Came to this apartment agreeing on a rent price, and to find out that it is more than what was agreed on over the phone after signing the contract. Considering that it wasn't that much money, I just let it go, but then the downfall continued over subsequent weeks. Let's first start with the positives.
Parking is no problem here. The only minor problem is that it's outdoors, and because of all the nearby construction; a lot of dirt collects on your car over time. But parking is a definite plus. Second, the kitchen appliances are quite nice. It's not loud here.
Now to the cons. When I first got here, I was not given a key fob to enter the complex. Instead, I was given a key code. I was told that I would be given one later, and that my name would be input into the outdoor address telecom so that I could let people in once they got the technician. The telecom never happened. And after multiple requests to the management, I finally got a fob that didn't work. I asked again about getting one that worked, and was told that because I had the code to get into the complex, I didn't need one.
Second, I was told that I would be able to get high speed internet once I moved in. If you define 500 kbps as high speed internet (this is the speed of your cell phone internet), then I am at lost for words. So you have to cough up either $20 for 2 mbps or $30 for 3 mbps. That's more expensive than what I could get from Comcast or Verizon, and I can't get anything faster than that. And during nights, the internet speed fluctuates, since everyone goes on it.
So it's nice to be able to have dogs here without any fee, except the sidewalks always smell like urine, and you got to watch out for the dog feces on the sidewalks. Now management tried to crackdown on the dog feces by useless threats, but it's not like that is going to work. The fact that outside smells like pee is a quite nauseating.
Fourth, the floor is sealed cement. Now coming from an eco-friendly point of view, the apartment maintains a stable temperature without any real need for the AC or the heater (68 degrees lowest during the winter and 78 degrees highest during the summer). But still, some real floor would still be appreciable.
Fifth, there is absolutely no mailbox here. Sure you can receive mail, but you cannot send out mail. You got to walk to some mailbox a block away or something of the sort. I talked to management about this, and they said that they would resolve this. But low and behold, like many other things from my experience here, it never happened. I still have to walk somewhere to drop off my mail.
Sixth, maintenance was pretty prompt in the beginning, but now it has become a chore. It takes about a month at least and multiple requests for things to get fixed, like just getting a light bulb replaced.
Seventh, and this is my biggest gripe about this place, the management is lacking. First, there was no consistent person in the management office. What I mean, is that I think I have met 3 or 4 people over the past couple months managing the complex while I have been here. Now, the management is rarely here, and if so, quite rude. I think that I've seen the management office open once over the past 2 months, where she was there to just collect rent checks. The management also belittled me as if I were a child for doing nothing. That pretty much seals the deal that I am going to be moving out as soon as possible once my contract ends, or I might even just break it. A lacking, disrespectful management is anything but pleasurable.
Stay far away unless you have dog. And if you're considering moving into the newly renovated Old Stone Row or Engine Company Lofts, just remember it's the same management person(s). Management is key to everything, and I have never had as such a bad experience as this one.
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