Design Place

 

I came to Design Place, like many others, because of the attractive price and somewhat central location.

I was somewhat skeptical at first because the area is known to be unsafe; however, their website made the place seem presentable.

When I initially visited the complex, the security gate/guard calmed most of my fears.

There were two entrances into the complex, both guarded by a gate and guard.

The model apartments shown to me were spacious and the community seemed well kept.

The visit was enough to convince me that I had found a decent place to live.

When I first moved in, there were a few problems with the electrical wiring.

A few electrical outlets did not work.

There was no phone line in the apartment unit.

The low water pressure in the toilet made it impossible to fully flush.

I am reasonable and considerate of maintenance delays, as I understand there are almost always work orders backed up; however, it seemed like they made a new excuse every day why they did not get the job done.

Eventually, they took care of these issues.

When the cable technician came to install my cable, they found that the line going into my unit was cut somewhere, so they had to drill a hole and run a new line from the box outside into my apartment.

A neighbor of mine in the same complex had a roof leak.

Maintenance promptly repaired it; however, when my neighbor came home, he found that they had slept in his bed and eaten his food.

The walls constructed in the apartments are thin.

I wake up to the sound of my neighbors upstairs moving around in the early AM.

Power outages are also very frequent in this complex.

Design Place's amenities are not bad.

Their gym is usable, and it faces their pool which I have no complaints about.

Their washing facilities the first few months were bearable.

Their washing units require the use of a smart card system (ESD money card).

The drawback is that they only have one machine to recharge this card, and you can only use it during their office hours, which are Monday through Saturday from 8-5.

If you work during these hours, then you're SOL.

There are two washing facilities in the whole complex, and my unit is within walking distance to one of them.

There were 8 dryers, and 8 washers, at $1 each use that fit one load of laundry.

Over the 2 years that I stayed here, the price for both gradually increased to $1.75.

To add to that frustration, the drainage system in the complex is absolutely horrible.

When it rains, you have to navigate a lake just to get your clothes washed because of the flooding.

It is much more economical and convenient to go to a laundromat.

There is no assigned parking.

In my lot, there are not ever enough spaces for the residents' cars.

If I come home late from work, I find myself having to park on the other side of the complex.

At first, I would park along the curb like many other residents were forced to do; however, management would affix an orange towing sticker on my window which was a pain to remove.

Luckily, I, myself, have had no run-ins with any thieves, but our neighbors have had break-ins, caught people trying to steal their scooter.

Our security guards are supposed to stop anyone from coming in without a parking sticker, but this obviously is not the case.

We also have a police officer living across the street in the same complex, but this does not seem to deter the crime in the facility.

Finally, there has been a recent infestation of rodents.

I am a clean person, and I keep my apartment in pristine condition.

Still, it is not uncommon for me to find rats in the water closet and cockroaches in the living room now.

The other tenants I have talked with (my neighbors and other friends in the complex) have reported the same problems.

Management has done nothing to resolve these issues.

Overall, this has been the worst living experience I have ever had in Miami.

Their rent is one of the lowest prices you will find for the location, but like the old adage says, "You get what you pay for."

Pros:
Price/Location

Cons:
No floorplans with more than 1 bathroom, regardless of bedrooms
Electrical wiring issues
Inconvenient Laundry Facility
Insufficient Parking
Insects and Rats
No Central A/C
Thin walls
Low security

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