We've loved living here, overall, a good place, though poor management
From:
-Anonymous-
Date posted:
5/13/2007
Years at this apartment:
2006
-
2007
3 photos
This was a brand new building when we moved in in 2006, so there were a lot of little things that needed smoothing out. As the former reviewer stated, the lobby flooded on one occasion, causing a bit of damage that is now being fixed. We didn't get our electric bills until months after moving in. Our rent bill have never been correct.
Overall, We have loved this place for the year we've been here. We moved in because of the reasonable rent being offered when we moved in, along with the free internet, cable, and local phone service. We wanted to be in Manhattan, but for the same price we pay here, we would have had a falling-apart hole in the wall right across the river. We love the gym here---individual TVs on cardio equipment is great. Everything in the apartment and building is new---great appliances, nice cupboards, new fixtures. One complaint is the cheap flooring and paint used in these apartments. They skimped a bit there, and it shows. We have paint peeling off our walls in the bathroom. We have awesome views of the city---we look out over both Queens and Manhattan, with views of the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, the river, and the Manhattan skyline.
Our apartment is surprisingly quiet. The walls are slightly thin, but not bad. Have had some problems with getting smells/odors through the vents, but other people have had more problems with that than us. Our only complaint about noise is the couple of obnoxious children who live on our floor, and run through the halls screeching every single morning.
The building offers underground parking, if you want to pay for it. We don't have a car, and don't need one in the city, but it's an option...not cheap, but cheaper than Manhattan.
Has an outdoor pool for use in the summer. Most apartments come with a washer and dryer in-unit, but for those without, in studios and some 1-bedrooms, there is a great laundry room. There have been some glitches in the laundry room, but that's to be expected. Machines are fixed pretty quickly. And the best part---there's a huge plasma TV in the laundry room. There's a club room with a billiards table in the building---great to hang out there. There's also a media room, with another huge plasma TV. Either room can be rented out for private parties. There's a guest apartment in the building that guests can rent out for a night.
Security is fine, no problems there. The grounds of the building are nicely done and landscaped, nice courtyard. Could use BBQ grills though---I hope that is comning!!! There is a convenience store / cafe open every day on the first floor of the building---great perk.
The best part of the building I think is the front desk guys---they're awesome. So friendly, always helpful, always smiling and saying hello. Really sweet guys. The maintenance staff is great as well. The main management contact, Craig, is great, very helpful and friendly. The rest of management sucks---this building, thus far, is poorly managed, especially in terms of their billing process. They need to iron out a lot of things there.
We would like to stay here, but can't because they are increasing the rents in all apartments. They had decent prices to fill up the building upon completion, but after the first year, and hiking up people's rent, up to 25% we've heard. The amount we pay now was at the very top of our budget, and while the building is great, we just can't take that high of a rent increase. I think it was a poor management plan to force out happy renters with the high rent increases. A LOT of people are moving out right now. We, like everyone moving out we've talked to, would rather pay less to live in a bigger space in Hell's Kitchen, Harlem, or Brooklyn to have less amenities, great as they are.
The Octagon is a great concept, but overpriced for being on Roosevelt Island. There isn't enough development on the island to justify the prices. Not many businesses on the island, and the ones we do have are not of good quality.
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