The new owners strike me as greasy little weasels who are keeping the current tenants in the dark about the changeover to condos. Little if anything is being kept up, including the "state of the art fitness center," or the common areas. Now they are selling to people and using that to pressure tenants to buy these less than stellar (and certainly not quarter million dollar) units. These bozos own City View condos too, so I can only imagine what those poor folks are going through.

I actually had one saleslady ask me in the elevator in front of her clients when I was going to buy my unit. I was not kind, and I hope I ruined her sale.

The best part is that earlier this year these jerks held a tenant meeting and another tenant-only open house, both during the work week and during normal work hours so that hardly anyone could attend. They are also allowing buyers to enter occupied apartment to view the place even if there are several months left on the lease. I would imagine that if a potential buyer saw the unit I'm in, they'd run like hell after seeing the disentigrating parquette floors and rats running out from the gaping holes behind the stove (which, by the way, were like that when I moved in).

As it stands I'm ready to start reducing the amount of rent I pay to compensate for the reduction in services. I figure $35 a month for the fitness center, $10 for the weekly newsletter we used to get, $50 for the monthly tenant parties they used to hold etc...

Crime is getting bad in the area too. I've personally witnessed two broad-daylight purse/briefcase snatchings, a fist fight, and the grafitti is getting out of hand. The characters hanging out in and around the downstairs coffee shop could best be described as "unsavory". I also find that tenants are often the only ones stopped by the front desk to ask if they're residents or not. While I'm being interogated in my suit and tie by the night shift yahoo, 5 low-lifes in ripped clothes pass behind me with out a challenge.

With all the people leaving, and all the work being done, I often find the rear service doors are left open, creating a tempting invitation to no-goodniks in the area. And since there is a bum or three who likes to dig through the dumpster outside, I'm sure an unsecured door would seem very inviting.

The upstair hallways are abysmal. The carpeting is old and stained, and only the ones with demo units have been painted, as far as I can tell. The carpet stinks to high heaven due to careless tenants draging dripping trash to the chutes.... this is as much a tenant problem as an owner issue, but cleaning the halls more regularly it would be nice. The trash rooms are also a mess, and often my lazy neighbors don't even put the trash in the chute, leaving it on the floor, 2 feet away from the chute instead.

The school district sucks. I had to pull my kid from the public school (Robert Morris) since the parents are even scarier than the kids who go there. Thug-Life 4-Eva, yo! There are two crossing guards right by the building for the catholic school down the street, but you won't see one for the public school until you get right outside the door.

Now, I notice the owners are apparently letting some of the workers and their families hired to "fix up" the building to live in the units. Some of these guys spend the day ogling female tenants, and bring an definite unsavory feel to the place. You can find them in the gym many nights spending more time staring at asses than actually working out. Often, they work as late at 9pm banging on pipes and doing carpentry. You also get ash, dust, or some other black substance blown into your bathrooms almost daily. I come home and have to wipe down my entire bathroom.

The heatpumps in the units are a flashback to the 80's and hardly work, you're either freezing or sweating... no in between. I've often set the thermostat on these at 72 and wake up to find the AC blowing 90 miles a minute while the room temperature shows at 60.

I haven't had much of a problem with maintenance. Usually they are up and working within a day of notification. Sometimes it takes them two or three trips to get it right, but then so did the contractor who worked on my old house.

The office management staff treats everyone like scum. You can stand there for 15 minutes clearing your throat and get no attention (yes YOU Judy or whatever the hell your name is) If it's 10 minutes to 5 they're (she's) already preparing to leave and get(s) PO'd when you walk in. I think they (she) feel(s) that since the place is going condo, they shouldn't be bothered with renters. Problem is, these renters could be potnential buyers if they weren't treated like garbage.

Still, I'd consider buying a unit due to the convenience of the location, and lack of desire to move out within a year of moving in, if the prices reflected the amount of work I'd have to do to replace all the appliances, flooring, and other major items. $249,000 for a 2 bedroom with no view, rotting floors, and holes in the wall' Plus $350 montly condo fees' I think not.

The bus is quite handy, though the hours of operation are limited, and occasionally breaks down. Most of the drivers are very nice, and helpful. If the bus is late, or you're on a different schedule, you can still catch the 32, 7, 38 and 48 pretty close to the building. The shuttle makes shopping trips on the weekend, which are convenient and are a great opportunity to meet your neighbors. Since I don't own a car, I can count on it for my major shopping excursions.

The front desk staff is generally nice, Daisy is great with the kids and very helpful. The others look like they came from a "Night of the Living Dead" cast party, but still not unhelpful. If the new owners are smart (and I question that) they will keep these folks on.

I also like the fact that a playground is located right across the street (although it's closed for "renovations" right now. At night it's a great hang out for teens to tear up the equipment and scream all night.

User Responses
From: sadie22	Date: 04/21/2005
I have lived at 2601 for six months. The lobby is under construction, the coffee shop is under construction, the store is closed. The noise from neighbors who have no respect for others is awful. The manager (Mary) tells you there is nothing they can do. Even when people have loud music on at midnight. The lobby staff with the exception of a blond woman are pretty nice. The shuttle bus is the best thing about the place. I will not renew my lease.

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