To make things clear: this review is designed for people who read reviews looking for insights on where they plan to be spending a considerable amount of rent for the length of their lease. In doing so, I will write a review that I myself as a consumer would have appreciated the most, instead of having to sift through the accusations of fake reviews and other "anonymous" reviews (that lack any creditability) for the two apartment complexes I personally have lived in the downtown LA area. Namely, the Visconti and the Orsini II.

Prior to moving in to the Orsini, I had lived in the Visconti for one year, and my review of which can be found by searching this website by my username. I am fully familiar with both management teams, although work for nor receive any financial incentives from either. I am simply a LA resident sharing my experiences while living in these two different buildings.

For the majority of my views towards Visconti, please read my review under the Visconti Apartments, username: solidsnake. I feel it aptly expresses my sentiments towards that wretched management team who were not only a pain to deal with while living there, but even worse so when checking out.

On the day we moved out there were three other people, each in different apartments, on our floor alone moving out, and perhaps because Visconti Management was so busy dealing with residents leaving them, they flatly refused to do our room inspection: consequently, forcing us to come back yet another day and complete the check out.

The Orsini on the other hand, while admittedly only having lived here one week, is a breath of fresh air. It truly feels like resort living. I'll just go ahead and share some of my initial impressions and update this review when anything relevant comes up. The building is incredibly secure and extremely FUNCTIONAL. Every door is locked and your house key opens everything-- from the library, parking lot doors, gym, etc. The Visconti on the other hand, either leaves everything locked (to which your house key cannot open) or unlocked, which means either the residents themselves have no free access, or everyone including non-residents does.

The Visconti is quite a small community and after living there for one year, I came to know almost everyone--if not by name, then by face. Only an even smaller group of regulars would work out at the gym and on several occasions last month were there people who were clearly not residents--I'm talking about groups of ten people visibly dressed like gang members (inside a gym). Numerous times had I come home at night while living at Visconti and caught the front desk security guards asleep on their shifts. Yes, we used to receive notices sent directly from the LAPD and not Visconti management, warning residents of the Visconti about increased incidents home burglaries, armed robberies, and car theft. This decline in the quality of living at the Visconti happened AFTER March 1, 2008 when the new FPI management took over.

The Orsini is clean. The people are respectful. The internet works. The compound is well patrolled. The management is cooperative. The building is well maintained and the grounds are simply beautiful. Whenever I had brought guests over to my place at the Visconti, no one ever specifically commented on my building or the apartment. Here at the Orsini, even the pizza delivery guy mentions how nice the building is.

The Orsini is the Ivy league of LA apartments and as I was telling my girlfriend the other day, this building, both in landscaping and architectural design, actually adds on to LA's charm instead of taking away from it.

I feel safe here, and more importantly, I feel safe letting my girlfriend roam around here when I'm not home. This place is like a fortress and it is run effectively; every resident I have met here so far has been extremely enthusiastic, and even PROUD to be living here.

User Responses
From: merongi	Date: 07/24/2008
hello! i would love to hear more about what your experience has been over the 2 months you've been at the orsini. my husband & i are considering moving there & would love any additional input you may have. if you don't mind, i have a few questions: - are you at the orsini 1 or 2? is there a big difference between the two? - i read somewhere that they charge for use of the amenities. is this true? if so, which ones are free & which aren't? - how is the noise level? are the walls thin? i'm a super light sleeper so this part is critical! - what is the average age group? my hubby & i are 29 & we're hoping for a mature group whether young or older. i imagine there are quite a few college students, it being so close to USC. is there loud music or other obnoxious behavior? don't get me wrong, i like to blast my music from time to time but i probably wouldn't wanna have to listen to someone else's blaring music all the time. :-) - truly, how is the management like? i currently live in the miracle mile area & we have a fabulous manager. i'd hate to have to deal with a disrespectful or inefficient manager. thanks a lot!!
From: solidsnake	Date: 08/03/2008
No problem, I'd love to offer any insight that would help in anyway with your decision. To answer your questions: 1. We live in Orsini 2; while I have had time to make use of most of the facilities here, I have admittedly spent about no more than ten minutes in Orsini I. Bearing this, I can't in any good conscious give any opinion or comparison regarding Orsini I. 2. Orsini II does charge for the Wii/virtual bowling and golfing rooms; everything else (the gym, sauna, pools, jacuzzi, BBQ, wireless internet library, basketball court, etc.) is free of charge. 3. The noise level is probably my only complaint. While the neighbors on my floor are amazing, and no, the walls are not thin, the neighbors directly above me seem to make it a point to blast their music. Anytime this happens, I've found a quick phone call to security is all that is needed. Security here is very on-point, and will not slack off. I'm enough of a type-A personality where I've actually timed their response time, and let's just say, they haven't let me down. 4. We are in our late twenties as well, and that seems to be the median age here just going on superficial speculation. It certainly is not as young as the Visconti crowd. 5. The management is simply the best I could hope for: both are extremely professional, personable, and experienced. I've gotten to know them both, most especially Ashley, and I could honestly tell you that anything I need done, gets done within about 10 minutes of asking her. If something must take longer, she will give you a very clear and extremely reasonable ETA. This may sound cheesy, but I feel like I've now had the best manager I could have possibly had, and when the time comes to leave LA, I will never have the same experience again. And I'm not even thirty yet! I hope this helps.

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