Let's face facts. Miami is expensive. It's difficult to find a 2 bedroom here for under $1,000. Design Place is one of the few affordable, centrally located options.

I have not had the experiences that the other posters have had. (FYI: I am not affiliated with Design Place OR the management company).

I have lived in several apartments in several states. Yes, this apartment building is old, especially by Florida standards. But it's not especially run-down, especially if you compare it to older places in Boston and NYC.

Yes, it's not in the greatest neighborhood. But guess what' Miami is one of the POOREST CITIES IN AMERICA!!! Unless you live in an exclusive enclave on the Beach or in Coral Gables, you live near a bad neighborhood!

Yes, there are a few bugs. But this is FLORIDA, for chrissakes. It's the tropics. I've lived in Florida for six years, owned one house and lived in new apartments. Guess what' I've seen a few bugs in every place. I see the DPlace people spray every month.

I have not seen any rats.

I don't know about the lease/payment problems. When my husband and I signed the contract, we went over everything with a fine-toothed comb and got the DPlace people to put EVERYTHING they said in writing - about pets, parking, last month refunds and everything.

I do have a problem with the mail setup - the mailboxes are too small - but my main issues lie with the U.S. Postal Service.

I think a lot of people have problems here because they are a) young and have not had much experience with renting/buying real estate and b) not used to the Latin American/Caribbean ways of Miami.

Things ARE different here. Document everything, complain a lot if there is a problem and if all else fails, call your local government authorities. If there is garbage or rats, call the city health department. If they are trying to cheat you out of money, call the better business bureau or a renter's legal aid. Don't just complain.

You are responsible for taking care of your own problems and environment.

User Responses
From: butchguy	Date: 01/26/2006
They ARE affliated with d place
From: lital_k26	Date: 06/05/2006
i don't know if you gonna read this but i decided to write you any way, my apartment was robed at d-place on a sunday afternoon by two guys with guns, two weeks before that my husbands car was broken into, now that happend three months ago and last month my scooter was stolen cause the security guys were sleeping d-place doesn't take responseblity about nothing here and this my problem it's not rats or roaches here... let me know if you have something to say about that...

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