I consider myself extremely picky when it comes to choosing apartments. Alta Springs is one of the best apartment complexes I've ever stayed in, and easily the best in Chapel Hill. Here are a few things to keep in mind. The rent is pricey, but you get what you pay for. It is worth every penny. After reading this review, you'll think I work for the place. Maybe I should, because I think I would make a great salesperson. I honestly didn't have


A. LOCATION- Close to everything you could possibly want- Meadowmont is right across the street. You can park in the Friday center and take a bus to campus or simply drive a couple miles up the road. I even ran to campus a few times along the nicely paved running/biking trail. Convenient to I-40 and best of all... it's a safe, clean area. There are no shady looking developments around.

B. STAFF- Best ever. They take care of everything, and once you become a resident, they always greet you with a smile. I never had an issue I needed help with, but when I did walk through the clubhouse, they were friendly and knew my name.

C. GROUNDS- anything less than immaculate is an understatement. Grounds crews did a great job of keeping the place green and beautiful. I can't tell you how many times I drove up the driveway during a nice day w/ the windows down and felt right at home with all the beautiful landscaping. They watered the lawn and kept the place in top shape. I never noticed a problem w/ people and their pets either as I've heard w/ other apartments.

D. RESIDENTS- Mostly grad students and families live here. It's a 21 community, so you can expect mostly responsible, educated, hard working residents. It was quiet and everyone I met was friendly. I never had a problem w/ my neighbors, and there were sometimes social events out by the pool. A lot of kids were out there, but I also saw many grad students as well.

E. ROOMS- The Starling (2 BR) is one of the best floorplans I saw on all my apt tours. That said, the carpet was in good shape, and there were no signs of wear on any of the fixtures/cabinets in the kitchen and bathrooms. Best of all, there were plenty of windows, so it always felt spacious and open. No more of those cramped, hole in the ground type apartment rooms.

CONS- Tough to find any. If I were being extremely critical, there were occasional problems with the business center computers/printers/fax machines; a minor complaint in all respects. And, the price is on the high side, but you can have peace of mind knowing you're staying at the best. Parking was also tight sometimes at night, but there were always spaces if you drove around. If you're thinking of getting a 2BR Starling, the master bedroom/bath combo is better than the second room, but typically 2BR apartments aren't perfectly balanced. Oh, and the final thing I can think of is there is not a sidewalk down to the entrance. If you're trying to get to 54 by foot, you'll have to stay on the side of the road until you get to Finley. All of these are relatively minor complaints, and they are outweighed by the fantastic pros for this place.

Bottom Line- If you haven't looked at Alta Springs, you owe it to yourself to give them a try. I wouldn't call any other place home. If I weren't moving out of the area, I'd definitely live in Alta Springs again. I know the area very well, and though it may be pricier than most, the premium is justified. Often they run specials, but the place is in high demand.

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