First off, like every apartment complex, Southgate has good things and bad things about it. We've lived here for almost a year now, and we renewed out lease as soon as they began offering renewals. Why' Well, lets go through the good and the bad:

The Good:
-Its close to campus: I spent my last year at LSU here, and my fianc??e started her first year as a Ph.D student here. Thanks to the fact that we're on the bus line, she filled up her tank probably less than 15 times a semester, because she never had to drive! Its great.
-Its moderately priced: I came from the West Campus Apartments, which are a complete ripoff. For a three bedroom at WCA, I was paying an average of $675/month (and that was EACH person in the apartment), and it was a rather crappy three bedroom. At Southgate, we get a pretty sweet apartment for $635/month, and our renewal rent was even lower (though that rate doesn't include electric, more later).
-Lots of room: We've got tons of space plus some. Our apartment is bigger than a lot of moderately priced houses.
-Wicked fast Internet access: I frequently download stuff from the net at speeds of 1.1MB/sec. There's two to three jacks in every room. Perfect for a home network.
-Practically soundproof: With a few exceptions, this building is practically soundproof. Of course, we hear the train occasionally, but no biggie. There is one exception, though...
-Really nice complex: The complex is really nice, and so are the apartments. Huge roman tubs, pretty nice appliances - HUGE washing machine.
-Good staff: Overall, the staff has been pretty nice to us. They've handled our problems almost instantly, and were especially helpful in working with us when our rent did not arrive on time (due to the Christmas mail rush) while we were on vacation.

The Bad:
-Construction: For a while there, we would wake up every morning to "BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZTTT!"... construction workers would repeatedly do "warranty work" on exterior of the building, which caused a lot of noise from 7AM-5PM... though, a few months ago, it completely stopped. It was really a buzz kill for those early mornings, though.
-"AMP": Or as I like to refer to it, the R.W. Day Electric Company. They severely overcharge on electric - 12.6 cents/kWh. The residential rate for Entergy customers is about 4 cents/kWh (plus a fuel surcharge). Though the extra money might be a fuel surcharge included in the rate, if it is, I'd really like to see it on my bill.
-Horrible hot water heater & air conditioner: They put the cheapest units possible in these apartments. According to their labels, they are the least energy efficient as allowed by the government. The AC freezes up frequently, especially if its below 80 out (yes, 80).
-"Quality inspections": Part of the "warranty work" which is being done. One week, they came into my apartment 3 times, and quite frankly, I don't want strangers in my apartment while I'm not home. Previously, they've locked my cat in the bedroom without food, water, or a litterbox. Very annoying.
-The frat boys and sorority girls: This place is CRAWLING with frat boys and sorority girls, who's daddies' are paying their rent for them. On the weekends, they turn the pool into their own personal pleasure lodge, and frequently disable the security doors by proping them open to allow their friends in (which defeats the purpose). However, I will give them this - I've never heard any parties going on - good soundproofing. But, I've had my car keyed, dented, and I even had the bumper destroyed by these idiots.
-Horrible front doors: The front doors on these apartments SUCK. They bought the cheapest thing possible, and didn't really seal the doorway that well... hence, if the neighbor across from you has two yappy dogs, you're going to hear them ALL DAY.
-One bedrooms are extremely overpriced.


The good outweighed the bad in our opinion, which is why we decided to renew. Its not as bad as everybody here is saying - a lot of these opinions were in all likelihood posted by some people I referenced in the "bad" section, and were probably the same 2 or 3 people.

And finally, I'm not an R.W. Day employee. :-P

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