Housing Reviews: Carlton Arms

I know we all complain about the walk, but trust us… it’s not really that bad….

Location: 362 Riverside Drive (Southern corner of W 109th and Riverside)

Nearby dorms: Harmony is the closest Columbia dorm, but McBain and Nuss are only a few blocks away.
Nearby stores and restaurants: Koronet Pizza, Tom’s Diner, H-Mart, Westside Market, CVS, Community, Fumo
Cost: The upperclass resident rate for the 2024-2025 academic year is projected to be $12,180/year.

Amenities:

Bathrooms: Each suite has two shared bathrooms. Depending on the suite, these bathrooms may each have two toilet stalls and one shower, or two showers and one toilet.
AC: None, sorry. But if you’re on the west side of the building you’ll get some nice breeze through your window.
Kitchen: One private kitchen in each suite. Good storage space, two stovetops, a large fridge, and an oven.
Lounge: Each suite has a lounge with chairs, a TV, and a whiteboard.
Laundry: Free to use and located in the basement. New machines added in 2023!
Computers/Printing: No computers, but there is a printer in the lobby.
Gym: Yes! No need to trek to Dodge.
Bike storage: In the basement. The bike can get you to campus faster if you’re worried about that walk.
Hardwood/Carpet: Hardwood.

Room Variety:

9 floors of 25 singles and 53 doubles
Suite-style living, but you don’t need to fill the whole suite as a group. 4-10 rooms per suite.

Numbers from 2023:

Housing Data from the 2023 room selection shows the make-up to be 67% rising sophomores, 28% rising juniors, and 5% rising seniors.

Bwog Recommendation:

If you can schedule in some additional time before class and don’t mind a bit of walking, the infamous distance between Carlton and campus isn’t that bad. I even found it nice to have some separation from Columbia. It’s close to restaurants, stores, Riverside Park, and simply life that exists outside of campus, which is something to appreciate. The layout also makes it a prime spot for living with a group of friends. With that said, getting to 8:40 classes or late-night activities on campus can be rough, and be prepared to either cook your own meals or spend some money eating out (unless you’re willing to make the trek to eat at a dining hall).

Resident Opinions:

“The walk really is not that bad! Honestly, you’d probably wake up at the same time each day wherever you live–you’ll just be more rushed in Carlton if you decide not to budget the extra time.”

“The views from B and C suites are lovely, and Riverside is generally nice and quiet.” (Author)

“Biggest complaint is that the lounges are quite awkward since they are just widened hallways essentially (and there’s not a main lounge).”

“Riverside wind tunnel during the winter! That’s your biggest op if you live in Carlton.”

“Kitchens are small in some suites, but they’re big enough and have all the essentials you’ll need if you want to cook for yourself most of the time.”

“Having a gym can be quite useful when you live further away.”