University Park Apartments

We came to University Park Apartments because it’s dog-​friendly – there is even a nice, though small, dog park on the property. Staff has always been cordial and pretty efficient, although sometimes difficult to get a hold of. The grounds are beautifully maintained, and the amenities, including the aforementioned dog park and swimming pool, are a big plus. It’s also located close to Notre Dame as as well as good restaurants in Mishawaka.
It’s not cheap ($ 731/​month plus $ 35/​month for washer and dryer plus $ 40/​month for our two dogs), and the rents have gone up significantly every year. That’s not unusual in this rental market, but it may very well be more economical for us to buy a house. One bothersome thing is the lack of light fixtures in our apartment, which is already pretty dark because it faces north. There have also been a couple of incidences of crime in the complex. My girlfriend’s car was broken into last year, and in recent weeks a person posing as maintenance staff tried to force his way into two apartments at different times.
We were somewhat perturbed to discover that the property is located adjacent to an active Superfund clean-​up site, an unlined landfill used by Uniroyal Inc. in the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. The site is listed on the National Priority List and the clean-​up is ongoing with continued groundwater and soil contamination. The site is fenced off but many people walk their dogs along the perimeter. We wish that staff at the leasing office had informed us when we were considering renting here, but no one disclosed it – probably because they are not legally required to do so. That’s not to say we wouldn’t have rented here anyway as the risk is probably low, but I think it’s worth knowing.
Here is a link to the EPA fact sheet on the site:

awesome spot.
we got to stay here for free since one of my priest homies hooked it up.
grad students live here long term, most are married.
some of the csc priests as well. john jenkins, in fact.
if you are planning on living at ND for a grad program with your spouse, stay here.