Looking for somewhere quieter but still in a relatively central location? Now what if I told you you’d be in a single? Check out River Hall if you’re a junior with an alright number, or a senior who didn’t get EC!

Location: 628 West 114th Street, between Broadway and Riverside

Nearby dorms: Schapiro, Broadway, Hogan

Stores and restaurants: Starbucks, Morton Williams, Sweetgreen, Junzi Kitchen, Pret, Milano Market, Halal Cart

Cost: Standardized at $9,872/year

Amenities:

  • Bathrooms: 4 gender-neutral, private bathrooms per floor
  • AC/Heat: none, so bring a fan!
  • Kitchen/Lounge: Two common areas per floor. The kitchen includes: stove,  oven, microwave, fridge, sink, and dishwasher. Bonus lounge in the basement with a TV.
  • Laundry: 4 washing machines and 4 dryers in the basement
  • Computers/Printers: 4 computers in the basement,  1 relatively reliable printer in the lobby
  • Gym: Small and clean one with a 1 treadmill, 1 elliptical, and 2 stationary bikes, all in the basement
  • Intra-transportation: Singular elevator of medium speed, and 1 staircase. Steps in  the lobby make the building not ADA accessible
  • Wifi: take a guess
  • Hardwood/Carpet: Hardwood! Hardwood! Hardwood!
  • Facilities: Bathrooms are cleaned weekly, residents are responsible for the rest (kitchen and rooms/ suites)
  • Bonus: Small music room in the basement (ft. an electric keyboard)

Room Variety:

  • 6 floors with 127 singles and 1 walk-through double
  • Singles range from 110 to around 150 square feet, with ~30 “big” singles, usually the building corner rooms
  • Room layouts vary from square floor plans to longer, more rectangular plans
  • River views if you’re one of the few lucky who live in a west-facing top floor
  • Side rooms are likely shafted

Numbers from last year:

  • Cutoff for big singles: 30/2137
  • Cutoff for singles: 20/1454
  • Mostly a mix of seniors and juniors with lottery numbers that weren’t terrible

Bwog Recommendation:

  • River Hall is near the Riverside Park and thus, dogs. River is a good choice if  you want somewhere a bit quieter but still relatively convenient.
  • It’s a quieter dorm, so it’s great if that’s what you’re looking for.
  • Good alternative to an EC suite if you get a mediocre number as the singles are pretty sizable.
  • It’s half a block to Broadway it’s not that bad, you’ll be fine.
  • There’s plenty of lounge/ shared space if you want a bit more of a social  atmosphere… it’s what you make of it!

Resident opinions:

  • “You live in a single in a somewhat central location to the Columbia campus”
  • “Really close to all food options and supermarkets”
  • “Despite the bathrooms not being stall based, I never really had trouble with them being occupied when I needed it”
  • “The thin walls can be a bit of an issue if you’re noisy. Just be aware of it!”

 

the typical River Hall single

River Hall single-use bathroom

a pretty nice kitchen/ lounge if you ask me

All Images via Bwog Archives