Off-campus graduate housing
Reno City Center opening August 2023!
Affordable, walkable studio apartments in the heart of downtown Reno.
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Jump to a section: Amenities and floorplan | Eligibility | Lease | How to apply | Selection process | Accepting your offer | FAQ
What does Reno City Center have to offer?
Conveniently located in the North Tower at 175 East Second Street, each studio apartment is at least 300 square feet (12 feet by 25 feet). Floor plans will vary slightly.
Units will be fully furnished, including a bed, desk, chair, kitchenette and television. Residents will need to provide their own bedding and cooking utensils. Units are newly remodeled (to be completed by August 1, 2023) and feature wood-look floors for easy cleaning and a paid washer and dryer facility in the building.
Details about amenities are still being decided by the developer, however, it is anticipated (not guaranteed) that residents will include access to a brand new pool deck, game room, club room and a playroom for children.
Floor plans are coming soon! Please email gradhousing@unr.edu for a preliminary floor plan as an example.
Though remodeling is not yet complete in any unit and photos are not available, it is anticipated that they will look similar to these units:
Downtown living near the Aces Baseball Stadium
Looking for a prime location to call home in Reno? Check out the downtown area near the baseball stadium. The area is buzzing with new development, including apartments and businesses, particularly shops, restaurants, and bars. In fact, there's even a Starbucks located within the RCC. The downtown area is undergoing a major remodeling project, so be sure to check out the latest news in the Reno Gazette-Journal's article from February 6, 2023.
Convenient transportation options
The RTC is just two blocks away from the RTC bus station, making it a breeze to get around. Whether you prefer to walk, bike, drive, or take the bus, you'll find plenty of options to choose from.
On foot: It takes just 15 minutes to reach the south end of campus or 26 minutes to get to the Joe (1.4 miles).
By bus: Hop on the RAPID (Virginia Line) from the RTC station downtown to the Lawlor Station for a quick 15-minute ride to the Joe. Plus, University students and faculty can ride for free!
By bicycle: Take Evans north to reach the Joe Crowley Student Union in just 10 minutes.
By car: Virginia, University Way, or Evans are all just a 5-minute drive away.
Don't forget to download the Pack Rides app! This on-demand ride service is available exclusively to University of Nevada, Reno students and professional staff.
Grocery shopping options
While there is a Walgreens located between the RCC and the University, there aren't any conventional supermarkets in the immediate area. However, the Great Basin Community Food Coop is a five-minute walk away, and the University is currently in discussions to add a stop near RCC to the existing Pack Rides Retail Shopping Shuttle route on weekends. Stay tuned for updates!
Who is eligible?
If you are enrolled in or have an admission offer from any University of Nevada, Reno graduate program or the University of Nevada School of Medicine (UNR-SOM), and can pass a background check, you are eligible. Both incoming and continuing graduate students may apply, as well as professional staff and postdoctoral scholars at the University.
Leases are for one full year; therefore, you will not be eligible to apply if you are anticipated to graduate and/or end University employment by December. For students, the Graduate School will verify this by evaluating the number of credits that remain for you to graduate and, if needed, inquire with your academic advisor/thesis chair.
Applicants must be able to pass a criminal background check to be eligible for an RCC lease. Documented offenses involving violent crimes, property damage, and/or theft will disqualify applicants from being offered a lease at RCC.
Background checks require a social security number or tax identification number, but some students may not have this yet when they first come to the University. Applicants who are not eligible to undergo the standard background check should contact the Graduate School (gradhousing@unr.edu) to discuss how best to proceed with their housing application. Applicants who will begin employment at the University by the beginning of the lease (e.g., as a graduate assistant) may qualify for a background check performed by UNR Human Resources.
If you are not enrolled in a graduate program at the University or UNR-SOM at the start of the lease, you will no longer be eligible, and your space will be offered to the next person on the waitlist. At a minimum, at the start of the lease, a tenant must be employed by the University.
Graduate specials, that is, individuals taking graduate classes at the University without being enrolled in a graduate program, are not eligible.
What are the terms of the lease?
The first year’s lease is from August 1 to July 31 of the following calendar year (12 months).
- Rent is collected in monthly installments. Rent will increase by approximately 5% annually, as follows:
- The monthly rent is $995 for Year 1 (August 1, 2023, to July 31, 2024).
- The monthly rent is $1,045 for Year 2 (approximately August 1, 2024, to July 31, 2025).
- The monthly rent is $1,098 for Year 3 (August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026).
- Security deposits of $350 are required and must be paid within 60 days of the start of the lease. Non-payment of the deposit may result in the termination of the lease. This deposit is separate from the rent and will be refunded within 30 days of the end of the final lease term. An inspection will occur after you move out, and if no damage is found, no cleaning is needed, and you have no outstanding balance, tenants will be issued a full refund.
- Utilities will be charged separately and are estimated to be about $75 per month.
- WiFi must be established using RCC's routers and provider (estimated to be about $40 per month).
- Cable TV is an optional subscription offered by RCC.
- Parking is optional and not included in the lease (price TBD).
While these studio apartments are intended for single occupancy, the maximum occupancy is two. If the second person living in the unit is at least 18 years of age, they will also be subject to a background check.
