Ivy Garden Apartments

Pros of Ivy Garden:
-easy to walk to school
-really responsive management and maintenance
-close to anything you’d need
-very comfortable living space for one person or a couple
Cons:
-more car dependent than Pav
-pretty dated in most units
-small kitchen

Definitely the best option if you're attending UVA Law or Darden and want to be able to walk to school. Sizeable apartments with good storage space (although technically you're not allowed to use the utility closets as storage which leaves you with only a small coat closet, but I've been using them anyway and nobody has cared so far). The buildings are fairly old, and the wall-to-wall carpet is pretty nasty, but that's probably my biggest complaint. Parking is free, plentiful, and never checked, so visitors should generally be able to find a spot. Walls are fairly thin, but not awful. Kitchens are pretty small compared to the living room, but I don't cook much so it's fine. No microwave included. Management is responsive to service requests; someone usually shows up within a day or so. Technically no pets are allowed, but this is not enforced at all. As long as you pay and aren't disrupting your neighbors, management pretty much leaves you alone. The pool hours are very limited; the pool season overlaps by maybe 3 weeks for students not here during the summer. Packages are generally left either outside your door or by the mailbox at the entrance to your building (usually comprised of 3 floors of 4 units each). Higher-numbered units (140s) are generally closer to the schools. Not easily walkable to groceries/restaurants/etc.; it's a ~25 min walk over to Barracks. Great community; the vast majority of residents are law or Darden students, and I have several law school friends who moved here from the Pavilion after 1L because it's more space for less money. Our rent went up $50 from last year.

Ivy is a much better deal than many other apartments in this area. First and foremost, Ivy is almost all graduate students. Lots of law and business school social events take place at Ivy and, as a law student, you're practically guaranteed to have friends nearby if you live here. It's an easy walk to and from the law school. In terms of the actual apartments, Ivy is an older development, but many of the apartments have been renovated. My apartment has modern appliances and utilities. I have a spacious layout with a den which I use as an office. Internet infrastructure is great and I have a good view. There are three drawbacks to Ivy: First, air circulation is poor, especially in the kitchens. Second, the bathrooms are pretty small. Finally, in-unit laundry is not an option. Even though there are machines on-site, they are rather expensive ($4 to wash and dry one load). All in all, I think Ivy is a great deal. Despite the drawbacks, it is substantially cheaper than other nearby apartments (the Pavilion in particular) and I think you get more space.

You get what you pay for at Ivy. I lived in a different spot, Arlington Park Townhomes, my first year (I'm a 2L), and it was a nightmare. Ivy is fantastic compared to that place, even though they are managed by the same company, Thalhimer.

They have been great. The neighborhood is quiet, the walk isn't too far, and they are very responsive to maintenance requests.

Overall, Ivy is a nice place to live. The apartments are a good size, and any maintenance requests are responded to quickly (usually the same day). Even though the apartments may not be the most updated, they are good quality for the rent.

My experience with Ivy Gardens has largely been great. The complex is generally 100% leased, which means that the management company is able to employ a fully-staffed maintenance team. That further means that any time you have an issue, it is generally solved within the day (unless an outside contractor needs to be called). This has been super helpful. Likewise, the rent is reasonable for what you get. It is not the most fantastically modern apartment ever, but it is comfortable, homey, and everything works.

Great management, lots of space, and for a great price. Perfect spot for law students.

Ivy Garden feels more like a home than apartments at Pav and is much cheaper. If possible, I would recommend applying for an apartment early so you can live on the North side closer to the school if you plan to walk to school.

It’s a great apartment. But the utilities add up. Lot less included then I thought. All together add about $150 to your rent for utilities