I am not sure why this place got so many bad reviews, but overall I am pretty happy with the apartment. I decided to wait 5 months before actually posting my review to give myself time to really get a feel for the place.

What brought me here was the price and location. I work within walking distance of the building, and the idea of not having to commute was well worth it. This building had very nice apartments for significantly less (30% or more) than the other buildings nearby. Its true we don't have covered parking or valet parking, but I don't think its worth an extra $400 for that.

I would rate the quality of the apartments at about an 8. The building was renovated in the last 4 years, so everything is pretty new. There are attractive granite countertops and nice modern layouts, but you can tell they went with the most inexpensive appliances (they aren't bad, but are just very basic). The carpet is dark gray, so it hides stains well and seems pretty durable. Bathrooms are huge, almost unnecessarily big, but I guess some people like that. The 16 foot ceilings definitely are very cool, as are the massive windows. Noise has not been a problem for me, but it could just be that my neighbors never seem to be home.

Security is decent, but could be improved. For starters, there should be someone in the lobby 24/7, but there is only the doorman during the day, and a security guard who seems to show up after 11 or 12 at night. There is an access code to enter the building that hasn't been changed since I moved in. I'm sure half of Hartford knows how to get in by now. I was told this was changed every three weeks, which is not the case.

Parking is secure, but be prepared for door dings. They really like to pack the cars in the lot. I haven't seen any broken windows or anything that would indicate thieves got to cars in the lot (unlike the street where that is a common sighting).

The common areas are kept very clean. They are always mopping/vacuuming the floors, wiping down the elevator etc. It also smells nice and clean, which is important to me. The gym is basic, but has essentials (treadmills, free weights etc). It never is busy which is nice. There is a small game room with a pool table as well. The laundry machines are really terrible, but management recently announced new washers and dryers coming in early 2009, which i hope fixes that.

My utility bills have been very reasonable. Everything is electric, including heat, which was my main concern at first. However the building's construction keeps it decently cool in the summer, so i didn't have to run the A/C too often. Also, the windows may be heavy, but I have no problem opening them. Now that it is cooler, i have found that the large windows and direct sunlight keep things pretty warm during the day. So far my electricity bill has not exceeded $50, which is not bad considering the 16foot ceilings.

Moving in was a breeze thanks to the loading dock, the huge carts they have for you to use, and the fact that they let you reserve an elevator.

The only staff I really deal with is Courtney the doorman. He's a really nice guy, and does things like deliver packages into your apartment when you're not home etc.

In summary, this building definitely is one of the better deals in downtown. I know people are more inclined to post reviews when they have bad experiences, but I think that there are plenty of people who will say this is a pleasant place to live. There are some minor issues that they have already addressed, or can easily be addressed if brought to their attention. It is also worth noting that this property changed management since many of the negative reviews posted before...which could have a lot to do with my better experience.

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