Ok, so I have lived here for a while, but I refuse to sign another lease with a place that is so badly maintained and has so much crime. It wasn't terrible when I first moved in, but it has consistantly gotten worse with every passing year. This is probably due to the fact that I had decent neighbors when I first moved in, but the quality of the residents has decreased dramatically. In fact, I know there are drug dealers and ex convicts living in the same common area that I do.
This place is crime central, and I fear for my own and my family's safety! There have been break-ins, theft, and drug dealing. I've heard gun-shots several times, and there was even an incident when some drugged up woman rammed another resident's car into an apartment (not his apartment, mind you) with her own car! Sure, that could happen anywhere, but I've never heard about it anywhere I have lived before now. The Columbus police helicopter is a frequent sight in the skies around the complex, but don't let that lull you into a false sense of security. They are only flying around to look for criminals on the run. They are not patrolling the area.
Besides the crime, there are several other reasons why a person should not consider moving here. The Lakes of Brice are called "luxury" apartments, but there is nothing luxurious about them. There is garbage littering the whole property and dog feces can be found in any grassy area. The pool is not "sparkling," in fact, it has had to be closed several times during the summer because it is toxic! The health department actually had to shut it down last year (2008) because it was so bad. The "fitness center" would be nice, but nothing ever works, and no one ever fixes anything in there.
As for maintenance, when you first move in they MIGHT be nice about fixing things, but once you are here longer the maintenace man AND management will make you feel like your concerns are not worth their time. The previous manager (------) was very rude when we would submit a work order, and make us feel like the maintenance problems were ours and not to bother her with it. The current manager is not so rude, but nothing ever gets done. There are promises made, but no one ever shows up.
Parking is another problem. There are not enough spaces for the people who actually live in the buildings, and God forbid that a resident ever have a guest over or more than one car! There are no spaces in which to park once night falls, and the parking lot is very poorly lit. Residents, and visitors alike, speed through the complex swerving to the wrong side of the road to avoid the speed bumps that are a joke. There are also several residents who bring out their motor bikes and ATV's when the weather is nice, and ride through the property like bats out of hell making a lot of noise.
They DO have a pet policy; however, it is not enforced. I have seen several residents with dogs that are considered aggressive (by breed), and it is clearly stated in the lease that these kinds of dogs are not allowed on the property. The management doesn't care, though. They just want their money. The pet fee is reasonable and the pet rent is not bad ($25/month).
Speaking of money, rent is WAY too much for the area in which this property is located. It is on the outskirts of Canal Winchester, but not even a half mile away is a very bad part of town (which I am sure contributes to the high crime rate here). With the prices this complex charges, you would think that they are located in Dublin! Well, Dublin they are NOT! The management will entice you with a rent that is very reasonable when you first move in, but every subsequent year the rent goes up significantly ($40-50). Additionally, your children will attend Columbus Public Schools if you decide to live here. All of the properties around LOB go to Canal Winchester Schools, but LOB goes to Columbus. Not sure why.
The water bill is supposedly figured out for the whole complex based on the square footage of your dwelling, but we have seen an increase from $30 to $50 per month since we have been here (just over 2 years). No joke! I have family that lives just down the road (in a three bedroom HOUSE) that only pay $125 every THREE months. Something is obviously very wrong with the water bill. Oh, and don't be late on that or the management will not accept your rent until the water bill is caught up. In this same time, you will accrue late fees for non payment of rent which is somewhere in the realm of $50-$75 a day.
The electric bill is about the only positive thing about the whole place. While it might seem expensive (around $100/month), it is about what we have paid in other electric only apartments. There are, however, very drafty windows, so make sure you cover them with plastic in the winter or you'll be looking at a $150 bill. The electric company is not AEP, but it is a smaller company that covers much of the rural areas in central Ohio. They are polite, and were quick to act when there was that "hurricane without the rain" in September of 2008. Our electricity was back on within 12 hours, which is A LOT better than most of Columbus.
I truly advise not living in this complex. It is not safe, and no one seems to care or make any effort to change things. Come check it out for yourself! But beware of the management, they are unethical and will tell you anything to get you to move in.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 03/24/2009
I cannot argue with a lot of the details listed here, however it is important to note that apartment living is what you make it. I can't say that I have ever heard gun shots, nor have I ever seen the Columbus Police helicopter (there is much air traffic because the complex sits in the airport flight path). Unfortunately, the staff takes a lot of heat for problems that would be alleviated by community members being more considerate of others - things like not throwing trash in the grass and cleaning up after their pets. Maintenance has always been good for me, and the staff have always been considerate and respectful to me - and I do the same in return. So like I said, apartment living is what you make it - if you take proper precautions, and everyone is considerate of others, then a lot of the problems go away. The problem is, that's asking a lot in this day and age.
From: Carolyn4JESUS	Date: 03/24/2009
I'm here all day long, and I go outside probably 5 times a day with the dogs as well as my husband early in the morning and late at night. If I see something, I'll say something, like someone not picking up their dog poop at our building because we keep it clean and swept. We know our neighbors and belong to the LOB Phone Tree. CPD cruises the premises daily.
From: Anonymous	Date: 05/22/2009
I would agree that the rent goes up significantly when you renew your lease, but mine was $125 per month (with no late payments) not a mere $40-50.

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