Near-campus living

If you decide to stay off campus but still don’t want to do a great deal of traveling back and forth for your daily classes, you are in luck because Portland offers a wide selection of rental opportunities near Portland State. Below, we have a roundup of a few of the best places to stay near campus.

Village at Lovejoy Fountain and Tower

245 SW Lincoln St.
503-223-5314

The Village at Lovejoy Fountain (VLF) apartment complex comprises the Fountain and the Tower buildings. The 15-story Tower was built in 1980, while the newer four-story Fountain complex was constructed in 1999.

VLF’s arsenal consists of studios, 1 bed-1 bath, 2 bed-1 bath and 2 bed-2 bath apartments. The rent for the studio apartments starts at around $555 a month, while the other rooms range from $820 to $1500.

The rooms in the Tower apartments facing the west get to see the Willamette River and Mount Hood on a clear day.

“It’s a million-dollar view,” said VLF office assistant Sean Harry.

VLF’s amenities include a fitness room, a five-foot-deep swimming pool, a hot tub, a sauna, a shower and a laundry room. The newly renovated fitness center includes two treadmills, three ellipticals, a recumbent bicycle, a stair stepper, a weight machine, free weights, exercise balls and three 34-inch flat-screen TVs.

The lobby is equipped with free wi-fi and a “Meet your neighbors” brunch is held in the lobby every Sunday. There are two levels of parking and visitors can park their cars free of charge.

“We have more parking spaces than the number of apartments,” Harry said.

Harrison Tower apartments

222 SW Harrison St.
503-295-5559

The 25-floor Harrison Tower apartments was built in 1968 and completely renovated in April 2008. The Harrisons offer one, two and three bedroom apartments but no studios. The prices for these range from $1049 a month to $3299 a month.

“The rooms on the higher stories get an eagle’s view of downtown Portland, while the apartments on the Eastside get to see the river and the mountains,” leasing agent Jeniffer Rosales said.

Harrison Tower apartments offer a eight-foot-deep swimming pool, a Jacuzzi, a sauna, a cyber café with free wi-fi, a laundry room and a fitness center as a part of their amenities. The fitness center has three cardio machines, flat-screen televisions and weight machines.

The parking consists of three garages, and visitors are charged $5 a day for parking. A Saturday brunch and weekly yoga classes are held every week.

The Vue Apartments

1717 SW Park Ave.
503-228-9573

The Vue Apartments was constructed in 1950 and boasts 15 floors of rentals overlooking the Park Blocks and downtown Portland. It offers studios, 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom apartments.

The Vue’s amenities include a 24-hour fitness center, a rentable media room and a rooftop terrace that is accessible until 10 p.m. They also have on-site laundry.

It’s conveniently located near the Trimet MAX and Streetcar stops. The building has a secure parking lot and visitors are charged $10 for parking.

Park Plaza Apartments

1969 SW Park Ave.
503-227-7485

Park Plaza Apartments was built in 1950 and offers studios, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments ranging from $735 to $1600 a month. The apartment complex is 11 floors high and looks over the Park Blocks, downtown Portland, the north side and the West Hills.

“The 24-hour fitness center has treadmills, ellipticals and weight machines. Other facilities we offer include rooftop access from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.,” said leasing consultant Mariah Aksenova.

There are two garages for residents’ parking, while visitors are charged $5 a day for parking.