More and more expensive apartments are popping up around the University, and students are wondering if there are other alternatives.
Brian McCullough, a general business senior, said he and his brother, who will be coming to the University in the fall, are going to rent a house in Spanish Town downtown because it is cheaper than anything right off campus.
“Also, driving through the south side of Baton Rouge is people’s main fear, I think,” McCullough said.
Downtown offers many opportunities for low-income apartments, especially enticing to students, said Davis Rhorer, executive director of the Downtown Development District.
Places like Lakeshore Place, on North Ninth Street, River Palms, on North Third Street, and The Prince Apartments, on North Boulevard, offer affordable options for students, with rent ranging from $575 a month for a three-bedroom apartment to $650 for a two bedroom.
Wanda Rhodus, property supervisor for Lakeshore Place and River Palms, said both complexes have a number of LSU and Southern University students living there.
She said she is surprised more are not living there now because she thinks downtown is safer than around campus because of the serial killer.
However, some students do not think downtown is a safe place to be, especially not at night.
Arriel Wicks, a chemical engineering sophomore, said it depends on the area, but the stereotypes are negative concerning downtown.
“There’s a lot of weirdos there,” she said. “They make me not want to live there … I’d rather live here.”
Toi Armstead, an electrical engineering sophomore, said she could never see herself living downtown because it is not safe or a family neighborhood.
Rhorer said with downtown’s new programs, it will be a great place for LSU students to live.
He said the purple-line bus route will bring students from downtown to campus down Highland to Bluebonnet.
Also, with the completion of the bike path, students will be able to commute by bike from downtown to campus.
“LSU students bring such an energy and vitality to the downtown area,” Rhorer said.
Norma Valerio, a food science sophomore, said because she is an international student, she pays more for tuition, so cheap places to live are important.
She said because she does not have a car, public transportation is important to her, so she would consider living downtown if there was good public transportation.
Katie Logan, an interior design sophomore, said one of her main interests is to increase student involvement downtown, and the best way to get people there is if there are good places for them to live.
“Hell yeah,” Logan said. “I’m very interested in living downtown, especially if it’s cheaper. Why not?”