Americana Arms

 

I have lived here with my husband for almost a year, but can't wait to move out in a few months.

First of all, too small for two people and a kitten.

It is really more of a studio with a wall rather than an apartment.

Bathroom ventilation is major problem.

We have been cleaning puddles of condensation and mold for months.

Laundry room is good, recently remodeled, with credit card-operated machines (no quarters, but people are lazy and we end up waiting for them to move their finished loads in the 8 machines.) Noise is also bad.

We have been woken up innumerable times by the neighbors' alarm clocks, talking, tv, and random singing.

Everytime they drop something, it sounds like an explosion.

Trains make the windows shake.

Other people seem to have had problems with maintenence guys, but they have been nice to us, and all of out requests have been addressed, though not always to my full satisfaction.

There is a guy who keeps parking his big truck with a trailer attached in the only unassigned parking (on the street) so there is often not enough for the rest of us.

Some strange things:
-internet is a problem.

We moved in under the pretense of free internet included with rent, but half way through the lease, they changed the system and we had to buy our own wireless card (they gave us one before) and now, more than a couple months later, it sucks.

Just this last weekend, no internet at all.

If you use your computer, then this is NOT the place for you.

-privacy is non-existent since gigantic windows face courtyard.

Have had landscapers right outside window freak me out a few times.

They cut down the tree that used to block the sun from our windows, so now the sun shines straight in at 5:30 am.

-cheap carpeting wears so easily.

It was new when we moved in, but is now looking pretty shabby, even though we have a brand new vaccuum, use it at least once a week, and spot clean regularly.

Expect to have to pay for some damages here.

-our bathroom tiling has been ripped up twice by maintenence for leaking into the hallway, and kitchen pipes replaced for being rusted beyond repair and leaking.

Now, the retiling THEY did is damaged, and it has taken almost three months for me to get an estimated date of repair.

-the paint is peeling everywhere because the steam from the shower keeps everything wet for a good hour after the shower.

Worse in winter, when condensation from hot shower is more.

Puddles on the windowsills, mold mold mold.

There are soft spots in the walls from water damage.

-a few weeks ago, there was a smoke alarm inspection.

This apparently took three people to accomplish.

The best part: in the letter we recieved telling us when it would be, we were warned to have our dishes and laundry done, or we would be in violation of the lease(which states you must do dishes nightly, despite no dishwasher, no disposal.) When they came in, my husband was sure to be home to address anything with them, and when they saw the shower steam, they got mad and told him that we should be leaving the bedroom windows open at all times, and run the fan while we shower to avoid this.

And, now that I am rewriting this review, I feel it important to mention to recent crime spree.

Our car has been broken into twice, once the stereo was stolen.

It was parked in the parking lot.

Luckily, our door was unlocked, or they would have just broken the window like they did the car next to us.

Apartments have been broken into, lots of cars damaged or broken into.

Being on a busy street leads to a lot of crime.

Also, a girl was arrested outside our window a few weeks ago.

My basic advice is that these are one person apartments, people with very few belongings (no storage).

The office staff and maintenence have admitted to me personally that the plumbing, ventilation and other construction issues are problematic for everyone in the complex.

As long as you are nice to management, they are nice to you.

Good for people who aren't home a lot or who like to listen to tv or music a lot to drown out noise.

There are better, bigger, newer apartments out there for only a little more money.

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