We're the happy occupants of one of the many Thornberrys
Granted, $1,625 per month is a steep amount for a one bedroom, but between two people it's not so bad

*Pros*
Gated Community
Beautiful landscaping
Garage
Washer/Dryer
Dishwasher
Cent AC

*Cons*
1. There is now a rule (however not in your lease-we know for sure, we just resigned our lease) that you can't park in an unassigned parking spot for more than 3 days in a row. There's logic to the rule, but somehow craps on anyone in an apartment with 3 or more vehicles.
Example: my boyfriend & I have 3 cars: one car in the garage, one on the driveway, one in a spot. We carpool. We carpool in the car that we keep on the driveway (and there's only one spot on the driveway). So we have to move a car every third day. Which is really silly, cause there's 5-10 empty spots in the (very near) vicinity.
2. Cablevision Monopoly. You can’t get a land line. When we moved in, they told us flat out, it’s either cablevision (optimum voice) or nothing. Besides, they seem to hate satellite TV. If you’ve got a lease, read over all of the reverences to satellite dishes… it’s so retentive, it’s funny. Although I love Cablevision, technically speaking, this is a con point. Choice is always best.

*Reality Check/Stuff You Can’t Change*

1. Bugs. This development is what' Four or Five years old'' We kicked them out of their homes and they haven't figured it out yet... Give it a couple of years, the bug population will even out... Ask anyone who has built a brand new home over undeveloped land before. Secondly, if you keep your apartment clean, pests such as bugs, ants, rodents and mice won't love your apartment so much. (By the way, other than the rogue moth that comes in when we do (because of the light right in front of the door), we don’t have pest problems.
2. Your Neighbors. Stupid is as stupid does. You can't stop it. They passed their background check. They pay their rent. Unless you know they broke their lease (and you can prove it), you're SOL.
Examples of the stupidity:
A. Parents that wait for the bus (cars at the ready) creating traffic hazards that waiting for their kids is supposed to avoid. These geniuses: park at stop signs (blocking view of traffic), stand in the middle of the road and/or wherever you're trying to *LEAGALLY* drive, and don't pay attention to their kids doing the same.
B. Entrance Gates (when down). Instead of arming their friends & family with a prox card or having them use the call button, people: piggyback, break one or both gates (plastic/wood and/or IRON gates), go in the exit, and the most ballsy of all... one day someone pulled past the prox sensor and waited for me to prox them in (it pissed me off so I drove to the other entrance)
C. Stop signs. The management just added one to almost every corner now. Nice idea, but again if people don't want to stop, they won’t. It’s as simple as that. The management retaliated with speed bumps (it’s just a band-aid). Personally, I want to see how the snow plows deal come winter.
3. Lease. This complex is owned by a management company. For their protection and yours (mostly theirs) they probably hired some nice high paid lawyers to draw up your lease. Remember, it’s gonna be your lease. Read it first. If you don’t agree, don’t sign. If you didn’t read it, don’t blame anyone but yourself.
4. Shoddy building material. Within half a year of living here, cracks in the wall (paint) and a small amount of water damage started to appear. Don’t worry too much though. “Normal wear & tear” which this should be, is written in your lease.
5. Debunking of other postings: if you’re still reading my diatribe, hooray for you. You’re quite patient. Just remember, read the postings carefully… more often than not, the people who hate it here the most seem to be the ones **STUPID** enough to renew their (apparently crappy apartment) lease. Notice the amazingly high amount of people complaining, but continue to live here for 2/3 years…
6. The Dump. Just think of it like a dirt hill… cause that’s just what it is. It doesn’t smell… or at least I haven’t smelled it yet (and we lived here for each of the four seasons). Personally I think the fertilizer & stuff they put down when updating the landscaping stinks, but that’s just my opinion. (I’ve never gotten the reasoning that garbage smell = bad/manure [poop to you and me] = good… how''')

*In Conclusion*
If you can find an apartment complex with:
Garages
Central AC
Washer & Dryers
Dishwashers
All in the surrounding area (without living in a ghetto or a crackhouse) with better rent, congratulations. I doubt you'll find much better.

*PostScript*
We moved in when it was still owned by Alexan. (At that time) They had deals for 1 month free rent when first leasing or renewing. Per the staff, up until then, rent hadn’t gone up since the complex opened. Now we live in Atlantic Point (same place). For the first time, rent went up and the renewal bonuses aren’t as great… I can’t tell if it’s because of the new ownership or just cause it was time for rent increase and/or the place is filling up.
And just as a reminder, take all we say with a grain of salt. Final decision is still yours. I do recommend choosing your apartment carefully (ie proximity to: tot lots, pools, clubhouse, mailboxes, additional parking, your driveway, and your landscaping) and taking a couple cruises round the neighborhood before signing (on multiple days… it lets you get a feeling for the neighborhood.
Good or bad, you’re paying for the management company and a very explicit lease. The term “Breech of Contract” is your friend.

*Choose Carefully*
A year is a long time
1 year=12 months=52 weeks=365 days= 8,760 hours=525,600 minutes= 31,536,000 seconds

Manager's Response
From: Manager	Date: 05/11/2006
As far as the expensive comment, we are certainly not cheap, however we are very competative. Point #3 is very accurate. If you do not like what is in the lease, then dont sign. As far as some of the issues regarding people not stopping for stop signs, I'm sure you know we can only do so much. There will always be reckless people no matter where you live. Thank you for the comment.

User Responses
From: PlumbersGirl	Date: 03/19/2006
Excellent post

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