Cliffside Terrace Apartments

The landlord has been very responsive and supportive. Parking is uncovered, but free and I do not have to pay a pet fee for my cat. It is very close to Cornell Law School and offers clean and large apartments. There are slight issues with the plumbing, but these have been quickly resolved with the landlord. Overall it's a good apartment, especially for the size, rent, and proximity to campus. There's also a bus stop right in front of the apt complex.

Great apartment for pets because it's very spacious, has a balcony, and a lot of sunlight. Landlord does not care if you have pets, so long as they don't create issues with other tenants. Landlord is also very responsive and fixes issues usually same day or the next day. Great if you want quieter living, no undergrads in the complex. Close to 1 or 2 bus stops but I would personally only live here if you have a car.

First of all, my landlord, James Orcutt, is the best. He is responsive and helpful, and he fixes problems quickly. He even threatened to tow a car parked in the lot whose alarm kept going off without anyone attending to it. I've never had a landlord actually try to solve a car alarm nuisance before.

Second, the buildings are old, but solid. The ceiling creaks a little when my upstairs neighbors walk around, but the walls are thick and relatively soundproof otherwise. The carpet is hideous but serviceable, and many of the other apartment have parquet instead, so it's not always an issue.

This complex does not rent to undergrads, and it's a little farther from campus than other places, so it's very quiet. But it is also very close to a bus stop serviced by a regular route and a commuter route that make it easy to get to campus, downtown, Aldi, or even the mall. Additionally, the walk from campus to home is entirely downhill, so it's easy to get home in half an hour. Not so much going back to school--definitely take the bus. I like the location for its peace, but it isn't really close to anything resembling entertainment. You'll want to take a bus or ride a bike to get downtown.

Pets are allowed with a pet deposit, and since the complex is surrounded by trees, there are plenty of birds, squirrels and chipmunks for my cats to watch from the windows.

The cable internet option is Spectrum, and it's alright. The connection is fairly reliable and reasonably fast. T-Mobile reception is good, even on the bottom floor.

The parking lot is large enough to accommodate most if not all residents, though the spots are assigned and you sometimes come home to find someone has taken your spot.

The basement has a coin-op washer and two dryers, and there's a laundromat just down the street if you prefer to use that.

A few other law students live in this complex, too, and many grad students in other disciplines, so you'll be in good company.

One bothersome thing: We get a lot of insects indoors and we used to have mice. The mouse problem has been resolved, but the insects keep getting in. It's really not a big deal, and it might happen so much to me because I live in the basement apartment.

Overall, though, it's very affordable for the area, and good value. It isn't a luxury condo by any means, but it's a safe, quiet, warm home and it allows pets. That's all I need.

There are only two things that could make this apartment perfect in my eyes: thicker floor/ceiling separations (it sounds like my upstairs neighbors are practicing Irish step dancing in lead boots), and better nearby bus routes. To be fair, aside from the creaky ceilings, the neighbors are very quiet and respectful, and the Ithaca TCAT bus system is a disaster regardless. I am happy to put up with the inconvenient location (but still only 1 mile from the law school!) in exchange for a quieter location, more space, and lower rent.