I leased my unit while the complex was still under construction, because I thought I was getting a good floorplan at a good price. Needless to say, price and floorplan aren't everything when it comes to leasing an apartment.

While the complex was still under construction when I moved in in March of last year, upon completion of construction, the complex's problems became incredibly clear. While the complex was quiet during construction and the tenants seemed nice and concerned with the upkeep of the common areas, at the close of construction, it became very clear that Alexan Belleview's target tenant market consisted chiefly of college students and recent graduates.

While one can consider the above observation a generalization, the truth is that apartment complexes that cater to college markets typically don't attract a wider range of tenants because of the wear and tear students put on a building. Ranging from defecation in the hallways and vomit all over the trash rooms to loud noise and inconvenient fire alarms, the tenant profile here was very evident. As long as mom and dad can guarantee the rent, Alexan Belleview will let the apartment.

As for the construction of the complex, Alexan Belleview is a study in how to build on the cheap. The builder paid more attention to the bottom line than to the quality of work. A stick-built complex, the walls are paper thin, so you can hear neighbor's moans, their dogs and music at all hours of the day and night. The columns are all out of true, and the hallway linoleum (sp') began cracking a few months after construction ended. The garage leaks when it rains or when the lawns are watered. Kitchen and bathroom tiles began popping up soon after I moved in, ruining my apartment.

The building layout itself is far from functional. There are three elevators for the complex, with only one receiving heavy use. The front elevator, which opens onto the leasing office, receives a lot of TLC, but don't be fooled. The other two are already beat up, because they serve LONG corridors between units. The trash rooms are poorly ventilated and placed resulting in long staff treks to take the trash from one bin to the main bin outside the building.

And then there is the parking, a saga unto itself. During the summer of 2003, the management thought that it would be easier for residents to self police their assigned spaces, leaving guests who mistakenly park in someone's space at the mercy of a fellow tenant. Park in the wrong spot and you're towed. This, of course, wouldn't be a problem if the complex were not underparked, and if residents would actually park in their garage spaces, rather than in guest spaces. But parking for guests is highly restricted, and the gates do not prevent your vehicle from being vandalized or stolen.

As for staff service and responsiveness, generally, you're made to feel like nothing more than a source of income, and a not important one at that. They could care less about responding in a timely manner to maintenance calls, but fail to fulfill any of your obligations as a tenant, and they won't hesitate to throw the book at you.

Overall, I was disgusted by my experience and would recommend avoiding this complex if at all possible. Phoenix is a tenant's market, and Trammell Crow should be made to pay for trying to pass off poor construction and service as "luxury living."

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