I lived in a complex in Grand Rapids owned by the same management company for a couple of years. I had no problems, called for something to be fixed only twice, and it was so they could spray for spiders.

Since my husband and I have moved to Southport, we have had the worst experience. We're aware we live in an apartment and there will be some noise from neighbors. We never expected people to be bumping music in their cars outside of the apartment so loud you can feel it in the front bedroom. We never expected to have our neighbors have sex so loud it woke us out of a dead sleep and also disturbed other neighbors (you could hear it outside, no one responded to multiple noise complaints). We never expected to have our neighbor fight with his girlfriend so loud that it woke us out of a dead sleep. We never expected my car (which had nothing in it) to be broken into - window smashed out. And, when we raised these concerns to management, we were verbally abused and yelled at. We resolved to just call the police for noise violations now instead of being yelled at.

Southport knew car break-ins in the car ports were a problem (per the maintenance guys who cleaned up the glass from my car on the ground) when they leased me my car port, and failed to mention it when I signed the car port lease. Apparently, they also have a problem with people coming in an stealing wheels/tires. If I were a single female, I would not feel safe here and I'm pretty hard to scare. There are wandering, homeless looking people around the complex all the time, they hang out near the front entrance too and walk up and down the main road. And, obviously break into cars all of the time.

They also make YOU pay for new carpet if the people before you mess it up. And, they don't tell you this until you're about to sign your lease and have a truck full of furniture to move in. They also "evaluate" your carpet from time to time and if they feel like you need new carpet, they make you put it in and pay for it - or move to another unit.

This is the worst place I have ever lived. My undergrad dorms were 500x better. I am a grad student and I work full time. My husband is an attorney. We are quiet, respectful people and we get NOTHING in return. The apartments aren't even that nice. Our countertops are all cut up, the bathroom was disgusting when we moved in, and our stove has obviously been caught on fire in the past. Our closet doors fall off all the time, and the carpet they HAD to put in is cheap. We pay an extra $20 a month for it.

I failed to mention that the first month we lived here our air conditioner didn't work. We moved into the apartment in the middle of the summer, and it was 85-90 degrees INSIDE the apartment. They filled the unit with freon 3 times before we finally had to threaten to not pay our rent, and they finally replaced the faulty unit.

You also have to mail in your rent. There is little to no parking available near many of the buildings. If you call and ask a simple question, the people in the office cop a huge attitude.

I was nice to them many, many times, but after the most recent noise incident that woke us out of a dead sleep and I was yelled by management at for reporting it, I decided to not be nice and let them have it.

Southport can kiss it. I will not live here past my lease, and my husband is looking into suing them for negligence regarding the car break in, since they knew it was a problem and didn't warn anyone. We're usually really laid back, but this has really disappointed us.

p.s. to the third floor girl in building 13 with the black fusion - turn the music down and you don't have to lock your car and make it beep 2-4 times every time you get out of the car.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 02/08/2008
Car break ins are a problem everywhere with the economy in Michigan. It's not the apartment complexes fault. I have lived here for 3 years now and they don't come and check my carpet and I'm here during the day and night and have never, ever seen homeless looking people walking up and down the main drive. In fact, I know many police officers and they say that Southport is the safest complex in the area. If you look at the police records in the local Belleville paper, you will see that in one month there maybe 2 or 3 calls and its usually for a medical run or noise complaint. And you have to call the police for noise complaints, I had mine taken care of and the tenant who caused the noise on numerous occasions was evicted for the police coming out too much. Buy a fan, it blocks out the noise!! Oh and I never had a problem with the office gals and gents. They are the nicest people around and have helped me out on numerous occasions. I bet the next place you go to, you will get broken into again. It's the way of the economy now! OH and remember to leave your car empty inside, thats why people break in in the first place. I'm a single girl living here and have gone for walks at 3am and see police cars driving through and patroling all the time! Go buy a house if you can't take the heat!
From: Anonymous	Date: 02/11/2008
I have lived at southport almost 8 years. I don't have any of the issues you have. I have called in request and they have been always been repaired within a day or two. Sounds like your a/c was repaired so what's the issue. Things do break thats why they have maintenance. I am sure the office staff did not yell at you. I have never seen or heard them yell at anyone. I have lived here for 8 years no one has ever come and inspected the carpet. I moved in on new carpet and have taken care of it, it does not need replaced. the same manager has been here for years. I am sorry you have noisy neighbors, but what would you like to office to do? They can't control everyone all the time. As far as theft, I have a carpot and have not had a issue. I walk my dog at night and I am a female, I do not feel scared at all. It is very quite here and I will continue to live here until I get tired of all this snow. Maybe you should buy a house then you can get stuck with a bad neighbor forever!!!!!!!
From: Anonymous	Date: 02/16/2008
I have almost the same problems... after living here for a year, I will also be out... best of luck to you. This is why Belleville is getting so ghetto.
From: Anonymous	Date: 03/04/2008
I completly agree! Me and my fiance were about to move in there when last min. they told us we had to pay for new carpet that the other people messd up.Seriously how fair is that,why wouldnt they make them pay plus i talkd to 2 lawyers and they said they cant do that.Upon asking questions i knowticed a huge change in the staff,they were rude and we decided ohh no we were not moving there,they kept our money that they said wed get back and for you that have no complaints mad props to you,imhappyier living in the best place,very low noise,and awsome staff that works with u
From: Anonymous	Date: 06/09/2008
I currently live in southport and I love it... I've been here three years and have had minor negative things to say about them. Manangement has been attentive to my needs. I also had a an issue with my carpet and they replaced it with no problem and no fee..... We all must be mindful, we live in an apartment community and do not own it...We are renting space and renting isnt for everyone.......... Sorry the girl in building 13 with the black fusion plays her music 2 loud.... I am almost offended as I drive a black fusion and stay in building 14.... I love my neighbors and I think they love me!! We all have our fair share of noise sometimes but I beleive (my unit anyways)we are respectful
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/04/2008
If anyone lives at Southport for 8 years, obviously they can't move up and don't have very high standards. We've also had a ton of issues, the staff are horrible and the packs of rougue children need to be taught they live in an apartment complex, they don't have their own yard. My patio furniture was stolen, and I've had multiple run-ins with wierdos while walking my dog. When my lease is up, I am out.
From: getmeawayfromtheseghettoppl	Date: 10/12/2008
I have ALL of the same problems! In fact several times we've dealt directly with the police and they have 3 detectives investigating Southport because of all the problems..not to mention when the license plate number of this guy that was trying to break into another car in front of our building was ran by the police, it was someone who works for Southport!

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