I first lived in these apartments back in the late 1980's. I lived in one of the corporate suites by the main swimming pool. It was a great place to live at that time. There was an active tenants' association. The apartment management was friendly and even put on parties with free drinks and food for the tenants. They were well maintained and centrally located for Research Park activities.
I came back to Huntsville in the late 1990's and there were still some of the same staff working at Rime Village but it had been sold to Colonial Properties. Most of the old agents were leaving because the new management had changed the feel of the place. It proceeded to slide downhill for years after that change, but all in all the maintenance staff was friendly. The office staff was OK. After it became the Reserve the slide downhill increased. The trash service become a problem. Recycling bit the schnitzel. The pool was not opened at all and generally outside conditions deteriorated. The water mains broke often with a resulting lack of water for days. the outside lights go out and stay out. Many of my long suffering neighbors left, including some police officers and sheriff's deputies.
It's true there are more black people here than before but generally that hasn't changed much about the neighborhood. In fact, many of my neighbors are more friendly nowadays. I also like that there were more Obama stickers here. The only crime we've had against us here was that our car stereo system was ripped out of one of our cars in the parking lot. That can happen anywhere nowadays. I loved the flowers and trees here but when new management took over this year the tree service they contracted *BUTCHERED* the trees. The Bradford Pears and Cherry Trees suffered the most but some of the Tulip Poplars also were defaced. I chalk that one up to inexperienced and ecologically unaware new management. they seemed to respond to the numerous complaints that they had about it.
Now my lease is up for renewal. Will I renew or go month to month' Will I move out' I really don't know what will happen right now as my wife loves the convenience of the location and is very attached to our apartment. I don't really care about staying but probably will unless another travesty occurs like the trees or someone else gets murdered. We've been here over 10 years and are considering leaving it all behind.

*** OK-THIS IS AN UPDATE ***

Things have improved under the new management. Apartment maintenance is being done on time and as requested. The apartments have been repainted. We've had new appliances and some lineoleum replaced. A maintenance worker drives by at least once a day to pick up trash that lazy folks can't be bothered to place in trash bins. All in all, I'm happy with the improvements.

My wife and I have signed yet another lease to remain here: Location, location, location; need I say more'

The new management is responsive and the renters that are coming in seem to be a bit more upscale or they are college students. Those that are not professionals are very carefulof their vehicles and apartment areas. They are good neighbors (at least around the villas/chateaus where we live). The pool is open and well maintained in our area. The rent is reasonable. There is no more crime here than in other parts of Huntsville. Our neighbors actually keep an eye out for strange things going on.

The Reserve has improved. It's not yet a 5 out of 5 like Rime Village was in the 80's when it was THE apartmentplace in Huntsville, but it at least deserves to be in the top 80 to 90% range. I give it a 3.5 out of 5 now and hope to up that to a 4 out of 5 as things continue to improve.

I guess there won't be any free burhers,dogs and drinks at the big pool every now and then like we used to have last century. :-( Oh well!!! modern life and recessions are wonderful aren't they'

To the person who replied to my original post who is a kindred spirit "Hang in there. I think it will get even better."

To the person who has nothing good to say "I hope you eventually calm down and pursue happiness instead of vendetta. I also hope that the police act on the reported crimes here and nab the offenders. These things happen everywhere nowadays and we are all just a short drive from such criminal activities and dangers."

Safety is best served by have good neighbors like Mr. Smith, Ms. Wesson or the Remington family. Having neighbors who come to one's aid is a wonderful thing but there's no substitution for beingable to safeguard one's self and one's family

User Responses
From: hsvnative99	Date: 07/14/2009
Wow - we could have been neighbors back then. I'm in the same situation. Lived here right out of college in 1989 when it was Rime Village, and it was the center of young professionals, especially in the 1 and 2 bedroom blocks. It was very convenient to work (still is). It had its problems back then as well - my car got backed into with no note of course and I had to pay for that myself, and the sprinklers used to spray against my outside wall which mildewed the closet. However, I always had good memories of the apartments, and when life changes brought me back 20 years later, I quickly discovered sometimes it's best to leave pleasant memories as just that - memories. The first thing that happened the week before I moved here was the fire that destroyed the one building, and the tarps have been strung up there a year since I've lived here. Back in 1989, if there had been a fire, no resident would have known about it until they got home from work. I was shocked to find on the news that half the residents were there during the day, don't they have jobs? I also discovered this was not really the young professional center anymore, it was now about 50% professionals. It was too late and I had already signed the 12 month lease. Back in 1989, yeah you would hear the occasional car stereo at midnight cranking AC/DC or Aerosmith, but nowadays it's the boom thump boom of some car stereo cranking while the guy or gal is getting their mail. Cigarette butts strewn about in front of people's porches (which should be obvious to the apartment management who is doing it) and beer bottles and cans strewn about like a trashcan is too much of a hassle for them. I left a gas grill at the old house because I READ the lease and OBEYED the rules of the apartment complex. When I asked management about the grills, I actually got the answer from the maintenance guy - "well were they using it? The rule is they can't use it up there, they have to take it down to the street". Yeah, right - if the person isn't choosing to obey the apartment lease agreement by having a grill in the first place, do you really think they will lug it off the porch, down the stairs, and to the street? The apartment complex finally got some boldness in saying all grills would be removed by 6/30 - well it's two weeks later and if they say they thought everyone had complied with that rule, I can gladly provide a dozen addresses that are daring the complex to remove them. I'll at least finish this review with some positives - parking is great, no problem finding spots, and office staff has always been friendly when I've talked with them. For the most part, my neighbors have been very nice.
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/19/2009
In the past few months there have been at least 28 break-ins here, with one known murder, one suspected suicide, and one death by natural causes. This place is really going down hill... As for "the apartments have been painted," only a small fraction of the buildings have been painted thus far. I'm hanging in here, and have been doing so for too daggum long now. The main difference is that now I am armed, and have a license to carry a conceiled weapon. LOL!

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