An outdoor view

As we’re starting to ease into the nail-biting housing process, here is the next essential Barnard housing review–the well sought-after 620’s.

Location: 620 West 116th Street, at the corner of Riverside and 116th street

Nearby dorms: 600, 616 West 116th Street, the Quad (including Hewitt, Reid, Sulzberger and Brooks), Schapiro, Woodbridge, Elliot

Nearby restaurants/stores: Vine Sushi, halal carts, Morton Williams, Starbucks, and most of the restaurants on Broadway near campus

Cost: To be determined.

Amenities: 

• Bathrooms: Each suite has its own shared bathroom.
• AC/Heating: No AC, and window/portable AC units are not permitted.
• Kitchen/Lounge: Each suite has a kitchen & sink, gas stove/oven, and refrigerator. Kitchen has lots of cabinet space, but kind of small (as characteristic of all 600 kitchens). No lounge in 620, but there is a TV lounge with a piano etc. on the first floor of 616 which is available for use of residents of 600, 620, and 616.
• Laundry: in the basement!
• Computers/Printers: Available in the computer lab on the first floor of 616.
• Gym: No gym in the building, either go to Barnard Fitness Center in Barnard Hall or Dodge.
• Intra-transportation: Two elevators and a stairwell.
• Wi-Fi: Yes!
• Hardwood/carpeting: No hardwood nor carpeting, floor is a black linoleum. Kitchen has a creme/white linoleum tile.

Room Variety: 

• There are single and double rooms in 4, 5, 6, and 7 person suites. Floors 1-4 have doubles and singles in suites (singles are pretty small but nice), and floors 5 and up are 4-5 person suites comprised of all singles. These floors usually are occupied by all seniors, and the underclassmen housing on lower floors is 2/3 doubles and 1/3 singles.

Numbers:

• Usually the 620s are claimed by seniors, especially floors 5 and up (suites with all singles). A considerable amount of juniors are able to get into suites on the lower floors with mixtures of doubles and singles, but usually it will all be filled up by Sophomore Day. However, there are a very lucky few sophomores who are able to live in some of the lower floor suites.

Bwog recommendations:

• Location is very close to campus, which can be awesome especially when walking back from Butler late night. Super close to all the Broadway restaurants which can be hype, and close to Morton Williams.
• Close to campus and the quad, yet you still feel slightly separated and independent. Great for people who want to remain close to campus and still have a suite style living.

Residents’ Opinions:

• “I would say I really love living here. The upper floors are just for seniors and all singles, so they are really nice.”
• “It’s hard to get into if you’re not a senior, but I recommend it if you can.”
• “Lots of cabinet space!!”
• “We had a mouse at one point but no other pests.”
• “My suite and I have been dreaming about our all singles suite since we were all living in Brooks freshman year! Seniors, you must live here!!!”
• “When you’re in the really slow elevator it constantly feels like it’s shaking and it won’t ever go away. Can be terrifying when you’re really drunk and just trying to get home and the ride up feels like years.”