Location: I have lived at International Village for two years, and it has been wonderful! The location is great, as it is right next to 35W, and the Mall of America and lightrail are just down Old Shakopee about 10 minutes away. There are also multiple bus stops within a couple blocks, and an express bus that goes to downtown Minneapolis. A Festival Foods is two blocks away, and a Wells Fargo, Starbucks, Wallgreens, Subway, Applebees, Bakers Square, McDonald's, Indian Restaurant, Chinese buffet, Blockbuster, MGM, and the post office are all within walking distance, about 2-4 blocks away. There is also a Cub Foods, a Falafel King restaurant, and a Sawatdee restaurant just up Lyndale. The apartment complex is located in a quiet, safe, residential neighborhood that is a mix of rental housing and regular housing. Kennedy High School is just down 98th Street, and their outdoor track is open most of the time. Bloomington residents can also work out at the Kennedy High School fitness center for a cheap yearly membership or daily fee. To those who would prefer to join a club, LifeTime Fitness is just across the 35W intersection. The Bloomington Arts Center is just down Old Shakopee, and there is a farmer's market in the summer on Saturdays there. Nearby parks include a playground on 95th Street and the historical Gideon Pond House and nature trails along the Minnesota River, located a block or so off of Nicollet.

Buildings and Noise: For a complex built in about 1974 (you can check the Hennepin County property tax database to get the exact date) there is almost no noise. I have never heard the neighbor that lives next to me and I have only heard the person above me a few times. Courtesy hours are from 10 am to 10 pm, and people abide by them. People don't play loud music at 2 am like at some apartment complexes. I think there are about 40 units in each building. People living on the ground floors might find a stray silverfish or centipede, or a few ants, but when you live next to bushes that is to be expected in the summertime. I have never seen a cockroach, a rat, or a mouse. The 20 acre grounds are well manicured and the management replants most fallen trees and bushes.

The units are very bright and feel larger than they are thanks to the spacious floorplans. In a two-bedroom, a 13 foot long bank of 4 windows lines the living room. Some of the units come with microwaves, newer Frigidaire appliances, and new Kohler appointments. I have never had the shower water turn cold on me, even after a long 15 minute shower! The hot water can get scalding hot, so be careful in the kitchen. There is an air conditioner in the living room, one in the bedroom, and the other bedroom has a ceiling fan. The carpets are beige and the walls are ivory. You can paint the walls or put up curtains/shelves etc. as long as you paint it back.

Pets and Plants: My main gripe about the place is the non-refundable $300 pet fee, in addition to the ludicrous concept of pet rent. The management takes a paternalistic view and claims "having a pet is a privelige." Other places will refund a portion of the pet deposit upon termination of the lease and do not charge pet rent. I think you can have a maximum of two cats or 1 dog. Dogs up to 50 pounds are allowed, but aggressive breeds, such as dalmations, german shepards, rotweillers etc. are not allowed. Various pet clean-up stations line the grounds. If you are caught not cleaning up after your dog, the fee is $50. Temporary pets are not allowed, so people can't do foster care. However, if you like to garden, you can maintain a pot or a small area and the management will reimburse you something like $15 for plants.

My other gripe is the new predatory pricing policy, which is that the price of the apartments changes every day. So, if you like an apartment, it might not be the same price the next time you come to apply. International Village is managed by the Laramar Group, (www.laramarapts.com/community/539/index.php). I paid $999 the first year, $1017 the second, and it will be $1050 for the third year for a 2Bd/1Ba. It is 950 sq. feet. The leasing office takes 2.5 times your income to see if you qualify for the apartment, in addition to the $45 application/credit check fee. However, smart renters know that one's rent should be no more than 30% of your income.

In total there are 9 residential buildings, and each has a different international theme (Taj Mahal, Japanese, Orleans, Zurich, etc.). There are 4 washers and 4 dryers in a building, and each machine is $1.00, which is a bargain compared to the $1.75 that some apartments in Minneapolis charge. Laundry hours are from 6 am to 11 pm every day. A storage unit is included free of charge in the rent, and it is about 3.5' W x 9 ' H x 4 ' D. The rent also covers heat, but sewer, water, and trash are tacked on to the rent each month, and two people in a two-bedroom can expect to pay about $30 for those three utilities. There is 24 hour maintenance, so if your only toilet overflows at 2 am, someone will come and unclog it. They are also very good about replacing old air conditioners and non-functioning appliances.

Neighbors: The inhabitants are diverse in both structure and origin. There are families, retirees, roommates, and singletons. Some people may judge the quality and safety of an apartment by the condition of the cars in the parking lot, and while there are a couple with dents and rust, you'll also find a new Hyundai or Toyota amid the SUVs and 2-door coups. Entrance to the building is by key-card, and you can let your guest in when the doorbell rings to your cellphone. There are some really long-term renters here, some have lived here for 14 years! With that kind of longevity you know there must be something great about the place.

Perks: The fitness center has about 4 treadmills, 2 ellipticals, 2 bikes, 2 stairmasters, a rowing machine, a Nordic Track, free weights, and some new gym equipment like a leg press, shoulder press, quad/hamstring machine, and push-up machine. It is quite big. The outdoor pool/jacuzzi probably has about 10-15 people sitting on the deck on average, but it can be very quiet. I have never seen screaming unsupervised children there. The indoor pool is heated as well, and the sauna and jacuzzi are usually pretty quiet, even in winter. There is also a women's sauna in the women's locker room, a scale, two showers, three bathroom stalls, lockers, and a changing stall. A community room is available for rent in the clubhouse, and there are two ping pong tables and two pool tables as well. The computer lab has two computers and a printer--ink is supplied but you usually have to bring your own paper. Across the street from the clubhouse is a sculpture garden and putting green and they are quiet and seldom used. The outdoor tennis courts can be popular, but the sand volleyball net area varies. A new car wash area just opened this summer by one of the buildings as well. Multiple outdoor gas grills and gazebos also dot the grounds. A concierge is on hand in the clubhouse Monday-Tuesday, and Friday-Saturday nights to retrieve packages from the leasing office if you can't get there when they're open. Their hours are from 9am to 7pm Mon-Thu, 9am-6pm Fri, 10am-5pm Sat, and 12pm-5pm Sunday. The clubhouse is open from 6am-11pm Monday-Friday, and 7am-11pm Saturday and Sunday. The pool closes at 10pm and opens at 10am. I believe alcohol that is not in glass containers is allowed on the pool deck as I have seen people consuming beer on the weekends there.

An activity calendar arrives each month noting step aerobics classes, yoga/pilates, water aerobics, movie nights, potlucks, crafts classes, and seasonal activities, like the community garage sale and pool party. The fitness instructor, Tara, is very very good, positive, and energetic. You would be very hard pressed indeed to find a better apartment for the money in all of Bloomington, or Hennepin County for that matter.

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