HOUSING
OAKWOOD HOUSING INFO
We want your stay in Los Angeles to be as stress free as possible. If you have any housing questions, please contact the Emerson LA Office at 818.840.9566.
Oakwood Address
Oakwood Apartments, South Clubhouse (Main Office) 3600 Barham Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90068. Phone: 323.851.3450
Oakwood Contacts
If you have specific problems in your apartment, such as a broken appliance, wrong bed size, etc., please contact Edgar Alvarez 323.851.3450. If she is not available, please speak with Johnny Bravo 323.878.2100.
Housing Costs
Your housing costs cover the rent on your furnished apartment, utilities (everything except phone) and cable TV service.
Phone Information/Internet Access
SBC
You are responsible for your local phone service. If you want a local land line you must contact SBC at 1.800.310.BELL to set up phone service. Once you set up SBC service, you must call Jennifer Fitzgerald at Oakwood and provide her with a "supply binding post #" and your new telephone number. Service takes about three days to set up. (If you prefer, you may choose to use a cell phone and not set up a land line.) Contact the LA Center once you receive your phone number so that you may be listed in the Student Directory.
For internet access in your Oakwood apartment you have three options: Oakwood’s Wireless Hi-Speed Internet Service, DSL or dial-up service offered by SBC. There are pros and cons to all these options.
Each apartment comes with one free access code to the Wayport Hi-Speed Wireless Internet Service at Oakwood. This code allows for multiple users, but not at the same time . If more than one person in an apartment needs to connect to the service simultaneously, both must have separate access and additional $30 fees per code must be paid. To set up wireless internet service you may purchase this with a credit card right on your computer after you move into your apartment. You can also purchase a coupon at one of the Oakwood clubhouses with a code that will give you access.
To gain access to the wireless network you will need a WI-FI airport card, type 802.11B or 802.11G. You can get a card from Oakwood for an $80 deposit, but if you use an Oakwood card it will only work at Oakwood. A better option is to purchase your own card at Best Buy or Circuit City or Radio Shack for between $12-$20. This card will work at Oakwood and anywhere else, and you get to take it with you when you leave!
It should be noted that the Oakwood wireless internet service is brand new, and there have been many complaints from students that the service is slow and that sometimes the connection doesn’t work. We have been informed by Oakwood that due to illegal file sharing Wayport has removed bandwidth, which has slowed the service down considerably. Be warned that if Wayport detects illegal file sharing, or even if they detect file sharing software on your computer, they will ban you from the service permanently. So if you plan to use the wireless internet service, make certain that any file sharing software on your computer is uninstalled before you sign up. Wayport’s toll free number is 877.WAYPORT (929.7678). Their web site is http://www.wayport.net/.
DSL
Another hi-speed internet option is DSL through SBC. DSL works through a regular land line. The cost will be roughly $30/month, but set up fees can cost approximately $200, and usually one must make a long-term commitment to the service. This is a more expensive option, but very reliable for hi-speed service. DSL can be used by multiple users simultaneously.
Dial-Up Service
The least expensive option is regular old dial-up service. Dial-up is slow, but it is low-cost and reliable. All you need is a land line. For more information go to http://www.sbc.com.
Apartment Furnishings
Your apartment has the basic furniture and appliances, including a microwave. You will need to supply linens, kitchen items including dishes and silverware, TV, VCR and other personal items you might want or need. Please see the section on "Home Services" if you wish to rent any items from Oakwood.
Home Services
You can rent most items for your apartment from Oakwood Home Services for the time you are staying here. Contact Edgar Alvarez or Johnny Bravo if you wish to rent Home Services items. For a complete list of items and prices, you can ask the clubhouse desk or check the prices and items by logging onto toluca.oakwood.com. If you wish to rent any of the Home Services contact Edgar or Johnny so you will receive the Emerson discount. Also, many items can be purchased very cheaply in local stores such as IKEA, K-Mart, Target and other department stores.
Do not plan to ship belongings to Los Angeles unless you are certain you will be there to receive them when they arrive. The Los Angeles Center cannot receive packages for students, and on a couple of occasions during past semesters packages signed for by Oakwood staff have been lost. Use the Oakwood concierge service at your own risk.
Maintenance Emergency/Locked-Out
If you are experiencing a maintenance emergency, such as an overflowing toilet, or are locked-out, contact the front desk at the South Clubhouse 323.878.2400. If it is after hours, call Oakwood Security 323.851.3450.
Mail
Most buildings have a mailbox area. If not, your mailbox is in the adjacent building. Larger packages will be dropped off at the concierge in the South Clubhouse.
Pets
As is the case with all Emerson housing, no pets are allowed in any apartments.
Guests
Guests may stay no longer than three days within a seven-day period in your apartment. This must also be agreed upon by your roommate(s). If you have a guest, you are responsible for their behavior both in the apartment and in the common areas. The guest/visitor must be a personal friend or relative of the resident. THIS POLICY IS STRICTLY ENFORCED. Students who disregard the guest policy will be subject to dismissal from the program.
