Phi Chi

It is an old apartment building, but the price is so reasonable for a medical student.

Pros:
- gym access
-clubhouse access w/ storage room in the basement
- THE BACKYARD is gorgeous and access to kayaking/ tubing
- great access to VA during clerkship year
-helpful medical students of all years to guide you and very supportive community
-potential for carpooling places for lectures etc.
-beautiful B2B trail nearby and quick access to Arb

Cons:
- Internet manager is mean (Nathan)
- Maintenance can take a while or sometimes need to do multiple requests to get something done in the apartment
-bus stop kinda far away, but definitely doable
- the stairs are not accessible (steep and occasionally dangerous during the snow season)

Maintenance was great when I moved in but is now very slow and does not actually fix the problem half the time. Property owner Courtland is dismissive of concerns. Internet guy is extremely rude and unhelpful when there are issues. Went days without heat last year as no one came to fix my furnace, and when they did, they left a valve open and had a gas leak into my apartment.

Price is great. First year was great with little issue. Internet recently upgraded. But internet guy is a jerk, maintenance now takes FOREVER, and the apartments are just very old (so things break - it's expected BUT frustrating when maintenance is delayed). We do have one amazing maintenance guy named Jaques. If he's assigned to you, shit gets done. Good luck if it's someone else :/

Overall, I like it and have made a cozy little home here. My biggest complaint about the apartment itself (minus issues) is the kitchen size. I love to cook and it's tiny.

I do like that it's all med students. My neighbors are my friends.

Perks: The clubhouse which has a gym, study spaces, recreation rooms and access to kayaks if you want to.
The proximity to nature and the river is gorgeous
The rent is cheap

Cons: The buildings are old and as a result things need to be changed at least once a year. Internet issues sometimes and every once in a while power outages that inconvenience everyone.

Affordable.

I am very happy at my apartment as I am able to pay rent and make my car payment for the price that most people just pay for rent. Laundry is free! I do take the buses to school because just walking would take 30+ minutes.
Phi Chi has a great backyard for people who enjoy nature. In July/August there are fireflies at night, in September we still have bunnies hopping around when its quiet. The backyard can be a bit spooky at night if you live in 2260 rather than 2250 because it is not lit at all. All tenants are medical students or partners of medical students and we have a whole shared space building with study spaces that are often empty, a gym that is often empty or has 1 other student, and free kayaks to borrow and take out on the gorgeous Huron river in our backyard.
We are not walking distance from the white coat area where most M1s live, but for me it is nice to be near nature and not near the hustle and bustle. Since I have a car, I can easily visit my friends in the white coat area when I want. I would not recommend living here if you don't have access to a car.
The walls in our apartment are thick and pretty sound proof-y , which you cannot say for most new apartment buildings!

I have loved living in Phi Chi for the past year. The amenities are wonderful, the location is convenient relative to the hospital system, and the apartment complex has a beautiful backyard along the Huron River. It has been nice to live with other medical students and have my own apartment space while sharing larger spaces, like the Clubhouse and Gym. The Phi Chi leadership are very receptive to suggestions and strongly advocate for their tenants.

I've lived here for 4 years and really enjoyed my experience. The maintenance crew is the best I've experienced. Will come in quickly and are always really kind.

I’ve been at Phi Chi for five years now, the rent is extremely reasonable and covers a lot, it’s nice living right on the Huron river, and it’s a quiet space. Only medical students can live here, so it’s perfect if you’re a Med student— you’re within walking distance of the UM hospital and right across from the VA, so getting to rotations is easy.

Phi Chi is an older property, but good, and very affordable. Maintenance is also very prompt if you need something. Location is great, right next to the Arb and the Huron River, and across from the VA (super convenient if you have rotations there). Would totally recommend if you are a medical student and are looking for a quiet place to live!