ive lived here for a few months now, and for the amount of rent i pay, this place isnt a terrible deal. the great feature is the location, of course. now that the charles commons & the B&N are completed, starbucks is right next door! apparently we will be getting another starbucks and a coldstone two blocks away, next to subway. the neighborhood is probably the safest in baltimore, with security usually parked outside and a guard at the front entrance from 5pm-5am.

Now the complaints:
One of the guards, the older --------american guy, usually falls asleep around midnight and snores up a storm. he often doesnt even wakeup when someone unlocks the front door...pause for concern.

The big complaint that many residents have is the general incompetence of the management. he elevator is quite disgusting, will all sorts of crap covering the linoleum tile. why dont they just mop it every few days' hell, i'll donate my mop if i have to! their landscaping sucks, as does their laundry facilities (a few dryers take your money and leave your clothes very damp). the dumpster is outside on the basement level, which is quite annoying.

Now for some names: the front desk person, julie, is generally incompetent. she cant get orders or complaints right and gives off a general air of stupidity. any call to her must be followed up numerous times. better yet, dont bother. call the manager instead. next on the totem pole is dennis, another front-desk guy, who seems to have a mouth on him. enough said. Finally, this brings us to the general manager, who is the only person that keeps this place afloat. without her, the place would totally disintegrate, as all the workers are exceptionally good at half-assing it. if you let the maintenance workers into your house, get ready to Fabreze their stench out afterwards. they either reek of cigarettes, sweat, or in the case of one unfortunate fellow, of pungent road kill.

User Responses
From: scarycharles	Date: 01/15/2007
That's a pretty negative review to then go ahead and recommend The Charles! I lived in the Charles 20 years ago (!!) as an undergrad at Hopkins and am amazed at how nothing has changed, in reading these reviews. Plaster falling, old building, surly staff, no money for repairs, PJ's door propped open. The best thing about the Charles has always been its location, and the 2nd best thing is the gorgeous roof deck (not sure if they still let people up there). The owner of the Charles, who used to live in an estate in England, knows he doesn't need to upgrade the building because there is a captive audience of students who will rent it. Interestingly, the rents have barely changed in 20 years, while they have skyrocketed elsewhere. If location is your primary concern, check out the Charles, but otherwise, find someplace else, or you may find yourself haunted by memories of a terrible building 20 years later...

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