This place was pretty decent when I moved in 5 years ago. It has become unbearable. Despite the fact that the place gets a little worse each year, the rent jumps up $50 a month or more each term. Carpet and appliances are never replaced. Donaldson is by FAR the worst of the several management companies that have run this place.

Some of the roof tiles on my building blew off during a windstorm last year, and when it rains water drains into the attic space and down into the walls. Management's solution to that was to paint over the water stains and leave the hole in the roof (so the spots returned with the next rain). The third floor apartments have holes all along the edge of the ceiling where the bolts holding the roof on break through the plaster every time it's windy.

Something strange has been going on with the rentals. Lately there has been a surge in what look to be multiple families living in the same apartment. Unsupervised children run all around, between, and over the cars in the parking lot. People spend all night talking loudly on cell phones outside their apartments. The number of loud parties, vehicle vandalism, and police visits has increased as well. Rude neighbors leave their trash bags on their patio in front of the building and leave dog droppings on the walkways. People have started throwing trash bags in front of the dumpsters instead of inside. There is an epidemic of people parking diagonally in 2 spaces or parking over the line into an already occupied space.

Noise is a problem. It's not bad if one has courteous neighbors, but the walls/floors are paper-thin and the entire building shakes when something gets dropped or an apartment's door closes (not an exaggeration, the doors have a powerful closing mechanism that SLAMS the door if you let it). There is no escape from cooking/cleaning smells from neighboring apartments.

Pool and fitness room hours are set so people who work during the day can't use them (except, I assume, the apartment staff). Maintenance response is terrible. I've made several requests over the last 3 years to have the burnt-out safety lights behind my patio and in the parking lot replaced, with no result. When the staff decides to go through the apartments, they post notice mid-day, so tenants that get home in the evenings ( 8pm, 9pm) have less than 12 hours notice. The exterminators haven't been through in years.

The landscapers run into the cable box every time they mow, sometimes causing problems. The ancient garbage disposal sticks (the insides are rusty). Insulation is poor, so electrical bills are very high. Be sure to read your lease carefully, some of the terms are very disagreeable (early termination = 1 month rent penalty, plus 2 months continued rent required).

Staff is reasonably friendly if all you're doing is dropping off your rent check, but don't handle multiple people in the office well at all.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 05/16/2008
I could not have written this better myself! Good job! I agree with you 100%! Charleston Manor is absolute trash and the best decision I have made in years was to move the hell out of there! You hit every point that I have tried to explain to the office staff including the regional manager and they act like there is nothing wrong. Good job!
From: unhappy_normandy	Date: 05/17/2008
I almost forgot -- you have to give 60 days notice before the end of your lease if you won't be renewing. They don't mail your new rent rate to you until after they're inside that 60 day period, so they can trick you into having to pay a penalty if you decide you don't want to pay the new rate.

Your thoughts? Post a response to this review. Display my response: with my username anonymously Responses appear below reviews and one response per user is permitted.

   Free estimates on moving trucks      Find apartment share/roommates