Looking to escape campus while still being able to get to all your classes? Maybe Cathedral Gardens (also known as CG) is the option for you!

Location: 217 Manhattan Ave, between Central Park and Morningside Park, at the corner of 110th St.

Nearby Dorms: Depends on what you consider “nearby.” The closest dorms, Harmony and 110 are about a 6-8 minute walk away.

Stores and Restaurants: Starbucks, Central Markets (small grocery store), Cafe Amrita, Larry’s Freewheeling (bike store offering rentals), Giovanni’s Pizza, Deli 360, The Drink, Cathedral Wine & Liquor, a halal cart with all the trimmings, Subway, and an actual subway stop (B & C trains)

Cost: $10,435 per year ($5,217.50 per semester)

Amenities:

  • Bathrooms: Each suite has at least one bathroom equipped with two showers (one with a bathtub), two vanities, two sinks, and a toilet. Six-person suites also have an additional bathroom which has a toilet, sink, and bathtub.
  • AC/Heating: CG rooms have both AC and heating.
  • Kitchen: Each suite has a kitchen with a stove, oven, sink, dishwasher, refrigerator, and lots of storage cabinets.
  • Lounge: All of the suites have pretty sizable shared spaces. There’s also a lounge on the 10th floor with a TV and lots of couches and tables.
  • Laundry: The laundry room is on the 10th floor, with four washing machines and eight dryers.
  • Computers/Printing: There’s a computer and printer in the 10th floor lounge, but it doesn’t use Paw Print, so you’ll have to print your things out manually on the computer.
  • Gym: Nope. But Central Park and Morningside Park are close by.
  • Hardwood/Carpet: All suites are equipped with hardwood floors.
  • Wifi: Each room has its own wifi router.

Room Variety:

  • Five six-person suites: four with all singles, one with four singles and one double
  • Three five-person suites: singles with one double
  • Five four-person suites: four with two singles and a double, one with all singles
  • Four singles and five doubles available within suites

Numbers: CG is generally popular among seniors and juniors with high lottery numbers. However, with the addition of 121 as a new Barnard dorm, it may be easier for juniors and sophomores to snag a CG suite this year.

Bwog Recommendation:

I’ve absolutely loved living in CG. A lot of people are hesitant to choose to live in CG because they’re concerned that the walk is too far, which is valid, but I found it to be not a problem at all. I actually really enjoy the walks I take to class every morning because they give me a chance to get some fresh air, especially walking along Morningside Park. The amenities are some of the best in Barnard dorms, the rooms get tons of natural light, and the shared living spaces are huge. It’s a great place to live, especially as a junior or senior where you’re transitioning into that period of getting ready to enter the “real world” as it’s a bit far removed from the campus bubble.

Resident Opinions:

  • “The walk isn’t as bad as you think it is.”
  • “Having a dishwasher is highly underrated.”
  • “If you don’t feel like walking back from campus, the shuttle is easily accessible.”
  • “Living in CG has allowed me to go to a lot more cafes and restaurants in Harlem that I probably wouldn’t have gone to if I lived closer to campus.”

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