For those who want more details, or just plain want proof that I exist, feel free to email me at artooman@member.fsf.org. I live in building 14.

Bad things:

1) My building has cockroaches. I saw 11 roaches in a week's time period including 1 female, 4 juveniles, a baby, and 6 males. These were all German cockroaches. I have done much research and they are quite easily identifiable. I saw them in the kitchen, the bathroom, the living room, and the bedroom.

The worst part is down below!

I brought a baggy with my day's catch down to the rental office and asked them to take care of this. I expressed my concern and relayed what I knew about these pests. When living in Portland, OR, these were frequent housemates of mine. They said they would call the exterminator, and I said that they needed to do two things: 1) exterminate in *all* units in the building and 2) TAKE THE GARBAGE AREA OUTSIDE THE BUILDING...

They said that they did *not* have the permits to remove the garbage from the building. People do not close the garbage can in any of the buildings by their own admittance. Cockroaches will never go away with free food every night. In a time of massive pest infestation, they refuse to take appropriate action.

They only sprayed my unit. I went to talk with them, and the new manager was not in town, and they said they couldn't do anything until she came back the next week. Their policy is to only spray those units where people ask... I saw 4 cockroaches during my short walks through the hallways that week. One crawled right under someone elses door. Spraying a single unit will deter the pest for a bit, but they will come back.

---- ROACH UPDATE:
As of October 28th, 2004, I still have cockroaches. I saw two in the last 2 weeks, and the office manager has officially lied to me. She had told me over 2 months ago (before I stupidly renewed a 6 month lease) that they would spray the whole building, but it would be logistically challenging. I understood and conceded that it would take a month or so. She said that by October, it would be sprayed. I was told today by her that "I never said that I would spray the whole building". This is a blatantly lie, or she just doesn't remember. In any case, they refuse to spray the whole building, and they refuse to move the garbage out of the building until the cockroach issue is resolved.

2) Their contract is shady, at best. It does not allow for any means of contract termination including relocation to another city. Also, they told me $1059 for rent, but the contract is for $1159 with $100's coupon each month. This has a lot of implications, but the bottom line is that your lease is for $1159. I have yet to try to negotiate for the second year, but rumors say that they will not honor the $100 coupon.

3) Air coniditoners are lame. When you set the temperature, it will not shut off when it gets cold enough, but rather it switches to fan-only. The fans run all the time so it is constantly loud.

4) water tastes *very* metallic. They replaced a boiler and the water has been terrible for 2 months since. You can smell metal in living room when the shower is running with door closed. Brita filters do not help!!! I can still taste it with toothpast in my mouth.

5) Annoying "We love our resident" signs everywhere. I really hate those!

Good things:

1) nice grounds. they do a great job with landscaping.

2) Parking by me is ample because I am on the south edge of the complex... although parking elsewhere is a bit tight. better than windsor heights across the street

3) Roomy. Bedrooms and living area is big, and great closet in bedroom along with big pantries in kitchen and bathroom. definite bonus.

4) Office staff is friendly (EXCEPT FOR THE MANAGER. SHE LIES AND WILL NOT HELP TO RESOLVE PEST ISSUES). They are not always the most helpful (see roach story), but they are always really nice. They have been helpful on a number of occasions.

5) maintenance is prompt... next day or that day most of the time. This is actually a good thing.

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