Last semester, the buzz among freshmen was quite simple: Where will we live next year? Some of my friends chose to find a house behind engineering, some chose on campus. Me? I chose the brand new Edge 1120 complex just off of North Westwood Avenue. There has been much talk about this state-of-the-art facility, both good and bad. Now, it's time to weigh the options and give the word to University of Toledo students: Where should you live next year? Let's examine the positives and negatives side-by-side for a clear, concise decision.
1. Positive: The EDGE is fully furnished.
That's right, you read that correctly. When you move into Edge 1120, each building is fully furnished: Mattresses, leather couches, a 42-inch TV in the living area, dining and end tables, granite countertops, you name it! Plus, your own washer and dryer, and your own full bathroom within each bedroom. What does that mean for college students? It means there will be no buying of furniture, inheriting it from your grandma, or finding it on the street needing disinfected eight times, etc. - and no hiring a U-Haul truck to carry your heavy stuff into the complex. Sounds pretty nice.
2. Negative: Living here is expensive.
There is no way around the cost of Edge 1120. Sure, it's a brand new complex, but the rent-per-month of Edge 1120 so far (it has yet to decrease) for early lease signers is $650. PER MONTH. PER PERSON. In TOLEDO.That kind of cheddar is something I imagine seeing in the bags of cash a mafia guy carries to his boss in the movies. That also does not include electricity. Therefore, if you are a "leave the TV on at night" kind of person, you could rack up a bill well over $700. Each month. for a 12-month lease, the normal signing option, that comes out to around $8,400. Along with books, tuition, and the general cost of living alone, this cost has college students praying they can hit the lottery extra hard.
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3. Positive: Safety.
Toledo, Ohio does not have the best reputation when it comes to safety, especially with it being one of the top cities in America for human trafficking; not a stat we like to brag about. Students may be concerned about living behind the classic engineering building, which not only leases to students but, well, anyone who wants a cheap house. Basically, being behind engineering is not explicitly student housing. However, the expense of The Edge weeds out anyone who would not take care of it to the utmost conditions. After all, it's brand new and trashing the place would most likely cause a person to file bankruptcy. Combined with the fact that each resident gets two keys, one to the front door and one to their own room, you double your chances of being safe in the small community.
4. Negative: Where do I park?
Edge has told its residents: "Do not park inside the facility - park in the visitor lot." Even though tow trucks are seen occasionally rolling cars out of the area, the fact still remains that when your neighbor's squad rolls in and stays all night, parking is a luxury you may not be able to afford: That is a double entendre because parking inside the facility, literally not 10 feet from your building, is free. But to guarantee a spot every time, it costs $25. Even doctors would have a rough time trying to afford this place.
5. Positive: Pool, personal gym, tanning!
All those things you just read are completely accurate. At Edge, there is a community pool, five feet deep at its deepest, a pretty nice pool to wade in and not drown, always a plus. Another plus: Hot girls by the pool. Even girls like hot girls. When it snows and you can't swim or don't wanna go to the rec, the Edge has its own personal gym, perfect for fitness of all sorts. Unless you are a serious muscle-man who needs at least 20 machines, this fits perfectly. To top it off, free tanning. Who doesn't like to look a sexy golden brown?
6. Negative: Broken Promises.
Edge sounds too good to be true when it is being promoted. Well, in a way, it is. Things promised by the Edge group have yet to be seen by the community. This includes a shuttle from Edge to campus - causing many students to buy a parking pass (more $$$). And we all know we aren't hiking to campus. The cable at Edge is equal to that of a dorm room, despite the fact that the movie channel was promised in a cable package. And, to top it all off, the reason I'm writing this article in my friend's basement: The wifi sucks. It's awful. Worthless. Edge executives told their residents not to bring their own routers, yet they have not done anything about it. Connecting to wifi in Edge is equivalent to driving my 2001 Ford Escape over 10 miles per hour. Not happening.
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So there you have it. Just about everything you need to know about Edge 1120. All the flaws, all the perks, the ups and downs of living in the closest thing a University of Toledo student will get to a gated community. Now, it's your decision. Will you live in the Edge?