Laundry
Most buildings have their own laundry room located near the mailboxes. The South Clubhouse has an automatic change machine for laundry.
No Smoking
As is the case with all Emerson and Emerson-leased buildings, no smoking is allowed in any of the Oakwood apartments.
Oakwood Facilities
The Oakwood Complex has two clubhouses (North and South) with fitness facilities and saunas, two pools and two hot tubs. The complex also has a convenience store, a dry cleaners and a hair salon.
Resident Assistants
The Emerson LA program has three student RA's on-site in the Spring and Fall and two in the summer to help you with issues that do not involve Oakwood facilities management. During the first week to ten days of the semester, your RA will make a visit to your apartment to say hello.
Location
The Oakwood Complex is located 1.3 miles from the LA Center and it takes about 20 minutes to walk and 5 to7 minutes to drive. However, the Oakwood Apartments are in Los Angeles and the LA Center is just over the border in Burbank. This general area is known as the Media City Center district. You are within walking distance of Warner Bros. and very near NBC, ABC, Universal, Disney, Nickelodeon, and a variety of production companies. This area is located in the San Fernando Valley, it is not near the beaches. Santa Monica beaches are about a 30-40 minute drive southwest, depending on the traffic. Coffee shops, restaurants, movie theaters, grocery stores and malls are close-by.
Directions from Oakwood Apartments to the Emerson LA Center
The LA Center address: 4001 West Alameda Ave. Suite 200, Burbank, CA 91505.
If you are exiting the Main Entrance, turn right onto Barham Blvd. Barham Blvd. becomes W. Olive Ave. Turn left onto N. Pass Ave. Turn right onto W. Alameda Ave
TRANSPORTATION/PARKING
Los Angeles/Burbank does have public transportation and several bus lines have stops at the Main Entrance of the Oakwood Complex. For immediate information about bus routes call MTA 213/626-4455 (www.travelape.com/losangeles/travel/mta).
However, because of the vast size of LA County, many students prefer to bring their cars or lease one for the semester. If you do not own a vehicle and/or plan to rent one while you are in LA: Enterprise Car Rental is located in the Oakwood Apartment Complex. Emerson cannot recommend a specific car rental company; however, Enterprise will give Emerson students a small discount. The number is 323-882-6565. William Gartrell will be happy to answer your questions. All residents receive parking passes for their vehicles. There is plenty of parking in the complex.
GENERAL DIRECTIONS
Driving DirectionsYou will have to consult a map to decide from which direction you are approaching Los Angeles. The Oakwood Apartments are on Barham Boulevard in Los Angeles near Burbank. The Apartments are about 1 mile from Universal Studios & the 101 (Hollywood Freeway). Use the Barham Boulevard exit off the 101. The 134 (the Ventura Freeway) is about 3-4 miles north of Oakwood at the Forest Lawn Drive exit.
Directions from Burbank Airport to Oakwood
t is about 4 miles to Oakwood from the Burbank Airport and takes 15 to 25 minutes travel time. Take Hollywood Way South to Olive Avenue (Beautiful Downtown Burbank). Bear left. Olive Avenue becomes Barham Boulevard. Keep going south on Barham Boulevard (toward Universal Studios). You will see the sign for the Oakwood Apartments on your left. Come up to the stop light on Barham at the main entrance to Oakwood. Follow the yellow line into the Oakwood Complex until you see the SOUTH CLUBHOUSE.
Directions from LAX to Oakwood
It is about 17 miles to Oakwood from LAX. Depending on traffic, you should allow 35 to 45 minutes for travel time.Take Century Boulevard (out of the airport) to the 405 North (San Diego Freeway). Take the 405 North to the 101/Ventura Freeway East (toward Los Angeles). Stay on the 101 Freeway. The 101 becomes the Hollywood Freeway. Go South to the Barham Boulevard exit. Take Barham Boulevard for about 1 mile. You will see a sign for the Oakwood Apartments on your right. GO IN THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF OAKWOOD. Follow the yellow line into the Oakwood Complex until you see the SOUTH CLUBHOUSE.
If you need transportation from the airport to Oakwood, here are the names of 3 popular airport shuttles. You must make reservations at least a day in advance, and the cost is roughly $30.00:
| YELLOW CAB | 1.877.733.3305 | http://www.layellowcab.com/ |
| SUPER SHUTTLE | 1.800.258.3826 | http://www.supershuttle.com/htm/cities/lax.htm |
| XPRESS SHUTTLE | 1.800.427.7483 | http://www.xpressshuttle.com/los_angeles.htm |
If you are taking a taxi from LAX, ask for the "Flat Rate." Yellow Cab should give you a flat rate of $50.00. (Because the Burbank Airport is so much closer, it is relatively inexpensive to take a taxi from there to Oakwood.)
