The management staff is, for lack of a better term, a complete joke. They are incredibly slow to respond, play the blame game with each other, and rarely answer your calls until you decide it is time to withhold rent. Zero professionalism and accountability. It is too much of a duty to get into details, but getting something fixed, even important things, is a ridiculously lengthy process. The maintenance staff itself does shoddy work, so even when they do get on the job it is left half done. It isn't that they are bad people, in fact when you finally get to meet with them face to face or candidly talk with them they are friendly and understanding, but there are too many hurdles to get to that point, and that is where the frustration comes from.
Parking is a nightmare, but you know what you're getting into before you move in. One spot per apartment, 33 apartments, and 17 available, private spots. You figure it out. With metered parking out back it means a lot of parking tickets if you don't snag a spot (and never leave) on a Friday night. And believe me, the Salem Parking Gestapo is out there right at 8AM, ready to go. You also have to deal with a lot of people that park in the spots without a sticker, be it tourists, consumers, or the lovely CPA office that shares part of the private lot. The employees of that office also are very, very quick to tow cars in their spots and often create their own parking spots that make maneuvering around the tiny lot very tough.
Snow removal is an atrocity. Can't even get into that.
As far as good things about the building, it is generally quiet. Maybe had one sleepless night due to noise, which was promptly ended by cutting the power to that apartment. Neighbors are pretty respectful, friendly, and helpful with a few exceptions. Location is great, rent isn't astronomical. If you're a person of high tolerance for the management nonsense you can get by here no problem. Just a very short walk from the train station, so this is prime for commuters. Downtown area is awesome for food, taking walks, people watching, and so on.
With some improvements staff-wise this could be a tremendous place to live. Parking situation is what it is, so while it is a nightmare you just have to grin and bear it.
I would also be remiss if I didn't mention that with the lively bar scene you often are witness to a few fights and the occasional break-in on cars left in the metered lot.
And then there is Halloween...

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