Housing is all about making major decisions, and Barnard seniors are likely trying to figure out whether they want convenience or comfort. If you’re looking at the latter, we bring our review for the beloved Cathedral Gardens.

Location: 217 Manhattan Ave

Nearby dorms: None. Unless you consider two avenues away “nearby,” you’re all out there on your own. At least you have Central Park and Morningside Park as your neighbors!

Stores and restaurants: Saiguette, Curry King, lots of other restaurants in the area. Central Markets will be your go-to closest grocery store.

Cost: TBD

Amenities

• Bathrooms: Each suite has 2 sinks, 2 showers (1 standing, 1 with a bathtub), and 1 toilet. Bathrooms are still pretty nice!
• AC/Heating: Bedrooms all have AC/heater units, plus the common room has a unit as well.
• Kitchen/Lounge: Every suite has its own kitchen and a very spacious common room (bring a futon or couch!) Bonus: a mofo dishwasher! No more dealing with a pesky overflowing drying rack.
• Laundry: 4 washers and 8 dryers located in Laundry room on 10th floor.
• Computers/Printers: There’s 1 computer and 1 printer on the 10th floor. However, you have to use your own paper? So, just make sure you print everything before leaving campus for the day.
• Gym: None in the building, but you’ll get plenty of exercise walking to campus.
• Intra-transportation: 2 speedy elevators.
• Wifi: No. If you don’t want to use Ethernet you can buy a router and set up your own wifi. Bye-bye, Barnard Secure.
• Hardwood/Carpet: Hardwood floors. What a dream.

Room variety

• Suites come in a whole mixture of options. You can find anything from a 6-person all singles suite (620 isn’t your only option for that!) to a spacious double with a bathroom.
• Rooms are very decent in size for Barnard housing.
• Most suites have a large common room in addition to the bedrooms for your lounging pleasures.

Numbers

• Mostly seniors. However, it is a tough choice to pick between the convenience of location in the 600’s and beautiful apartments in CG. Really hard to tell what each senior class will end up preferring.
• Some juniors may sneak in. Again, gotta wait to see how senior selection goes.

Bwog recommendations

• Arguably the nicest housing you’ll find at Barnard. Not only are most the rooms sizable, most suites will give you plenty of space to hang out as a group rather than get stuck in your bedrooms.
• The distance is definitely something to consider. Most CG residents head to campus for the day and leave, so it’s likely you may lose a bit of that on-campus social life with CG. However, the distance can be a pleasant change for seniors looking to live that non-dorm life.
• Definitely some of the most up-to-date digs available. Rarely you’ll have to deal with the pealing wallpaper you get in the 600’s.

Resident opinions

• “I really enjoy living off campus with CG. It’s nice to be able to get away from campus at the end of the day”
• “It’s great being able to get food delivered right to your suite door”
• “The walk is real so keep in that in mind if you’re trying to stop skipping classes”
• “The ceilings are very thin”
• “Don’t expect a dorm environment”
• “The front door to CG is always locked, so it can be hard to get into the building sometimes”

Pictures