The lure of living in an apartment outside the University’s jurisdiction draws many GW students to sign leases in Foggy Bottom apartment complexes, turning them into de-facto GW dorms.

These buildings offer the advantage of being close to campus, while also offering a taste of independent living.

Many of these buildings, considered on-campus off-campus housing options, are closer to the center of campus than some GW residence halls.

The Statesman’s building manager, Lisa Nani, said students make up a large portion of the building’s residents.

“We’re a mix of a lot of different people in the area,” she said of the building, located on F Street. “But we have a lot of students.”

Dan Schulenberg, a junior transfer student living in The Statesman, estimated that it is “about 90 percent GW students.”

Nani suggested the reasons for The Statesman’s popularity are its location and services, but Schulenberg emphasized its similarity to GW housing. “There’s no difference between the Statesman and Ivory Tower.”

The Winston House, located at 22nd and L streets, is home to a smaller percentage of students – the building’s manager Saidi Alayo estimates about 20 percent – but is another popular choice for renters interested in a campus-like, off-campus experience.

Junior Courtney Bagatta signed her Winston House lease last summer in lieu of living in GW housing.

“I was going to stay in D.C. for the summer and (The Winston House) was the same price as (GW) housing,” she said.

Located just a block from Ivory Tower, Townhouse Row and International House, the Columbia Plaza apartment complex is also a popular choice for students looking to stay close to campus.

“It feels like a dorm,” said senior Austin Hoffman, who lives in the complex. Hoffman chose the building for its location and to avoid the hassles of dorm life without being too far removed.

Living an apartment eliminated many of the frustrating aspects of dorm-life Hoffman said he did not care to deal with anymore.

“I don’t have to deal with the GWorld swiping and going all the way to package services for packages,” Hoffman said.

Rent proportionally higher than apartment buildings further away from campus is the biggest downside to on-campus off-campus housing.