We moved into this complex when we made a cross-country move and signed a short-term lease since we needed a place to live while we looked for a home to purchase. That was our first mistake. They stuck us in the most delapidated buliding at the edge of the property, apparently where the "management" prefers to house the loudest, trashiest and RUDEST tenants.

The elevators worked maybe half of the time, the stairwells smelled like urine, people smoked in the lobby (where two no smoking signs were clearly posted), and there were 8 washers and 8 dryers (which smelled like CURRY)--for a buliding with over 100 apartments. When the laundry room wasn't flooded (about once every 2 months or so) it was full for hours, needless to say. I once came home around one in the morning to find the front "security" door propped open w/pillows from the lobby couches. We saw our next-door neighbors bring in CASES of fish, which they cooked almost EVERY DAY from 6am to 9pm in a horrible garlicky substance so strong that in the exterior hallway we would literally GAG from the smell. Inside our apartment, the stench would wake us out of a sound sleep in the morning and cause our cats' eyes to water non-stop. We complained, and the property manager said there was nothing they could do. It was so bad that we started buying room deoderizer in large quantities and would attach the receipts to our rent check every month and deduct the amount.

We had to call the cops several times as well--mostly for noise complaints, but more than once there was a domestic altercation. Once we called because we heard an incredibly loud boom, and when we went to the window we saw that our next door neighbor had pushed a bookcase off of her second-floor balcony. When we mentioned to her that it probably wasn't the safest thing, she told us to F--- off. The air conditioning is so loud that we used to avoid turning on until it became so hot that we couldn't stand it! If it's nice outside, forget having your windows open since the noise of people talking on their cell phones or screaming to their neighbors on the 4th floor from the ground will probably get on your nerves. The management is inept to the point of pathetic and were usually downright rude w/o any concept whatsoever of customer service.

We ended up having to extend our lease twice more (to 6 mos. each time) and each time our rent was raised. Two weeks before we were supposed to move out, the ceiling above the bathtub started leaking water like crazy (for the 2nd time)--they had to rip out the whole ceiling because the people upstairs were COOKING IN THE BATHTUB. We finally moved out and every day we THANK GOD we don't have to live there anymore. Instead of getting our deposit back they had the gall to send us a BILL for paint and carpet which is literally laughable. I lived in apartments most of my life and NEVER had a problem w/the deposit being returned to me. Insult to injury--especially since quite a few of my clothes are still infused with the revolting stench of garlic and/or curry.

I think I'll send THEM a bill for the cost of Dry Cleaning. DO NOT LIVE HERE!!!

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 11/17/2007
Can you please tell me which building were you in... i think i am renting in the same building ... I don't want to fall in this trap... help me.
From: TheBill1979	Date: 11/19/2007
1) You're an idiot. 2) This is the midwest. Not everyone eats steak and potatoes. If you don't like the smell of ethnic foods, I would advise you to buy a home so that you don't have to smell other people's cooking. I'm willing to bet your neighbors gagged once or twice while walking past your unit when you were cooking. The fact that you actually called management to see if they could stop your neighbors from eating is beyond laughable. 3) It seems that most of your "issues" were not with the staff or the actual apartment community, but with the people living in your building. 4) Your laundry problem is also hilarious. Do you know how many apartments in this area don't have laundry units inside their buildings? Most have to go to laundromats, which is what you should have done. Seems like common sense to me. Welcome to apartment living, moron. 5) I'm not surprised that management was unfavorable towards you, given that you are obviously an intolerant dredge on society. I'd be rude to you, too. 6) You're a moron. It stands repeating.
From: Anonymous	Date: 04/17/2008
I don't believe a word this person has posted. Either this person is a racist or from the close-by apartment complex management, trying to chase away prospective customers. I have stayed here for more than a year and haven't faced any problems whatsoever. Yes, the management is a bit hard-nosed, but hey, the apartments are well-maintained. I have not had a single issue with maintenance, and any issues I have had, there has always been an immediate response and prompt resolution of the issues. In fact, I would say this is one of the best apartments in this area for the price. And definitely its worth it!
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/06/2009
Still the absolute WORST place we've ever lived, bar none. DON'T LIVE HERE!!! To the random response-poster, whoever you are--I find it interesting you took my review so personally, especially as you didn't address any of the points made regarding how Stonebridge violated the law in the state of Illinois. I also had a chuckle over the fact that you are naive enough to think people should waste money and time moving from building to building within the same complex instead of holding the management responsible for sticking to the terms of the lease, and for assuming that Stonebridge even offered the option! Also: I feel completely comfortable w/my response to TheBill1979's condescending and misplaced comments, especially as he accused me of being a racist, which is laughable (if only you knew my ethnicity!) coupled with the fact that this person is in Stonebridge's employ which is widely known. Based on your quite personal and not very comprehensive response, I'm thinkin' you are, too! By the way, We are absolutely THRILLED with where we live now, so no need to feel sorry for me! Thanks for your concern, though. God bless!
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/14/2009
Again, I'm not saying your stay there was peachy. You had a bad experience, sure, no argument there. And your comment about them violating the law, sure, no argument there either. But your original post was a bit too much. It wasn't a review, but more of venting anger. Ok, so you couldn't move to a different building, and I agree that you shouldn't have to. BUT YOU RENEWED.... TWICE. That says something about you, not Stonebridge. And I didn't take anything personally, I just thought some of your points and comments were unnecessary. And like I said before, TheBill1979 was indeed out of line, but you took it a step further, which again, says something about you. And my comment was fully comprehensive, maybe you just didn't like what I had to say, maybe because it was true. I feel I can assume that since you took the liberty of assuming I work for the apartment complex (which I don't), and I'm naive (which I'm not). I have no reason for not wanting you to be happy. I'm glad you are. But really, I wasn't concerned. Thanks for the blessing.

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