After spending a full semester in Northeastern's 60 Belividere (colloqially known as the "Old Sheraton", or simply, "The Sheraton"), I've laid out my honest opinions. With plenty of drawbacks and perks, here are my honest opinions on life there.
The Walk
The biggest critque was the walk to campus, which yes, I'll concede, was a pain at times, especially during days with rain and gusty winds. For the most part, the walk was enjoyable, as sights along the way include the Christian Science Center and the beautiful Massachusetts Avenue! However, there are plenty of ways to take transit to avoid walking. You can take the Green Line from Prudential and get off at Northeastern (in front of Ell Hall), or walk through the Prudential Center and take the Orange Line from Back Bay to get off at Ruggles, which is close to International Village and Forsyth Circle. Here's some common walking times to various places on campus, without taking transit:
| Destination | Walking Time from 60 Belvidere |
|---|---|
| Snell Library | ~15 minutes |
| Stetson East | ~12 minutes |
| International Village | ~22 minutes |
| Centennial Quad | ~20 minutes |
| Mugar Hall / Robinson Hall / Hurtig Hall | ~12 minutes |
Room Quality
I found the quality of the rooms to be above average, when compared with other on-campus living and leased properties. There were full AC/heat controls, plenty of space (imagine a hotel room, but replace the king bed with two dorm beds), and a spectacular view of the Back Bay and Christian Science Plaza*. In terms of room quality, I had few complaints (except one major incident at the end of the semester, see next), except that from time to time noise would pour in from other rooms, but this was rare and only occured on weekends.
Water Damage
During the end of finals week, a massive rainstorm with heavy wind gusts passed through Boston. When the rain hammered against the windows, water leaked through, resulting in a serious mess on the carpet. I kept my laundry big and towels bag near the window, and these ended up getting wet. To assist in the cleanup, residential life brought in a contract that installed four industrial fans and a commercial dehumidifier, and tied up the windowshades. This equipment did dry out the room, but my roommate and I were forced to shut them off overnight due to how loud they were. While I hope this issue gets fixed, at least by next academic year, a contractor mention that it was his fourth time fixing this issue does not bring me hope.
Amenities
For on-property amenities, the options were decent, but small. Notably, the 5th floor contained a full laundry room (that cost a whopping $2.50 a load) along with an automated mail collection room. The 3rd floor contained two study rooms, two social lounges, a gym, and the RA offices. The lobby contained 8-10 tables for group work and study, located in front of The Market. While these options sufficed for days when I was unable to leave, the rooms on the 3rd floor tended to fill up during the afternoons and evenings, making the ground floor the best option.
The Market
On the first floor, there was a small store known as "The Market". While convenient, the selection of items was extremly limited, with the majority of items being snacks and sodas. Personally, I would have replaced at least one rack with toiletries or fresher options. Additionally, the hours lacked, with the shop only being open Mondays-Fridays, 12-8pm. One advantage was the ability to convert a meal swipe to $14 in-store dollars, which I found useful for when I needed to stock my room with drinks. For higher quality "grab and go" meals, I would instead walk to Outtakes at Stetson West.
* Only available to those living on one side, sorry.