Valencia College's
Downtown Campus will be included in the new Creative Village
development. Students seeking a degree in Culinary Arts and Hospitality will find most of their specialized classes at the Valencia Downtown Campus with opportunities for DirectConnect to the University of Central Florida for continued education. Apartments near Valencia College's Downtown Campus will include the UnionWest student-exclusive dormitory, market rate apartments, and mixed-use apartment communities. We've done the research for you on apartments near Valencia College's Downtown Campus, and here are your options:
UnionWest Dorms
Dorm-style living at UnionWest is perhaps the most attractive option for students studying in Creative Village. The new 15-story dormitory building will include ground floor retail and student services offices on the first floor and 4-bedroom dorm-style apartments on the higher levels. UnionWest's dorms are available to any UCF or Valencia student and you'll find a variety of 4-bedroom floor plan layouts that include options for a private bathroom, private kitchenette, and both single and double occupancy rooms.
Pros: Brand new, easily walk to classes at Valencia College's Downtown Campus, take advantage of student services on the lower levels, get immersed in Creative Village culture, pay for your housing directly with financial aid
Cons: These brand new dormitories are a bit pricey, square footage of personal space in available floor plans is small
Apartments in Creative Village
There are a few new
apartments in Creative Village set to open in Summer 2019 and through 2020. The new apartments will be within easy walking distance to Valencia College's Downtown Campus and offer a variety of floor plans. Please keep in mind, the new apartments in the area are not classified as student housing, so you'll need to find your own roommates if you plan to live in a floor plan that is larger than a 1 bedroom or studio.
Pros: Brand new, easily walk to classes at Valencia College's Downtown Campus, get immersed in Creative Village culture, larger spaces than dormitories
Cons: Not classified as student housing (find your own roommate)
Apartments near The University of Central Florida's Main Campus
The area surrounding UCF is home to 15+ student housing communities with by-the-bedroom leasing and roommate matching. There will be a shuttle to take students from UCF's main campus to the new Downtown Campus. If you find that you only need to be at Valencia College's Downtown Campus for a couple of classes each week, it might make more sense for you to live close to UCF's main campus as you transition with the DirectConnect program.
Apartments near UCF are well-appointed to fit a student lifestyle and have special student leases and student-focused programs and amenities.
Pros: Get immersed in UCF's culture, utilize UCF's main campus amenities, join extracurricular activities on UCF's campus, by-the-bedroom leasing, roommate matching, cheaper rent
Cons: You'll have to commute to Valencia College's Downtown Campus - which is a 25 minute drive.
Apartments in Surrounding Neighborhoods
The suburbs surrounding Downtown Orlando may also be a great choice for students seeking apartments near Valencia's Downtown Campus. Full Sail University is close by in Winter Park, and you'll find student friendly options for
apartments near Full Sail in Winter Park are easily available.
Apartments in the College Park neighborhood may also be a good choice, well connected by public transit this area is very walkable with an ecclectic mix of bars, shops, and restaurants that are fun to explore. Other neighborhoods include SoDo, Baldwin Park, and Maitland. Our best advice is to think about your lifestyle and weigh your options based on your monthly budget - you might find that a quick 10-minute commute or 15-minute bus ride could save you some serious cash on rent each month.
Pros: Cheaper rent, larger floor plans
Cons: Commute to Valencia College's Downtown Campus, not classified as student housing (find your own roommate)