Mr.Beantown is from New York? lol.
I'm off campus and I highly doubt that the apartments across the street would be much nicer. First off, the rent at Sunforest/Sundance etc doesn't include furniture. Second, you have to pay for some if not all of the utilities. If it matters for you to stay in a nice place close to campus, then stay at the new dorms. They actually look great, though I haven't seen the inside of it.