Only service animals are permitted.
Tenants cannot sub-let their units. Should tenants wish to shorten their lease and move out early, they must identify a new tenant to take over the remaining lease term. The Graduate School provides access to an online exchange to help the existing tenants to identify a potential new tenant to take over their lease. However, the Graduate School does not warrant success in current tenants finding another approved tenant to take over their lease. The current tenant is legally responsible for the entire lease agreement until it expires or is terminated with approval by the University Office of Community & Real Estate Management. If a tenant has taken over the lease of another tenant mid-year and has accepted an offer to lease an RCC unit for the following year, they may remain in the unit. However, they do forfeit any cleaning or maintenance that would have otherwise taken place before the beginning of this new lease unless they make special arrangements and accommodations for these activities to occur.
Existing tenants have priority in renewing their lease annually. Tenants must confirm renewal by April 30. By renewing, existing tenants assure that by the start of the new lease term, they will be either graduate students, professional staff, or post-doctoral fellows at UNR. If renewal is not received by this deadline, the current tenant’s lease expires one year after the lease start date unless a shorter lease has been approved by the University Office of Community & Real Estate Management. Because the University has leased the property for three years, at the present time, tenants may have the option to renew their lease twice for a total of three years.
Before their lease expires, tenants must allow their apartment to be inspected by the University Real Estate Office. The purpose of the inspection is to determine if any maintenance may be required before the next tenant can move in.
Application timeline and procedure
Applications will be accepted between February 1 and April 30.
- March 6 is the priority deadline (first round of decision-making).
- April 30 is the general deadline (second round of decision-making).
You can begin your application for Reno City Center in the University’s application portal.
All individuals who submit an RCC application are entered into a general lottery to fill the first allotment of 30 units. Individuals who are offered apartments and become residents will be able to renew at the end of the year if still eligible. Individuals who are not offered apartments must reapply the following year.
To help support students with the greatest financial need and to help attract and retain our most accomplished and promising scholars, we are allowing qualifying students up to two additional opportunities to be offered space in RCC.
Any application based on need is optional and may be completed in addition to the general/lottery-based application or a merit-based application. This option is available to students in all current and incoming graduate programs and UNR-SOM with the following exceptions: incoming international students and students enrolled in graduate certificate programs are not eligible to apply based on need.
Applicants must:
- Provide consent for the Graduate School to access the applicant’s financial aid information available at the University.
- Upload a one-page description of their financial, health or other need (12 pt. font; single-spaced; 1-inch margin). If the submission is longer, only the first page will be reviewed. The description may highlight their sources of income while in graduate school, extra expenses and obligations, or special life circumstances that most other graduates do not face, including, but not limited to, challenges resulting from health or social background.
- All information received as part of the application process will be treated as confidential. All representations an applicant makes in their one-page statement of need must be accurate. If it is determined that the factual information presented is inaccurate, a lease offer may be rescinded. If it is determined after the lease has already been signed, it may be rescinded.
Any application based on merit is optional and may be completed in addition to the general/lottery-based application or a need-based application. This option is only available to students in terminal graduate degree programs (DMA, DNP, EdD, MFA, Ph.D.).
Applicants must:
- Upload a one-page description of their academic and/or professional merit (12 pt. font; single-spaced; 1-inch margin). If the submission is longer, only the first page will be reviewed. The description may highlight previous and current accomplishments within academia or their chosen field or profession more broadly.
- Receive support from their Graduate program. Each program may support up to two applicants per year.
- Program directors will receive the name of the applicants from their program and must submit their director’s nomination within five business days following the application deadline. If no nomination is received, applicants will no longer be considered under this merit option. However, consideration of the same applicant in the lottery or under the need-based option is not affected.
- The Graduate School will not inform applicants whether the program director has supported their application or not.
Application timeline and procedure
How are applicants selected?
In addition to the general lottery to which all applicants are automatically entered, students may optionally apply for our need- and/or merit-based lotteries as well, potentially giving them three chances to be selected rather than one. Consideration based on need and merit will be independent of one another, meaning applicants may wish to apply for one or both.
General lottery | 30 units allocated
- 15 studio apartments will be allocated based on applications received by March 6
- 15 studio apartments will be allocated based on applications received by April 30
Need-based lottery | 30 units allocated
- 15 studio apartments will be allocated based on applications received by March 6
- 15 studio apartments will be allocated based on applications received by April 30
Merit-based lottery | 25 units allocated
- 15 studio apartments will be allocated based on applications received by March 6
- 10 studio apartments will be allocated based on applications received by April 30
Applicants will be selected first based on the general lottery. If an applicant receives an offer in this first selection round, the student will be removed from any additional lotteries the student has applied for accordingly. Following the general lottery, random selections based on need and based on merit will occur.
For the lottery, the need-based option and the merit-based option, waitlists will be generated. Following the priority deadline (March 6), a waitlist of 10 applicants for the lottery option will be created, a waitlist of 10 applicants for the need-based option, and a waitlist of 10 applicants for the merit-based option. If offers made under one of three options (lottery, need, merit) will be declined or not responded to, the applicant located next on the waitlist in the same category will receive the offer. If the waitlists for need and merit have been exhausted (i.e. offers being made but declined or not responded to), the next applicant on the lottery will receive the offer. If the lottery waitlist is exhausted, additional applicants will be drawn randomly from the list of applicants, and receive a lease offer.
