WAS one of the nicest communities around: long-time residents and staff, outstanding construction and grounds. Still a nice place sometimes, but best described now as an overpriced dog pound, inside and out: BARKING, URINE, DOGPILES, DERANGED CUJO's, DOODYHEAD OWNERS! Legit pets have a green collar tag, check out how many don't have it.

Morgan Properties, the private Philly owner since 08/2003, has been an ongoing liability, inspiring an estimated 100% resident turnover and an estimated 15% vacancy rate in 2004. Morgan's greatest blunder was leaving the 11/2003 fire-gutted buildings standing nine months, but "corporate-itis" has also been a serious fault: overextended, clueless about the Central PA market, unsustainable higher and wildly varying pricing, maintenance short-staffing, inadequate trash collection and patrols, crap weasel lease, unreachable office staff, an overdependence on rent specials and one to three month corporate temp rentals, inadequate oversight of rent special trashers (garbage, DOGS, kids, and vehicle lawn-turfers), and careless landscaping.

And yet, the highest standard rent plus utilities apartment cost of living in Central PA, or nearly so. Utilities peaked at $200/month UGI gas, $70/month PPL electric, winter 2005 for 1-2 bedroom ground floor apartments (asked several folks). Figure 35% more for gas, 22% more for electric in 2006. Morgan contractor ISTA reads / bills gas at higher price and peril than actual utility. The 30 year old forced-air gas-piloted furnaces and central A/C are horribly decrepit and inefficient, with industrial noise and vibration. Entrance door intercom / buzzer uses your telephone, a major annoyance. As is venting: bathroom's obstructed (ask anybody), dryer and gas stove vent into apartment.

Greatest availability is late November through February. Unprecedented rent specials started 11/2004, first $580 base, now $600, are a reasonable deal, one that should be shared with loyal residents. The standard rents, $690 base, most certainly are not competitive in this market for this property.

User Responses
From: pinballtec	Date: 02/01/2006
This review is dead on. The bullseye point being that the rent specials are what drag in the riff raff that rent from here and just totally drag down the overall experience. Just dont plan on renting here long term. If at all.

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