Waterways

Better than some places, worse than others

From: entartete-kunst
Date posted: 8/26/2009
Years at this apartment: 2004-01-01 - 2007-01-01
3 responses

My experience at Waterways was okay--with some qualifications.
The place is typical of apartment complexes around OBT and Americana.

Noise, potential for crime, seedy pawn shops and flea markets, and encounters with prostitutes come with living in the area.

If you can afford a nicer neighborhood, move there.

On the other hand, if you want to save money and don't mind putting up with inconvenience it's not too bad.

From my perspective compared to Chicago's south side, where I once lived, the Waterways seems downright suburban.

Here's what I encountered...
Pros:
- Pleasant grounds with nice view of Lake Tyler from balcony of my 2nd floor apartment
- Plenty of open grassy space to walk and exercise my dog
- Two swimming pools to use
- Friendly next door neighbor and most of the residents I interacted with were neighborly.

- My apartment was in acceptably good condition.

The only ongoing problem I had was with carpenter ants that lived in a window sill.

Had to spray insecticide periodically.
- Enjoyed the wildlife: turtles, wood storks, herrons, ducks, raccoons, opposums, otter, etc (no gators).

They even had a turkey running around on the grounds for a few years.

My dog loved chasing after it.

Cons:
- Management was slow to respond to requests or to fix problems
- Management tended to be combative towards residents and often assumed the worst of anyone.

They'd tape notices to residents doors that used aggressive language and contained veiled threats of eviction if you didn't immediately comply with some newly instituted policy.
- The gate at the entrance driveway was for show.

Although occasionally manned in the evenings, it was typically just left open to anybody who wanted in.

- The surrounding neighborhood hosts a wide assortment of low income people, ranging from ordinary working class families down to drug dealers and prostitutes.

- Teenagers tended to congregate, drink beer, and get rowdy late at night at the picnic tables near the lake.
- Some residents I knew worried about safety.

- Driving out of the complex into the heavy OBT traffic was stressful.

I saw car accidents all the time.

Suggestions if you decide to move to the Waterways:
- Choose a second or third floor apartment rather than a ground floor.

You'll avoid the potential for flooding during hurricanes and you won't have car headlights shining in your bedroom window at night.

- Choose an apartment with a view of Lake Tyler.

You can sit on your balcony and look out over nature rather than stare at another crappy apartment building.

- The management may demanding, obnoxious, and inefficient, but if you can temper yourself to be courteous and nice to them regardless, things will go smoother.

Avoid making strong demands or threats when you need them to fix something.

It doesn't work well.

Believe me, red tape and endless bureaucracy is their specialty.

Pleasant and patient nagging is the way to get what you want.

- Submitting a request in writing and hand delivering it to the main office in person is a good tactic to use if they keep neglecting your phone messages.

The Waterways is a second rate place to be sure, but it does compares favorably against other the complexes in the neighborhood--all of which are seedy.

Maybe you're poor (or just trying to save money as I was).

Either way, get a second floor apartment with a view of the lake (avoiding the buildings by the picnic tables) and you'll have a modest place with a nice view, in a crappy neighborhood where nice views are rare.

That's the best I can say about Waterways.

Last updated: 8/26/2009

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