You can try to cut costs with rent, we all do. Don't do it by moving here. The garage is decrepit; the entrance is torn up with only gravel and mud filler, the stairs had a maintenance issue, so they tore the stairs out (you have to walk around the entire garage to get into it from the East Tower). The place is freezing in the winter, because they turn the heat down at night. They were never fast enough, nor safe with my maintenance issues. In fact they almost burnt my apartment down when we had an oven issue. They told us (in writing) they planned to replace the elevators last April 2007, then increased the rent, and have still not replaced the elevators. People get stuck in them all the time. I lived next to one, and constantly heard the bell ringing. Crappy service, crappy maintenance, crappy overall. Just spend the extra money and move elsewhere, or try to get the savings somewhere else. Almost half of the washer and dryers in the East Tower do not work. They just had notes on them saying they would be fixed soon, and sorry for the inconvenience. They were never fixed for months on end. Trust me.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 04/26/2008
I agree 110% with "Not Worth the Savings." I lived in a studio and later in a corner apartment. I was not impressed with either the building's services or its management. My apartment was almost always either too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer - keeping the blinds drawn ALL the time was the best solution, but ruined the beautiful views. The AC, before it was replaced, sounded like a small lawn mower. Occasionally birds would fly into my neighbor's apartment, when she would open the vents for fresh air. During the east coast/midwest blackout, one of the building's staff members was passing out salted peanuts, despite the lack of water, electricity and 90 degree weather! The dryers rarely worked too (no heat). And the strangest thing of all, they eventually offered concierge service, which was definately LAST on the list of things the tenants wanted or needed! My stay there was very disappointing.
From: Anonymous	Date: 04/26/2008
all of the issues this person has stated there are explanations for them. So this review is totally out of context. Some things he said were correct such as the parking structure is old. As for the gravel and mud filler. There was an upgrade to to the water system on the property so for aout a month there was a giants hole were they were wroking. They recenty filled it in, and now that the weather has warmed up it is schedule to be re paved. The elevators are old and we were promised new ones by the previous owning company "habitat", however in the last 3 months management has shifted to a new parent company. So the scheduled new elevators are delayed for the time being. It is occasionally chilly in the winter as well as warm in the summer. One thing this person failed to mention is that in this building there are 14 ft windows which do a poor job of insulating but a good job of attracting sunlight. I live on 22 in the west tower and have never been too cold or too hot were i couldnt do somthing about it "turn on ac, or turn up heat". Maintanance has always been prompt for me anyways. And the washers and dryers all work in the west tower. Now dont get me wrong this person probably just had a bad experience and is venting.
From: yogiboe35	Date: 04/28/2008
I hear you all. I was there is 2002-03. Obviously nothing has changed. I am still trying to figure out what happened to a months' worth of rent that they tried to put back on me. Something fishy was going on. I believe someone was stealing money and the office knew it. The manager is an outright -----! I'm surprised she still has a job. She is stupid on top of that. Anyway, it's worth it to find other housing, hell it's better to move out of Michigan all together!
From: Anonymous	Date: 04/28/2008
I currently live in Lafayette Towers (East Tower) and I can say that the previous poster is not "just venting"--half of the washers and half of the dryers have not worked for months on end. Tenants have complained, and the response from management is "We are in the process of fixing them..." I originally moved to Lafayette Towers because it was close to school/work and on a bus line (I didn't have a car for the first 2 years and quickly learned that the Detroit transit system sucks, but that's another story for another time). I've never had a problem with maintainance not being propmt--my problems are addressed immediately. I also have had an issue with my unit--a 580 sq ft studio--occasionally being "too cold" and I would purchase space heaters, which would send my electric bill through the roof! Sometimes, it would be to hot (in the winter!) because the heat is from a broiler system, and I would have to open my vents. I do agree that controlled temperature was a problem. By the way, the manager that yoiboe35 is referring to has since left since now, the Habitat Company is no longer the owner of the complex. Knowing what I know now, I would probably consider one of the other Habitat Properties, if they are still own by Habitat, if I had to do it over again (esp. now that I have a car).
From: Anonymous	Date: 11/12/2008
I live in the East tower. The washer and dryers have been replaced. However, last year, for several MONTHS in the winter, through slush/snow/rain, because of the broken stairs and construction in front of the entrance, we had to walk around the parking structure to get to our cars and also around the big hole in the ground. There was little explanation for the hole other than a rumor about toxic soil./?? Only once has a repair demand been addressed within the week I submitted it. I have often had to tell the office multiple times about repairs and have had to wait for weeks to months for them to be addressed. I have written letters with lists of repairs that have accumulated. And I still have had to wait for weeks. I am not exaggerating! The maintenance is ridiculous. Also, I experienced many water leaks (about 4-5 times over the last year) where the water has done damage to my carpet and has inconvenienced me by having the water supply shut down (right when I had to shower to go somewhere). Try washing your hair in the kitchen sink (I was lucky that sink worked). The plaster on my wall has bubbled up and is peeling. It takes up the entire length from floor to ceiling and is about three feet wide. This is one of the repairs that has not been addressed for over SIX MONTHS. Plan about 5 minutes extra travel time to wait for the elevators or plan on taking the stairs. Also, if you have neighbors who smoke, enjoy the second-hand cancer or enjoy leaving your window open in the middle of winter to air the smell out. One of two treadmills in the gym has been broken for about 6 months as well, and shows no signs of being repaired/replaced/discarded. These problems have been ongoing before and after the management change. I love our security guards, however. They are wonderful! Plus the Foodland at the stripmall is convenient to walk to. The pool is pleasant and they have increased the number of days it is open during the year, which is great. That's been my experience. I hope the management reads this.

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