Certainly, Ashland Manor is better than apartment buildings in other parts of town. The area itself is nice; there's a lovely nature area in the near vicinity, but it's also a short distance from MU and downtown. I've never felt unsafe, and I enjoy the swimming pool and tennis courts.

My mom, a Columbia native, remembers when these apartments were built and says that at one point, they were considered ultra-modern and cool. Unfortunately, that was in the 1970s. These apartments are not energy efficient. They stay hot all summer and are drafty in the winter. While the vents don't seem to spew cool or warm air, they definitely disperse my neighbor's cigarette smoke into my otherwise clean abode. Also, you will have to pay for water and garbage services. Expect to pay around $130 in utilities each month. The windows and doors don't fit the frames well, and bugs often find their way in. I never had a problem with brown recluses or mice, but it is aggravating to know I'm spending $130 on heat that only escapes out the cheap doors and windows. Speaking of waste, one of the tubs had a leaky faucet. I told Verna about it the first week I lived here. It was still dripping when I moved out two years later.

While there is plenty of parking available, beware of icy winters. Because the buildings are located on a hill, it can be next to impossible (and dangerous!) to try to leave. Maintenance waited three or four days after our first blizzard to plow the parking lot. When I called Verna, she told me to sit tight because there was no way to leave. That was fine for me, but one of my neighbors was a doctor who had to get to work.

While Ashland Manor advertises that it only allows upperclassmen, grad students and young professionals, the housing market is in such a crisis that anyone can live here. While I never saw any shady characters lurking in the hallways, there were several very young tenants who hadn't yet figured out how to live away from the dorm rooms. In other words, this isn't the quietest place to live.

As one person wrote, the ceiling caved in when the upstairs neighbor's toilet overflowed. I had problems with the upstairs neighbor's toilet twice. The first time, I only received some toilet water. The second time, an entire room's worth of drywall was destroyed and had to be replaced. The repair took several weeks, which is certainly an inconvenience for anyone.

As for the maintenance, the main guy is really nice and wants to help, but I'm not sure how competent he is. I think he "fixed" the washers and dryers five times before they finally gave up and replaced them. Also, he will walk into your apartment without knocking first. He's a little messy, too. Once, he smeared grease all over the wall and left it. Another time, he peed all over my toilet seat.

As for Verna, I can see how one could find her abrasive. I've never had any problems with her myself, but others I've spoken with say she gets defensive when they ask her about repair work. Still, nothing makes me smile more than seeing her zoom around in her little golf cart.

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