Campus Gardens

Location– Proximity to UMD is great. I lived here during my senior semester (I graduated early) and stayed the remainder of my year lease, commuting up 95. It’s a little ways to either 95 entrance but not too bad. Actually never took the bus system so I can’t comment on that. Hyattsville is not a great area, so the gate and fenced in community was a little breath of fresh air.
Parking– What a pain in the ass. If you have one person on the lease, you’re only issued one parking pass. No permanent visitors pass. If you needed a visitors pass you need to get to the office before they close or call them and let them know to leave it at the gate. Fair warning, if the leasing office will still be open, they don’t want to do their jobs and just make up the pass. They tell you to come get it when you arrive.
They threaten that they tow every night– Sun-​Thurs midnight to 6am and Friday/​Saturday 2am to 6am. So if someone may be drinking, get the pass ahead of time. I was eventually told by a guard at the gate that the tow truck only shows up about 50% of the time or less. It’s just an expensive chance to take. The parking passes are due back the day they expire or it’s $ 50. If you don’t get it back to them within the week, it’s $ 100. Oh, and if someone forgets to log yours back in, they’ll send you that letter stating your account’s been charged $ 100.
Communication– AWFUL. They don’t do emails, automated phone calls or anything remotely quick. They leave letters in your door or postings on the glass door to the upstairs apartments. We’re randomly inspecting apartments? 1 – 2 day notice. Spraying for bugs, empty out your entire kitchen? 1 week notice. Late rent or parking pass? After the 5 day grace period, and with 2 – 3 days left to find and return the pass.
I got a letter in my door once that there had been a package sitting at the office for me for a while and if I didn’t go and pick it up they were going to return it to sender… I WASN’T EVEN INFORMED THERE WAS A PACKAGE RECEIVED. EVER.
Apartment itself– Good. Perfect size for 1 person. Lots of cabinet and shelving space throughout the apartment. The kitchen is small with little to no counter space after a microwave is placed there, but you can make due. I lived on the second floor and the balcony seemed stable and everything. I could rarely hear the other apartments surrounding me– shower on in the other apartment, I could only tell that water was running. Downstairs was a bit of a different story. If they blasted music, I’d have to go into my bedroom and shut the door to even muffle it.
You have an option of carpet or hardwood in the family room/​dining area. I had asked for carpet flooring and upon move-​in (UHaul there to be unpacked and everything) saw that the apartment I was given was hardwood. At that point, there was really just no time for me to go back and attempt to get an apartment that actually fit my specifications.
Rent– Definitely one of the cheaper, reasonable options in the area. I had the student discount so that helped as well. Much cheaper than the Varsity/​View, but it also had less «stuff». There’s no gym, common room, and it isn’t a stones throw to campus.
Maintenance– Awesome. They guys were and are always friendly, courteous, etc. They leave a note every single time they’re in your apartment and for what reason they were there. They make sure that you’re comfortable and never step into an apartment as soon as the door is opened for them. They always wait for that cue to step in.
They always were quick to attend to my concerns and respond about issues. These guys were trained really well.
Office Staff– The office staff themselves are friendly and helpful, besides the parking pass issues.
I will note that before my move in, I was [finally] given a move in date. When I called about something else, I was told that I *might* be able to move in that day. They weren’t sure. I was moving from another state, the UHaul was booked, people were secured to help, the whole 9 yards. I had to fight to make them keep that date.
The little apartment I had was nice, my neighbors were as well. But there’s a few sure fire reasons I would never re-​sign there.

Campus Gardens may be perfect for some… and not-​so-​perfect for others. The complex is clean and safe (completely gated with a guard at the entrance) and the interiors of the apartments are great and are constantly being improved. This is a good place for small families as there is a swimming pool and several tot lots.
Despite the name, I wouldn’t recommend this complex for serious students.
I was lured in by the graduate student discount, low rent and the proximity to UMD. However, it seems that half the time I turn on my computer to work on my dissertation, my apartment is instantly filled with pounding bass from the neighbor’s music, flocks of children screaming outside my window or the fire station blaring from across the parking lot. Because the apartments upstairs have a separate entrance I can’t go up there and ask them to turn the music down, so sometimes I’m forced to listen to it for hours on end. I guess this is normal for apartment complexes, but I’ve definitely lived in places with thicker walls.
This can be a great place if you are not noise sensitive. The complex is very affordable, maintenance staff are great and the place is pet-​friendly, too. But if peace and privacy are your goals, I’d go elsewhere.