Pro's:

- The complex is tucked away at a dead end street - yay for no street noise! You can't even hear the cars on 35W!

- The apartments are down the street from several restaurants and a small movie theater - very convenient when you don't want to drive too far for entertainment.

- Lund's is a stone's throw away - definitely the thing I miss most, in the 'burbs you have to drive a little further to get groceries.

- Stone Arch Bridge is always nearby and open - winter, summer, rain or shine.

- Always felt safe around the neighborhood during the day and at night. I even forgot to lock my door (apartment and car!) sometimes and never had any problems.

- Grounds were kept pretty well. Nothing spectacular but decent. I did see the occasional dog poop both outside and inside the building but the situations were dealt with promptly.

- Mainteinance was very fast and reliable.

- Business Center (2 computers, printer, and fax machine) came in handy A LOT. Bring paper.

- Stone Arch tenants were hit or miss. Mostly friendly but you sometimes encountered the rare stank eye species.

- Stone Arch staff were also friendly and helpful. Thank god for those Saturday office hours!

- Oh yeah, enormous closet space!


And, the con's (based on 2 bed/2 bath - $1500 per month rent):

- No washer/dryer in apartment. For $1500 per month you'd expect at least in-site laundry. Arg, they even use the same laundry machines I used back in college. What is this a dorm. Laundry did get expensive on a weekly basis! If your neighbors smell funny I think you know why.

- Tiny kitchens. Again, for $1500 per month you'd expect a little more, maybe a kitchen island, more counter space, more cabinets.

- Tiny layouts. It was embarrassing having friends over because the only room we could hang out in was the "Living Room" which was way too cramped. I could barely fit in a table to eat on. Not what I'd expect for a place that claims to be "industrial".

- No utilites covered. Hear me again, $1500 doesn't even include a little bit of those utilites. Nope.

- Slow elevators. Sometimes the elevator smelled a little funny. Probably because Fido couldn't hold it in long enough.

- Lack of insulation between floors. I really don't want to hear each time my neighbor closes his door which also shakes the apartment. I'm also not interested in listening to those intimate moments as I try to fall asleep. Okay, I guess phone conversations are interesting and hilarious but I could do without them. Unfortunately I had a neighbor with a surround sound system. Seriously. If I can hear you close a door and you can hear me flush the toilet do you really think your surround sound isn't going to penetrate the walls and floors we share. Please disable your surround sound system if you have one. Your neighbors will appreciate it. At $1500 per month I expected better insulation.

- Ridiculous pet deposit! What is this thing you speak of. My pet doesn't even work! The pet deposit is high when compared to most places, I just wish Stone Arch gave some of that "pet money" to neighboring non-pet owning tenants that have to deal with pet noise. No one likes to hear Fido banging on the floor/walls with a chew toy while trying to enjoy a good book.

- Felt like college. I sometimes forgot that I graduated. You find the occasional beer bottle in the hall (because it's cool to drink) or listen to the occasional bed thumping when everyone is trying to fall asleep for work the next day (because it's cool to catch an STD) but it doesn't happen all that often. I just wish the rent per month was the same as the ratio of working tenants to college students.


Just to clarify:

Yes I would recommend Stone Arch Apartments if you are paying $1000 or less in rent per month. Average rent in the Twin Cities is about $1000 per month.

But no, I don't see how $1500 per month can justify a 2 bed/2 bath apartment. After 2 months of apartment hunting I guarantee there are better options (and not so expensive ones) out there.

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