamiliar with Columbia. By far the best decision I have made. I brought my car up with me when I moved, but very rarely drive it. The leasing office and maintenance staff are very prompt at responding to you. I have had no issues since moving in here, and I am confident I made the best decision. The only slight downside is that because it is in the heart of downtown, you hear outside traffic often, and it is near the hospital so you hear sirens sometimes as well. Personally, it does not bother me, but I know for some people it may. Additionally, when Hurricane Helene came, this complex was one of the few to never lose power during the storm.

I have honestly loved living at The Lady. Being walking distance from school is unbeatable and I love running and exploring in the downtown area. Like all apartments, nothing is perfect. But it's reasonably quiet, I've had no bug issues, and management isn't bad.

Great location (about 5-10 walk to the law school), with a responsive staff that handles any administrative or maintenance concerns. Have had issues with water leaking in my closet from the shower, but has subsided for time being. In unit washer/dryer is convenient, though sometimes takes several cycles to fully dry. Appliances are otherwise up to date and working. I am situated across from a parking garage, so not a lot of sunlight but there are options on higher floors with downtown views. Expect $50ish in electric a month and $70/90 a month for parking depending on whether you want a covered space in the garage or not.

I lived at The Lady during my 1L year and currently live here as a 2L. My only complaint is that some of the amenities that were promised over a year ago still are not open for the tenants to use. The outside courtyard has been under construction the entire time I've lived here, and the dog wash station seemingly has been abandoned. The business center and community kitchen were under construction for a year, and the rooftop patio was inaccessible for nearly a year as well. I wish that the projected dates of completion had been accurate because I paid a ton in rent last year for a basic apartment in a building with virtually no amenities. It's better now that some of the projects have been completed, but there are still several projects outstanding. It's a quiet and secure building though, and I have enjoyed the close proximity to the law school especially since parking in Columbia is a nightmare. Having a dedicated spot in the parking garage has been fantastic.

Pretty good

The Lady is fantastic. It's all older buildings that have been renovated and turned into apartments. There is a gym, rooftop, study lounge, community spaces, and a fun outside space that is almost complete. It's right downtown, so I am able to walk to both school and dinners/social events all around. Although it is right downtown, residents use a fob to get into the building, and then again to use the elevator and stairs. I feel pretty secure here. Cars/street cleaners downtown can get a little loud at night, but it's totally worth any noise to be located where I am.

The management there is really receptive to any complaints, and gets anything fixed immediately. It's usually pretty quiet which is perfect for a med student.