Casa Roma

Love the apartment, management can be tricky and not always the most accommodating. It’s expensive but very well located

CTT is ideal for anyone. The apartments are not high-end, but they have everything you'll need. The kitchens are a bit small and the furniture they provide you is old, but perfectly serviceable. The gym is fantastic. There is a shuttle going to and from campus every 10 minutes in the mornings and every hour in the afternoon during the week. There is a shuttle to Wegmans on the weekends. Plus it has a bus stop right next to it.

Conveniently located

Overall, this apartment offers decent value (probably the cheapest studios you will be able to find in the area). Amenities are somewhat scant: basic workout room on the 4th floor, shared laundry on the 2nd floor, no A/C. The units are centrally located sort of between Cornell and the Commons, just south and down the hill from Collegetown. Compared with the other CTT buildings, this one seems to have slightly thicker walls, but you can still hear your neighbors once in a great while. The layout is very "dorm-like." Management seems decent at best; while they don't actively seem to monitor what goes on, they typically are relatively timely in sending maintenance your way if you need something fixed. There has been a strong marijuana smell lately lingering around that they have failed to address despite many complaints by residents.

Expectations are generally met. The leasing office is just next door - people are very nice and helpful and their 24/7 hotline is responsive. However, sometimes you can hear people talking aloud in the hallway and their internet connection has been an issue. I have slow speed during peak hours but they have been working on it.

Overall this place isn't bad for the money. Compared to some of the newer Collegetown Terraces buildings, the walls here seem to be a bit thicker (or perhaps my neighbors are just a bit quieter). It's somewhat no-frills, but for the money its not bad.

Something to be mindful of: it's not far from the Cornell campus (takes me about 10 minutes to walk) and its fairly close to Collegetown and the Commons. The only downside is that its at an unfortunate place hill-wise. Walking to class, each step is uphill from the moment you step outside.

Also, there's no central air conditioning so for the first few months in the summer it can be a bit uncomfortable if you don't buy a window unit.

Favorite thing about the apartment is the kitchen. Plenty of counter space, working dishwasher, garbage disposal in the sink, and the kitchen/living room floor plan is open (i.e. no wall, only the counter separating them). Stove is electric, not gas like my previous apartment, but for the money in Ithaca, it's not a bad compromise. Management is also very responsive to maintenance requests. The garbage disposal broke and they had it fixed within 24 hours. Be aware, however, that packages go to the mailroom in the office, which is only open during work hours. The apartment is part of the Collegetown Terrace complex, which is well maintained and relatively peaceful.

Casa Roma is cheaper than the other buildings at CTT because it is older. There is no Central air and the apartment looks older. But you get all the conveniences of CTT - the shuttle picks up at my door, there's a gym on the 4th floor, there's also a bridge on the 4th floor that connects to the rest of CTT and can get you to the larger gym quickly, there's also covered parking under the building which is great for snow (for a fee). Cons of CTT is there are no security cameras, washing machines and dryers suck and take quarters only, and people smoke in their apartments (which apparently isn't punishable). Overall a decent value for the convenience of the shuttle, camaraderie of other classmates being close by in the complex/in the building, and being able to live by yourself.

CTT is good if you want the same pricey housing you had in undergrad. Management is unfriendly and unresponsive.

I lived here all 3 years. The apartments are WAY overpriced, almost NYC rent costs. The older buildings are very old/don't have much storage space. They also often don't have AC (but this can be solved with a window unit). I didn't move because almost all my friends live here, which made getting home after late library nights or going out easier/safer. I also stayed because I have a car and they have covered parking under the buildings (although its expensive - 800/year). It is not the closest option to campus but it is nice to get away from the law school/collegetown area. The gym is nice enough. It's never that full and it has almost everything you need. It is a student apartment complex. Very basic. Does not feel very adultish but it is good enough.

My biggest complaint is that it is extremely overpriced.
A major plus is the shuttle service to the law school.