This is one of Artspace's original projects, but there really isn't an artist or arts focus here. While there are still a few professional artists residing here, there are now more --------- units and units rented by people who do art as their hobby, not their vocation. This is the only Artspace AND artist housing coop in St Paul that doesn't participate in the St Paul Art Crawl. Student artists are no longer allowed to rent here, and vacant units are increasingly being filled by the property management company with low income residents with --------- housing vouchers, moving to the premises from another property the property management company manages for single mothers in recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction.

I would never move a family here. Property management of problem tenants is virtually non-existent. There are serious problems the property management company refuses to address with teen delinquency among the residents' children, public drunkeness in common areas among residents (including the parents of small children), very young children under age 5 being allowed to roam freely and unsupervised throughout the common areas, serious acts of vandalism by residents and their children, and verbal sexual harrassment of young, female residents (sexual verbal taunts especially) by the resident teen boys. There is also a pretty significant non-resident level of crime here, which in the last couple of years has included assaults in the parking lot, car break-ins and stolen cars, a drug house in the next block, and continuing problems with street prostitution.

Also, a major issue for many families that the property management company and Artspace never mention in their advertising and promotional materials--this is NOT a smoke-free premises, and smokers rule here. The residents and property management are extremely hostile to non-smokers. If you or your children have asthma or allergies to smoke, or you just don't like living in a smoking environment, don't move here.

For the price, which for the Frogtown and downtown St Paul neighborhoods is market rate, not "affordable" as the Artspace and property management company wants you to believe, the amenities are non-existent. The parking lots and public sidewalks are poorly lit and poorly maintained (huge ice dams form all winter long), and there are no garages/underground parking. The courtyard is always littered with garbage, and toys, bikes, scooters, etc are constantly blocking the sidewalks, making walking at night on public sidewalk on the courtyard side especially hazardous. The residents' children are allowed to build skateboard ramps using coop patio furniture, and daily block access to the mailboxes with their skateboarding (which is actually a violation of the conduct policy and use of the courtyard, but management never enforces these violations). The pathetic laundry rooms (four washer/dryers for 36 units) are always out of order, and we recently received notice of head lice infestations among residents, and a plea they not do their infested laundry in our laundry rooms.

Units have no dishwashers, garbage disposals, or internet access, or any of the amenities you routinely see in apartment buildings this size in a comparable rent range. Units have only one poorly outfitted bathroom. Closets and storage are non-existent in the units, and there is no extra storage available outside the units on the premises.

Another thing the property management company doesn't tell prospective tenants is there is a significant rodent infestation in the building that never goes away. There are also bad infestations of ants and silver fish.

The lower level units recently received (for the third time since the building was opened in the 1990s) significant, major flood damage (this occured in September 2007). Nothing has been done to structurally remedy the flood problems in the past, and at this time, there appears to be no plan by the owners of the building to do so in the future. If you are going to move into a lower unit, be certain your renters insurance carries a flood rider, or nothing will be covered.

Compared with so many really good alternatives today for artist housing, including other Artspace & non-Artspace housing projects in downtown St Paul, the new artist lofts on University & Raymond, great places in NE Minneapolis, etc. this place is a dump, and this resident is on their way OUT!

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 10/27/2007
Hi -----...oh sorry...I mean "anonymous", Why have you lived here for over four years, if this place is such a "dump" and there are so many "good alternatives" available? What's your art form? Let me guess...creative writing in angry Internet postings. Can I take your last comment as promise to move? Everyone, including the non-smoking artists, is planning on having a party when you go. I suspect you will be just as miserable in any other apartment, but don't let that stop you. Please move. I wish you good luck and good luck to all your new neighbors. They will need it. Bon Voyage.
From: Anonymous	Date: 10/28/2007
"property management company with low income residents with --------- housing vouchers, moving to the premises from another property the property management company manages for single mothers in recovery from drug and/or alcohol addiction." That is completely made up, psycho. There are also no silverfish in the upper units, anonymous. The skateboard equipment is not made from patio furniture but from the huge trailer of discarded furniture. They are recycling, and yes they use the sidewalk. I stopped being afraif teenagers when I was 6. Really, all of that is just irritating, but your review regarding how the units are filled is slanderous. As a single parent and a former --------- recipient, I find your tone to be vile and offensive not to mention hurtful. Congratulations on your new space, I hope it and the community you find meets your rigorous standards of back-stabbing, libel, and self-importance.
From: Anonymous	Date: 11/05/2007
I love living in Frogtown! The Frogtown Artist Cooperative is not without it's own problems, but my two years in this building have been great! I find that I've enjoyed living and co-existing with most of my neighbors while here and have enjoyed many art openings and showing by our resident artists. I even get along with the youngsters skating out front. I also enjoy our south courtyard where I've had several fun events with friends and residents and resident-friends. The events have included outdoor movies, BBQ's (with adult beverages), and the occasional water slip and slide. I also take pride in some of the beautiful gardens that surround the building and are managed by various residents. Frogtown is truly a beautiful place!
From: Anonymous	Date: 03/25/2009
I myself being a single parent loved my showing of the lofts and am strongly thinking about moving into one. But reading alot of these reviews have altered that a little bit. Is it true there can be no internet? And also can there be directv? Would love to hear more about amenities and stuff like that before I make my decision.
From: Anonymous	Date: 05/22/2009
The person who posted this review was a chronic crazy-maker who consistently caused conflict among her neighbors during the lengthy time she was here. And so many things she states in this review simply aren't true. This is a great place. I am a professional artist who searched the entire metro area for the best live/work studio and this place is it. Contrary to what she says, the place is very well managed, if you report something that needs to be fixed, maintenance is on it right away. The snowy sidewalks are dealt with immediately, the lot is plowed promptly, etc. Yeah- and as for all that stuff about mice and bugs, complete rubbish. Like every building on earth, mice try to come in in the fall and management is promptly on it if you call. No way is there an ongoing enormous mouse or bug problem. There are two big enormous parking lots where you can see your car from your window. We have grass, gardens, trees, birds, and a really pretty property. We have a tight community that looks out for each other. That stuff about teenagers 'oogling' and verbally harrassing residents is complete nonsense. We have really nice kids that live here, and really responsible teenagers because really responsible parents chose to live here. I don't have any kids, but I absolutely love that there is so much kid energy here. It's fun. So, at any rate, check us out- I love it here. Best live/work spaces in the metro
From: Anonymous	Date: 05/30/2009
Oh yeah, we cleaned out the drug house that WAS on the block, and any prostitution there was went with it. There was also an abandoned house that held "squatters" that were causing problems in the area...we got them out too. Damned good neighborhood watch and security committee!!! YEAH!!! You go guys!!! ;) Oh, and what the person above this is saying isn't true. The person who "accidentally" dug up A single plant from an area that didn't belong to them, moved out and hasn't been on here. And the people who's children threw the rock haven't been on this site yet either.
From: Anonymous	Date: 06/03/2009
The people attacking this reviewer are the same tenants who dug up the reviewer's garden, whose children threw a gigantic rock through the reviewers front window (aiming for the tenant's cats, sleeping in the window)--yeah, these Mean Girls are the best. Tough cookies you really want to have as your neighbors and of course, having your kids playing with their kids. You go Mean Girls! Show your prospective new neighbors who is boss at Frogtown!

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