Apartments CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 while Senate Plaza and Claire Tower were deemed safest. The Place on Greene, located at 2002 Greene St. above Papa Jazz, has a locked entrance accessible only to the residents with a key and a sign proclaiming the prop erty to be under video surveil lance. However, according to Zachary Alberto, a fourth-year business administration student, security guards never patrol the building. Despite the lack of a fire escape, each floor, said Alberto, has both a fire extinguisher and a fire hose, and each room has a smoke detec tor. As for vandalism, Alberto claimed that it happens often, cit ing holes that had been put into his walls. Alberto was unsure about occurrences of theft but not ed that cars in the building’s park ing lot get broken into once in awhile. The management of the build ing could not be reached for com ment. However, Alberto said, “I gen erally feel safe.” At Whaley’s Mill, located at 211 Main St., both entrances were un locked at 8 p.m. However, a secu rity camera keeps electronic vig il over the first floor, as do other cameras throughout the building, according to a sign. There is a fire extinguisher on every floor and a smoke detector in every room but no fire escape. A USC graduate student who wished to remain anonymous claimed that, to his knowledge, there had been no acts of vandal ism or theft during the year and a half he had lived there. me property manager was un available for comment. A security guard patrols the building during the late night and early morning hours, according to the student. “I don’t think during the night it’s really advisable for women to go (outside of the building), but otherwise I think it’s fine,” the stu dent said. Across the street from The Place on Greene is the entrance to Plaza Centre at 2002 Greene Street. The door leading to the apart ments had been propped open for two days, allowing access to the entire building. However, according to resident Ryan Hanlin, 20, that door is usu ally locked. Hanlin also said a few members of the Columbia Police Department patrol Plaza Centre at night. Plaza Centre s management, the same management for The Place on Greene, could not be reached for comment. “It’s a pretty secure building,” Hanlin said. John Defelice, 44, said that dur ing his three months living at Plaza Centre, he had neither en countered nor heard of any acts of vandalism or theft. Like Whaley’s Mill, each room has a smoke detector and each floor has a fire extinguisher; how ever, fire hoses are not immedi ately visible and there is no fire escape. At Senate Plaza, located at 1520 Senate St., the doors after the foy er is locked and made accessible only to residents. A security guard keeps watch in the lobby beside the locked doors, a small television on his desk showing surveillance of each of the building’s floors. According to Property Manager Connie Clayborne, there have been no acts of vandalism or theft within the past year. There was a fire in November 2002, but because the building was concrete, it was quickly contained. as witn most oi me outer apart ment buildings, Senate Plaza does n’t have a fire escape but does have both a fire extinguisher and a fire hose on each floor. Each room has a smoke detector. Claire Tower, next to Maxcy College at 1041 Marion St., re quires a card to open the doors. Claire Tower resident Grant Johnson, 36, said security guards begin patrolling the building around 6 p.m. No surveillance equipment was visible. “With the guards here, they keep the homeless population out,” Johnson said. He added that in the past two years, there have been no acts of theft or vandalism. The property manager was unavailable for com ment. Johnson also claimed there had been no fire in two years. Claire Tower is the only apartment build ing with a fire escape and two fire extinguishers and two hoses per floor. Like the other buildings, each room has a smoke detector. At Cornell Arms, the doors are locked after 5 p.m. A security guard or staff member sits behind a front desk at night. Brian Brechko, a member of the staff, said residents could always reach him by pager. mere is no surveillance system at Cornell Arms. Before the arrival of the evening staff member, there was always at least one person at the front desk, either a secretary or staff member, Brechko said. Cornell Arms had no vandal ism or theft within the past year, Elam said. The building also has fire ex tinguishers on every floor and a fire hose in every stairwell. Elam said the building is made of brick and can contain a fire to one room. Each room has a smoke detector. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecocknews@gwm.sc.edu -■■■in-wn-;---1 #» „ H1 1 use better. 11/ * * |1 1 / /Vz \ /// V \ jf ^F W * ggfc .;