Seriously the worst place I could have ever imagined I might end up living. Pitching a tent in a minefield might even be a more 'happy' and safe experience.

Within a week of moving in, it became apparent that my next door neighbors were meth dealers. Of course, I found later that management was having constant problems with them; but still moved me in there (instead of several other similar apartments) without saying anything until I started noticing things on my own. Problems included LOUD late night visits, stoned individuals falling down stairs and cursing, scary individuals knocking on doors at all hours of the night, screaming, fighting, baby's momma battles, challenges over manhood, etc. Basically the worst of Jerry Springer but to the nth degree and only a layer of flimsy sheetrock to keep you 'safe'.

Terrible living situation; especially since I had to go up the same staircase as these drug zombies to get to my front door. Sometimes it was so scary I just stayed in my apartment waiting hours until I felt "safe" enough to make a run for my car around the corner.

Two Sacramento PD raids later (and about 6 months after I moved in) management finally evicted these people. After months of my neighbors leaving dirty diapers on my doorstep and blocking the staircase with a broken baby carriage (for one whole month, seriously! Management would NOT do anything about this!) I thought the problems would be over.

Much to my surprise, things have gotten worse. I'm constantly getting threatened when I walk the grounds by youth who tend to just 'wander around' at all hours of the day and night. Cars drive through "boomin' da bass" at all hours of the night. Tow trucks actively patrol the parking lot (and these are the big, diesel tow trucks that are extremely noisy) every few hours making sure anyone who's bedroom points towards the main 'road' through the grounds don't get any sleep. Invest in earplugs if you plan to get ANY sleep EVER here. Also the tow truck drivers like to threaten to tow you if you're unloading your car for like 60 seconds. My girlfriend was threatened and verbally assaulted by one of these maverick tow truck drivers (who seem to not be endorsed by management, but allowed to patrol nonetheless) for trying to unload her car and parking 'illegally' for about 30 seconds. Of course, if someone leaves their car there all night (another CONSTANT problem) these tow truck drivers do nothing. I've seen them drive by and ignore cars that have been left in the 'illegal parking' zone for several hours; apparently it's only "fun" if you get to insult and threaten a woman about 1/3 your size.

Parking is a complete joke. I've had someone random park in my assigned spot at least 3 times now... including one time that I had to have the car towed. This became a 3 hour fiasco at 3am (completed at 6am) because the 'security' (and I use that term very loosely) had no idea what to do and the tow truck driver couldn't figure out how to get inside the controlled access gate (even though they were the 'official' tow truck company of the apartment complex). Also, there is a completely inadequate number of 'visitor' parking spots as most tenants seem to park in these spaces to leave their reserved spots open for some mysterious reason. I have never been able to consistantly have company over due to this... and I clearly don't want them to park on the bordering street which is dusted with broken auto glass.

The controlled access gate is also a joke. It works properly about 25% of the time. Also, it requires a remote trigger or code to EXIT; no motion sensor like EVERY OTHER gate system I've ever seen. If you don't have the correct code or a remote (or if the gate system breaks while you're inside) you're basically trapped... there is only one way in and out of the complex. Seeing as how time after time this system breaks down, you are often stuck out of your car in a somewhat dodgey neighborhood where a car-jacking is not beyond the realm of possibility. Management has been notified of the possible dangers with this and still has not reacted in any effective way.

I have also never seen rental office turnover like that of this complex. I can honestly say no one working the office was there the day I renewed my lease less about 3 months ago. So, don't get too comfortable dealing with a consistant person at the office, because they'll be gone before you know it.

Finally, if you have a family, then this is the place for you! Especially if you have small children that you want to let roam free through the grounds and amongst the constant in and out traffic. Seriously, a day doesn't pass where I don't almost hit some small child that is blindly running or riding a skateboard on the main street through the apt. complex. Either that or seeing a small gang of 7 year olds playing on the controlled access gate or loitering in the laundry room. I never see ANY adult supervision and have just begun to assume that some orphanage is renting a 2bd 1ba for some kids they don't have room for and only checking up on them once a day.

I only renewed my lease because that management team agreed to work with me (unfortunately they're all gone now) after the "house arrest due to the meth dealers" saga. Also, I was in between a rock and a hard place due to an out of state move that was planned and I wanted to avoid moving expenses twice in one year. Oh, and I did mention I'm a masochist... just kidding. It almost takes being one to make it day to day here though.

I'm sure one day I'll look back on my year at River Terrace and laugh. Most likely, I'll be laughing at the far too hasty decision I made to move in there. But, I guess we all need mistakes to learn from. And it makes for great stories to tell at parties. If you're desperate to move in somewhere right away (like I was when I moved here), just commit a crime that will get you thrown in prison for a year. That is what I actually felt like I did... although prison would have arguably been a safer alternative.

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