http://groups.google.com/group/park-place-newark-de


Note: I'm updating this post from time to time so the information stays current:

That particular review ("One of the Safest Around" posted on 11/28/2006 ) must have been posted by Towne Court because the review was posted on 11/28, yet a month later the "new security system" is not yet operational even though it was announced over half a year ago that it would be ready by Fall 2006.

Management: Okay, though experience with the office staff seem to indicate that intelligence is not a hiring factor. They make a lot of mistakes and can't seem to keep their information straight especially among themselves. Nothing dishonest, deliberate, or rude on their part as far as I can tell, but just make sure you're an informed consumer.

Maintenance has been okay. I don't need to call them often, but they've always arrived and resolved the issue the same day I called.

Inspections, Adjustments, Meters, etc.: These should come under management, but they deserve it's own category. Management seems to come up with numerous reasons to enter your unit on a monthly basis. The frequency seems highly suspicious. Once some woman even took photographs of family photographs on my wall! (And I was too shocked to say anything which I regret.) [Followup: Since I originally posted this, the visits have dropped significantly.]

Unit: old buildings, but okay. I had a problem with a wet dog smell coming from the walls and constant allergies. Turned out it was from a constant draft of dirty air coming from places where the walls had holes for plumbing, heating, and sockets. I sealed them off myself and it's better now. The roof/attic space is a nesting area for birds and/or squirrels. If my downstairs neighbor smokes--especially in the bathroom-- the smoke comes into my apartment through the wall openings.

Overall it's okay. If I had more money I'd live elsewhere, but compared to the lower cosing places I've looked at around here this is the best deal when all things are considered.

UPDATE 3/25/07: Somebody wrote a harsh review 3/07, but I can't disagree on everything. There were dealers in my building and the one next to me, and I and my friends got asked if we wanted to buy any. Those guys are gone now.

The rents here start at $825 for the smallest apartment, and they submeter EVERYTHING. The "actual rent" is about $1000 for a one-bedroom because of the submetering. Submetering means you get charged for water, sewer, hot water usage, even the hot water that flows through your baseboard heaters. In addition to the rent, expect to pay $75-200 extra per month in sub-metered utilities that other places don't charge you for. They started submetering, but kept increasing the rents. Heating and cooling costs are insane. In the winter I keep my apartment at around 70, and in the summer I keep it around 80, yet my heating bill is at least $100 in the winter and my electricity when the a/c is on goes up to $150 and higher.

During Presidents Day weekend they decided to lock all the building entry doors requiring a code to get in. However, they didn't tell you the code before the holiday (they taped the fricken notices with your entry code to your door), so if you went away and came back in the evening you were SOL. They key fobs we've been carrying around for months are useless. The entry system is not connected to the phone line, so if you have visitors or deliveries you have no way of knowing they're outside wanting to get in.

There was only one staff member who knew her job -- and I don't know if she's still there. I thought this place was improving, but with the way things have been going lately I think this place is a big money pit rip off. Right now it's difficult to get assistance because they've screwed up the utilities billing and it's taking them a long time to sort it out. In the meantime, since they're "busy" doing that, you'll be hard pressed to get assistance in the office.

5/22/07
If any current residents are using their PIN to enter their building, try your key FOB. After not working for months, I saw the mail carrier get in using it, so I tried mine and it worked. Typical of Towne Court NOT to inform residents about that. A bit pointless, though, since the rear basement door doesn't lock. The keypad entry is still not connected to the phone lines, so you're SOL if someone is trying to get you to buzz them in -- because they can't call you and you can't buzz them in. Just tell everyone to come in the back. Oh, and if you lived there long enough to get a parking permit and guest permits -- they threatened to tow cars without them BUT they're not even using them. Did they tell anyone' What do you think' Of course not! There's your rent dollars at work: a disfunctional/nonfunctional security system and hundreds of useless parking tags.

On a positive note, the office seems to be functioning better now. Maintenance has always been great and quick to respond. And, at least for me, parking is never a problem -- especially now that I know I don't have to give my visiting friends and family those neon pink parking tags.

Unfortunately, the utilities sub-metering still really stinks and I really don't trust the figures they come up with. I'm definitely leaving when my lease expires later this summer. Conservice bill for heating for March/April was over $100 even though I kept my thermostat down to 60 degrees on the nose since February. I used a space heater in the bedroom, so I expected my electric bill to be higher, but I also expected my heating bill (baseboard hot water) to go down. Despite setting the thermostat lower AND the weather warming up, my heating bill still remained high.

User Responses
From: xerf	Date: 05/25/2007
I agree. Join the residents dicussion group: http://groups.google.com/group/park-place-newark-de

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