I don't know where to start! Well, I guess the worst is a fine enough place. Everything in our apartment has been broken, is broken, or is about to be broken. We once went three days in the middle of winter without any heat. Our shower head broke, and they gave us a new one identical to the old one. Our oven broke in the middle of a batch of cookies--needless to say, those were ruined. Our kitchen sink is leaky and molding because it isn't caulked properly, the faucet doesn't work right, and all cupboards have about fifty coats of paint on them so that they won't close. The counter top is old, ugly, warped, and molding just like the sink (and guess who is held accoujtable for all this mold'!). One of our sets of blinds doesn't even open. The electric system is so poor that in the kitchen, when three appliances are plugged in at once, the power goes out, and in the bedroom and livingroom, the same happens--I can't even count how many times my computer has turned off because of this (thank goodness I have back up power!). And, to top it off, the electric bill is outrageous! Next, the management: The owner/manager, Leslie, is just horrible. Never helpful, always has an insult ready. She complains, insults, lectures, and lies constantly. I once went in to the office because I wanted to mount a paper towel holder in the kitchen and I needed to borrow a screw driver from the maintencace staff. I had managed to get it in halfway without one, but now I was stuck. She lectured me about mounting things on the walls (it's not allowed!) and refused to give me a screw driver, even after I swore I'd fix the wall before we moved out. What's more, she forbade me to screw it in the rest of the way, so ever since, we've had a half-screwed-in, lopsided paper towel holder in our kitchen. Moving on...noise. Garbage early every Monday morning, Recycling just as early every Tuesday morning, all just outside our window. It wakes us up every week. Train tracks right outside too. It makes our apartment tremble and it's very loud. Walls--very thin. We can hear our neighbors using the microwave, washing dishes, showering, etc. Basic floorplan details: Apartment is not quite big enough for two people (500 sq. feet), and there is absolutely NO storage, especially in the bathroom. Kitchen: Floor tiles only reaches out 2 and 1/2 feet wide (along the living room wall). Very cramped, and literally (I measured) only 3 sq. feet of counter space. There are many cupboards in the kitchen, but they're so high up that I have to use a chair to get anything out of them (and I'm 5'7). Bathroom: No counter at all, just standing sink with tiny cupboard underneath. Very, very cramped. As with the rest of the apartment, very ugly paint job, and very, very ugly bathtub tiles on the wall of the shower (pink with forest green trim--which does not match at all and is covered with paint splatter). Livingroom and Bedroom: the heater is on the wall in the livingroom, and it doesn't warm the bedroom, so a space heater is necessary. Same with AC. As for repairs, the maintenance men are very nice and friendly. Unfortunately, they don't really provide much help. They seem to hate the manager as much as everyone else, so they openly tell you exactly why they cannot properly fix something in your apartment--because the management does not allow them to do so--no new parts for anything that can be "fixed" with a touch up or fiddling--even though whatever it is should have been properly fixed with new parts or completely replaced years ago. As for the halls, they always stink, though the smell varies. There are only 8 washers and dryers, and no one seems to unload their laundry on time, so you're always waiting around, even on week-days. The office does not accept packages, and since the buildings are locked, you're lucky to get your packages. I once had a UPS guy ask me to sign for someone's else's package (who I did not know), and I've had problems getting my own packages too, because of this situation. The UPS guys get cranky about it since it makes their jobs harder (understandably), but they lecture you about it since the management offers no assistance. Basically, Americana Arms is a run-down building with horrible management. As soon as September rolls around, we are moving to another apartment 50 sq. ft. bigger and only $50 more a month. I would not recommend anyone live here. Believe me, the lower rent and free internet and cable are not worth it!

User Responses
From: evsson	Date: 04/24/2005
I strongly agree! They had a very good maintenance man he seemed to know his job very well. He was the only one who really knew how to fix the things that were broken. Then Leslie Try the toothless old hag that manages tne place fired him for no apparent reason. And the other one just quit because he couldn't take her and her boyfriends crap any more. Oh yeah her boyfriend is a maintenance person there also but all he does is sit in his office all day playing on his laptop, probably XXX. There have been others hired one was to stupid to get out of his own way and the others saw right through Leslies' and Rogers' bull sh%* and only lasted a few days. Avoid this hell hole at all costs. It's not worth it. Leslie seems nice at first until the money is there and the lease is signed and tnen she turns into a venomous snake very cold and calculating. She lies when the truth would be better. but she can't help it. She's very controlling and bitter like someone who has been beaten up by a bully all her life. Again avoid this place at all costs....

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