Avalon was a great place to live for a UCD student. I lived there from 2006 to 2008, and everyone in my house thought it was a very nice place to live. The grounds are kept up very well -- while we were there, all the townhouses were painted, the pool was renovated, the community center was completely overhauled, and all our in-house maintenance needs were met promptly. Sometimes, when the maintenance man (who we knew by name) came to fix something in our house or check something, he would end up fixing other things without being asked.
The apartments themselves are very spacious, and most bedrooms are large enough to fit two people. Four bedroom units have 3.5 bathrooms and decent-sized kitchens. Yards are generally just large enough to store bikes, but some yards are much larger. Each unit has room for washer/dryer which you can rent from the complex or supply on your own. Units also have air conditioning, which is useful in the hot Davis summers.
The complex has a community center with a small kitchen, bathroom, fitness center, couch, and pool table. The center is large enough to fit about 50 people, although my apartment had multiple parties with many more than that (shhh...). The center is adjacent to the large pool and nice hot tub, both of which were in clean, working condition 97% of the time (when they were not being renovated). The complex grounds are very neatly tended.
The complex is managed by the same company that manages Sorrento and the Brisa Villas. The office is located across the street from Avalon in the Sorrento complex. Management was very nice and understanding, even with the occasional late payments. Speaking of payments, you can divide the checks individually, so that each person can pay their own (although all residents of each unit are legally responsible for the complete and timely payment of the entire sum). They have a website wherein residents can set up monthly automatic credit card payments without ever writing checks.
Parking is assigned, and every person in each household gets a parking permit. However, during the school year, parking gets tight and there were a number of times that I came home late at night and had to park on the street. Although each person has a permit, there are only 2 assigned spots per household, so additional cars must compete for space in the parking lots in the complex. Most of the time, that is not too much of a problem.
The complex is located on Valdora St., which connects to the Putah Creek bike path via Evergreen Court. The path goes to campus (2 miles/10-12 minute ride). At the end of Valdora St., there are 2 Unitrans bus stops. Also at the end of the street is a shopping center with Safeway, Rite Aid, Office Max, Round Table, and other shops.
I really enjoyed living here. It was quiet most of the time, except for the garbage trucks that came in the morning. It was also on the expensive side (2500/mo for a 4-bed, no utilities included). With enough people in each household, that is feasible. I also wished it was closer to campus so that I could use the ARC more often, but oh well. No regrets.

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