I lived at RiverPark for one year and had mixed feelings about the property. Although there are a lot of great things about these apartments, ultimately, I chose not to renew my lease due to just a few issues that happened to be priority for me. Here are some things that I really liked about the property:
The price was very reasonable compared to other independendant apartment properties in the surrounding UCF area.
Maintenance was always prompt, responding within 48 hrs to any requests.
People's comments about the office personnel not being very friendly arent really fair. No one was ever blatantly rude to me and yes, I've seen them smile :). I'd rate their customer service a 7 out of 10.
Our appliances were all replaced with new ones just a couple of months before we moved out. For a 1 bed, 1 bath, our utility bill never topped $90 before or after the new appliances- it's all about being energy conscious.
The complex location is right next to Jay Blanchard Park, and they even offer canoes for residents. The pools were just refinished when we left, and the fitness center is small but has relatively new equipment. There are also grills and tables throughout the complex for your use, which is nice for a cookout with friends.
As far as apartment complexes can go, the parking situation here comparatively isn t bad at all and was never a huge issue for us. Even when the lot was packed you never really had to park farther than the next building over. An extra 50 feet of walking shouldn't be the end of the world.
Our actual apartment was very clean and in good condition upon move-in, and they pressure-washed the exterior hallways often enough to keep the halls and stairs looking respectable. The grounds were also kept up and looked well.
We recieved our security deposit back within a reasonable time frame after move-out, and there were no disputes or issues about the condition of the apartment.
Now for the not so exciting parts, and partial reasons why we didn't renew.
The location actually isn't that great. Its very close to Colonial Dr/SR 50, and if you're familiar with the area, well, it isn't the greatest or safest area of town. Lots of crime, vagrant activity, etc nearby along that stretch.
You can hear *everything* in these apartments. Your next-door-neighbors tvs, their dog, lots of things that should be private. The windows weren't sealed well at all, letting in every little sound from the parking lot. Our apartment layout put the bedroom wall right against the hall and stairway, which was horrible. I'm actually a normal to heavy sleeper, and I was woken up way too often at 3 in the morning because of people in the hallway, coming and going, talking, hanging out, etc. Apartments are notorious for neighbor-noise, but the sound-level here was way above average.
Part of the sound problem, however, is the type of people living there. Regardless of what they tell you while you're first touring the complex, the mix is not evenly made up of families, single adults and college students. I'd estimate that its actually about 75% college students to 25% families, singles, etc. Take note of the cars in the lot when you go, most all of them have some college parking decal. While I myself am in college, I chose not to live in college housing for a reason. The group of people in this complex seem to be that same college crowd, though. I'm not saying everyone there was loud and inconsiderate- maybe I was just in a bad building, who knows' But noisy groups of people coming and going in the middle of the night right outside my bedroom just doesn't thrill me when I have to get up at 5 am for work. Theres a lot of parking lot/car noise especially in the middle of the night on weekends, and they street race up and down the winding road that leads back to the complex and neighborhood. That got really old, really fast, but you get used to hearing it after living there for a year. So basically, if you're immune to noise and partyers coming and going in the early hours, this place probably won't bother you. If you're already over and done with the college partying scene, this place probably won't work for you.
Although I never had any problems, I personally knew of at least one person who had her vehicle stolen while I was living there. It wasn't uncommon at all to see police cars or news crews in the complex, which always made me wonder just a little bit.
Finally, to put the icing on the cake, I too- believe it or not- was a victim of check fraud here. I did get my money back, but the principle of the thing is that when you entrust personal financial information to a business its their duty to safeguard that information. While I don't believe anyone related to River Park committed the fraud, it is still their responsibility to protect within reason their clients information, and they failed to do that. While this whole ordeal was unfortunate for the complex office and tenants alike, it was also a deciding factor in our choice to leave the property.
Honestly, if noise doesn't bother you in the slightest, you're not too overly concerned with security, and you want a relatively inexpensive quality apartment in the UCF area, this place isn't bad at all. Its got a lot of great amenities at a good price. Just steer clear if you really like peace and quiet, or want to stay away from mid-level crime areas.

User Responses
From: Milkshakes	Date: 02/03/2008
Due to this review, I went in with 2 of my girlfriends and signed a lease. I know there`s a lot of negativity about certain places, but after living in Pegasus Landing, this place looks like heaven. You get crime and b.s. anywhere you go. Hell, my first year in Pegasus Landing there was a murder and constant gun shots. And this is UCF housing with patrol cars! 3 years later they are now putting in cameras and gates. Anyways, thanks for being objective and putting both sides down.

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