My application has been selected! Now what?
All applicants who were randomly selected under the lottery, applicants who were selected by a committee reviewing need-based applications, and applicants who were selected by a committee reviewing merit-based applications will receive an offer to lease an RCC unit. The start date of the lease will be either August 1, August 8 or August 15; the end date of the lease will be July 31. If applicants receive an offer, they must decide within three business days. A response must have been received by the close of business on the third business day following the day on which the offer was extended (Pacific Time).
To accept the offer, applicants must:
- Formally accept the offer online by close of business on the third business day following the offer;
- Request and pay for a background check from RentSpree (domestic students & international students with a social security number or tax identification number). The request for a criminal background check must have been initiated within three business days following the acceptance of the offer. Applicants must pay for the cost of the background check (estimated to be $40).
- Before the lease begins, or on the day of the start of the lease, tenants must come to the University’s Real Estate Office to sign the lease. The deposit of $350 is due to the University Real Estate Office within 60 days of the start of the lease (see above).
If applicants do not respond to the offer to lease an RCC unit by close of business of the third business day following the offer, or if they do not initiate a criminal background check by close of business of the third business day following the acceptance of the offer, the offer is automatically rescinded. The applicant is then removed from further consideration for the current year. No applicant can receive two offers to lease an RCC unit during the same year.
If applicants decline or do not respond to an offer to lease an RCC unit, they will be removed from further consideration for the current year.
When an offer has been rescinded or declined to an applicant in the general, need-based and merit-based selection pool, that opportunity will be extended to the next applicant within that respective pool. Should spaces designated for need- or merit-based applicants remain unfilled, these spaces will be offered via random selection to applicants in the general pool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Where can I find a floor plan for the unit?
A: Please email gradhousing@unr.edu. We currently have a sample floor plan that we can share with you via email, but we are unable to post it online.
Q: Can I take a look at the apartment before applying?
A: Unfortunately, the apartments are still under construction and no tours are available at this time. However, pre-remodel images are posted on our website. We will provide updated images as soon as they become available.
Q: Why should I apply for an apartment if I can't see it yet?
A: Applying is simply registering your interest. You are not committed to anything until you sign a lease. You can always decline the offer of a lease later if you choose.
Q: What does "furnished" studio apartments mean?
A: The units will come equipped with a bed, desk, chair, kitchenette, and television. Residents will need to provide their own bedding and cooking utensils.
Q: Is the RCC building the former Harrah's hotel downtown?
A: Yes, that's correct. The studio apartments are former hotel rooms, which are generously sized at approximately 12 feet wide and 25-28 feet long (300 square feet minimum). The apartments feature a wood-look floor.
Q: Is parking included in the lease?
A: No, parking must be rented separately in the RCC parking structure.
Q: Are utilities included in the rent?
A: No, utilities will be charged separately and are estimated to cost approximately $75 in addition to rent.
Q: Is Wi-Fi access available?
A: Wi-Fi access can be purchased for a monthly fee. Please note that residents are not allowed to install their own router.
Q: Who lives in the RCC building?
A: The University has leased the entire 3rd to 7th floors of the building for graduate students. The upper floors (8th and up) will be operated as a hotel.
Q: Are washer and dryer facilities available?
A: Yes, a washer and dryer facility is available in the building.
Q: Are pets allowed in the building?
A: No, pets are not allowed. However, service animals are permitted.
Q: Is it possible to rent for less than a year?
A: Currently, we are only offering 12-month leases. If you graduate before the end of your lease, you are still responsible for it until the end of the lease period. Subleasing is not allowed, but it may be possible to find a replacement tenant with the help of the University's tools, such as offcampushousing.unr.edu.
Q: Is RCC housing similar to Ponderosa Village?
A: No, RCC housing is off-campus housing for graduate students, administered by the Graduate School, whereas Ponderosa Village is on-campus housing for graduate students, administered by Residential Life, Housing, and Food Services. If you have any questions, please email gradhousing@unr.edu for assistance with RCC housing.
Q: Is it possible to apply for housing based on both need and merit?
A: Yes, you can apply for housing based on both need and merit. All applicants will be entered into a lottery, but as a graduate student, you can apply for housing based on need and/or merit. To be eligible for merit-based housing, you must be a terminal-degree student. You may also be in the lottery, apply for need-based housing, and apply for merit-based housing.
Q: What does "need" mean in the context of housing applications?
A: When we invite applications based on need, we are referring to financial need. We will ask for your permission to access your financial aid records to assess your financial situation. However, need is not limited to just financial need. It may also refer to other life circumstances such as health, ability, or other factors that many graduate and medical students do not experience and may require a special living situation.
Q: Do I need to reapply for housing if I was not selected after the March 6 deadline?
A: No, you will not need to reapply. If you applied by the March 6 priority deadline but were not selected, you will automatically be considered for the April 30 deadline.