Harbortown Terrace

The jury is still out. From: -Anonymous- Date posted: 5/20/2003 Years at this apartment: 2003 - 2003   As a brand-new occupant, I wish I had done a little more research online prior to signing the lease, as most of the comments I've read so far are pretty negative. That said, here's the first month assessment: The space for the money is pretty outstanding for something so accessible to the main highways. The community is also about a 10-minute walk from the train station; a plus for commuters. (You can leave your car at the station, if you get there early enough to find a spot, and be reasonably confident that it will still be there when you return, as the police patrol the station pretty regularly.) The construction is not the highest quality. The windows are equipped with the cheapest variety of pull down shades. Some windows even have two off-size shades to cover the space--a pretty ugly arrangement. (I'm installing blinds as soon as I can.) The walls are pretty thin--you can hear through them fairly easily, causing me to leave a TV or radio on all the time to act as "white noise." The NO PETS policy is spottily enforced. There's been a big dog parked out on a 2nd floor patio for the last two weeks that likes to bark until 2am; not great if you're a light sleeper. The roads are definitely rutted and in need of repair. My guess is that no one is going to spend the money on it until all of the construction is completed around the complex, as those heavy-weight vehicles will just end up causing more damage to the roads while they're in service. Maintenance is the one clear, unambiguous 5 out of 5 in this mix. They are responsive, competent, courteous and have restored my belief in the Puritan ethic (even if one is Hispanic and the other Polish). I have yet to be victimized by gangs of roving "Section 8" kids, but I guess the year is still young. The only kid that has even spoken to me so far looked up at me solemnly and asked politely, "Where you going'" when I went to check the mail. "A mi buzón, niño." He laughed and ran away giggling. (Obviously a future gang member.) In summary: I like the space, if not the construction. It's convenient and easy to go elswhere, like the malls in Woodbridge and Edison. For a single or no-kids couple commuting to the city that will spend most of their time either inside or at work, this is a bargain. You may have to spend some bucks to upgrade things yourself--I may even splurge on thicker sheetrock and cork sheet for better soundproofing in my bedroom--but if you're looking for lots of room for a reasonable price and don't need a community, then this will do for now.

Recommended: YES Overall Rating

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