Very shady business practices (they change policy and don't tell residents). You can do much better in the university city area or center city. Plus, while the trolley and universities are nearby, there is nothing else nearby (grocery store is a hike... you have to rely on 711).
1) Property: quite old. Nice courtyard, but the apartments need to be updated. My carpeting hasn't been changed in at least 4 years. Also, the appliances are old and the kitchen (in a studio) is very tiny. The walls are thin... if you have a corner apartment you get a LOT of street noise. The selling point for my apartment (on the 4th floor) were the high ceilings and the nice light. But, Drexel built tall buildings in the distance which obstruct my skyline.
2) Security guards for the most part were very nice. BUT the place isn't really secure! If someone would like to enter the building, all they have to do is tell the guard the apartment number and then sign a sheet of paper to enter the property. The guards don't call up to the unit and the visitors can use any alias to enter.
3) The maintenance was pretty good. The guys were super-nice, but you could tell they were instructed to come out only for major events (in the middle of the night, for instance). My ceiling leaked and it took 3.5 weeks to get fixed (what a mess). Also, the elevator was out and it took 2 weeks to fix (not bad if you aren't on the top floor).
4) The management changed their pet policy to allow cats and dogs, now there is barking and animal waste on the public walkways. Again, didn't notify residents.
5) The management staff is incompetent. They sent out a notice to have us renew our leases and only gave 24 hour notice! Further, on the letter they indicated that rent would increase but didn't state how much.
6) Parking is tough during the week and after 5.
7) The fire alarm goes off all the time. Forget studying or working from home.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 03/12/2009
first of all we got 3 notices of rent going up.They didn't have to send them.Its called being nice.they could of just raised the rent on us.Plus there were postings all over.You need to read around u.I have had problems and they fixed them asap.I live in the first building 4th floor.I caught management in the hallway to complain about our elavator being out and she sent out someone about two hours later.Stop your complaining and move already! Thats so rude. Everywhere else is too pricey and its really nice here.
From: Anonymous	Date: 03/12/2009
They said they sent three notices, but I didn't receive any of them! If management wants to make sure residents get the notices, they should send the notices certified mail or make sure all residents come to the office to pick them up. You said "everywhere else is too pricey". Um, $1200 for a studio at The Courts on Powelton is pricey! Believe me- I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL I CAN MOVE. My lease is up soon. Here's to counting down the days!
From: lisadecarlo	Date: 03/13/2009
Funny, that YOU are the only one that didn't get the notices. They sent me popcorn and candy to renew with them. (Very thoughtful by the way) I went into the office and asked nicely if they could extend my deadline to renew because of my co-op program with Drexel. The girls said YES without being mean or rude. So if you went in there being rude then that is how you are going to get treated. Now you have to pay to move, pay a new deposit, and pay new rent further away from the city I'm sure. Very sad for you when you should have just been nice. I've lived at The Courts for almost 2 years and have been treated with a lot of respect. The new management has been so nice and they are great not that the old management was bad either! The few months they have been here I have notice a lot of changes. The only complain I had is when the management change they didn't send a notice. I forgave them real quick when I met the girls. I think they are doing great and so far they have done everything they said they were going to do. (Like a TV with cable in the gym, hallways newly painted, NICE) The alarms do go off a lot but I would rather them go off for minor fires than die in my sleep. As for the pets, they have always allowed cats, no change there. The dog owners are really good about picking up after themselves because I held a gathering in the courtyard this past weekend and didn't see any pet waste anywhere. So where are you hanging out at? I guess when you don't get what you want; you throw a fit like a little 5 year old and write a nasty email. How come you start writing now when you don't get your way? You have been here almost a year! To The Courts Staff: you are doing a great job and even if you don't read this I want to thank you for always being so nice! Don't let one "incompetent"resident ruin your day. -L

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