is pretty much dead-on. I have a love/hate relationship with the FCM lofts. Reading about the similar, negative experiences of residing in this facility is somewhat reassuring in hindsight in that I was not the only one who thought that property management at this place was a sheer NIGHTMARE. It's been a while since I lived there (Nov. 2005 through Feb. 2007), but I think my tenure there and relatively recent experience will help prospective buyers/renters weigh the pros and cons of living there...To be honest, I wanted to write a review of this place a long time ago...I'm just now coming across this website (looking for a new place to live), and I hope my insight will help inquiring minds out there who are thinking about owning/renting here...

I think the most operative phrase for this place is "BUYER (or renter) BEWARE!"

To begin... Property Management at this place is GOD-AWFUL

Here's just a few of my greatest (read: unfortunate) hits with the FCM lofts...
1) Property Management losing my rent check (twice) and that of my roommate (one occasion)... I can't tell you how incredibly awesome it is when you bicker with property management about how you really did pay rent on time, only to go ahead and write them a money order to satisfy their need for a "timely" payment...and then they miraculously find your old check and cash that too...sweet!
2) Untimely responses to unit issues (broken dishwasher, heater, etc)... no lie, it was a running joke b/t my roommate and I that if we called prop. mgmt for an issue, it would take them a week to respond...
3) Parking issues...I don't think this problem exists anymore as the facility has a new parking deck next to the E Bldg (where I formerly lived)...although parking on-site might not be an issue these days, I think it's worth mentioning that when the parking deck was being constructed, the then-current residents were EXTREMELY inconvenienced by the lack of alternative solutions for parking. Forget about friends coming to visit you and finding available parking space...you were LUCKY as a RESIDENT if you found parking during the construction phase. This anecdote is relevant in that it shows how property management was all-too-ready to ignore resident concerns when the complex was going through a period of change
4) Feces/vomit/discarded condoms in the elevators...like former residents that have made comments on this website, I saw these things as well. I wasn't really bothered by these items as much as I was by how long it took property management to clean them up.
5) Thin walls... You will no doubt hear your fellow neighbors partying, copulating, bickering, etc. It's an unexpected price to pay.
6) Strict interpretations of Lease Contracts...I'll never forget how prop. mgmt towed my roommate's car THREE TIMES within a one month period b/c his tag was expired. Their excuse was that there was a clause in our lease that stipulated that management had the right to tow cars if they were "unsightly," "abandoned," etc. Well, apparently cars with expired tags fell under this category as well. When we approached the office about why his car was towed, they told us that they acted accordingly to keep "rif-raff" away from the complex. To make a long story short, it took my roommate a few weeks to renew his tag and during that time he paid a $300 bill on three occasions(!) b/c the FCM lofts had his car towed. Nevermind the fact that we spoke to the front office in person to request that they show some leniency after the first occurrence. If you ask me, the FCM lofts was probably in cahoots with the towing company and got a slice of the profit that was paid to the towing company for picking up his car (a "referral" kickback, perhaps')

The "up side" to living at the FCM lofts was location...it was really cool to be close to cabbagetown, little 5 etc....it was also convenient to be within a stone's throw of I-85 and I-20. It was also cool to have friends visit and remark about how cool the brick walls were and how high the ceilings were, etc. Was it worth it all though, considering the other hassles''' I would have to give a resounding "NO!"

If you decide to purchase a unit at this place, please do your research. Talk to current residents. See if things are still as crappy as they used to be when I lived there. It's likely that the same inept management staff still presides over the complex... God help you if you have not done your research and you are reading this as a current owner of a unit

User Responses
From: estackse	Date: 02/29/2008
1)Management for the purchased units is very responsive and getting better each month. Feb 2007 - Feb 2008 we've seen tons of improvements and very responsive practices from management... although there is always room for improvement. 2)Purchased units have new appliances, renters may still have these issues... not sure. 3)Parking. Seems to be working fine now that the parkign deck is completed. The "for sale spaces" are a silly idea from management to make them more money...don't get suckered in on those if you live here, just keep parking in the ample spaces... no need to purchase one. 4)In the purchased units we've experienced one or two instances with trash or dog issues in the elevator in the past 1.5 years. This issue has steadily decreased and is the result of some tenants not being respectful of common property. Many attempts are under way to determine who is the offender and to make them more accoutnable for their actions. Some success so far. 5)Thin walls. Yes there is a good bit of sound transfer between units. This can be mitigated with increased caulking at (behind Baseboards) and confirming insulation at the walls between units which is bieng done on the purchased conversions. It has been said that the sound criteria at the time these were built was not as stringent as now and that is why there is a difference in expectations. 6) Yep... they love the fine print. Great location, great neighborhood, great people in the community that is beginning to shift to owner occupied units. Really active HOA now that is increasing the pressure on property maintenance and upkeep... this is going to keep improving the quality of this development from within. If you rent here you'll most likely have the same complaints as above at differnet levels depending on your tolerance. If you buy here it is a different set of management and living criteria that you will be responding to. Hope this helps too.
From: Anonymous	Date: 02/29/2008
<<< Feces/vomit/discarded condoms >>> Yes. And not just dog feces. Human feces. When homeless/crackies get into the FCM buildings, they use spaces like elevators and alcoves as a bathroom. This was an especially big problem on the first floor of the C bldg, but also happened in the H building. It's beyond disgusting.
From: Anonymous	Date: 02/29/2008
I too had more problems with mgmt than I could ever possibly recall. It's funny that you mentioned the car towing. They had my car towed twice as well, both for bogus reasons,and they refused to reimburse me, while i saw several abandoned cars in the far parking lots never move.
From: Anonymous	Date: 03/03/2008
Good thing i read this - i heard that the cotton mills had a unruly rental population - but i wasn't sure if it still was there. I was thinking of looking at buying at the Stacks (for location)... But i think i'm going to wait or go somewhere else. I'm also not sure if a condo/loft is wise with a housing market like this. Does anybody know about what the for sale units are going for now?
From: Anonymous	Date: 03/05/2008
Interesting that this person took a year to write something negative. get a life. ps regarding the car towing - if you park in the wrong place, block someone in, don't follow general rules, you will always be towed.
From: GodsChild7	Date: 03/08/2008
The Anonymous dated 3.05.08 is probably the FCM Management team. I never knew this Web-site existed until two years after I moved from Atlanta. I relocated back to my home town guess where....DC! Home of HUD and Grants. Which FCM Lofts used to build part of their buildings. If you taken pictures of incidents that happen in your unit or building feel free to contact HUD they will be glad to hear from you. Make sure you give them accurate details time and date if you know what I mean. Peace & Blessings!
From: Anonymous	Date: 12/26/2008
Towing? Yea right! I called about an abandoned car for 2 years and eventually moved out with the abandoned car still parked in the same spot. Property management only tows cars when they feel like it to be spiteful. I have witnessed them out there like high school kids giggling as they wait for the tow truck to arrive on an unsuspecting person who parked their car out of desperation in an illegal spot because nothing else was open. Yet they leave the obviously abandoned cars to waste space. CHILDISH!

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