Not for the faint at heart...
From:
thekidakc@yahoo.com
Date posted:
3/16/2004
Years at this apartment:
2003
-
2003
My husband and I were forced to make a quick move when our university housing closed in downtown Philly in early 2003. We chose this apartment mainly because it was the cheapest rent within walking distance to the university's shuttle. On the good side, CCC made the quick transition possible and even checked into getting us a break in our rate (based on income, but we didn't end up qualifying). Also on the good side, our apartment was a good-sized two bedroom with plenty of light and a nice layout. New appliances and large kitchen/dining room (but little closet space). Overall, though, the apartment itself was great. Maintenace was also quick and reliable. The grounds and landscaping were professionally maintained and were one of the classiest parts of the complex.
Besides the lack of closet space, there was also a lack of noise insulation between apartments. We could hear whole conversations in the apartment above ours and because we happened to have a family above us with young children, the noise was pretty constant. Also, there is a garage unit under each apartment (though they don't give you the garage directly under your apartment) so all the car noise was clearly audible from our master bedroom. Our garage unit was one building over from ours and the garage door was often broken (one thing maintenance wasn't prompt at fixing). We just ended up parking on the street most of the time (can be difficult depending on the time of day). There was one washer and dryer under each apartment building in a dark, dimly lit basement. We generally felt safe although be aware that the neighborhood changes drastically just a mile up Manheim. It also happens to be one of the worst areas for car theft, though we didn't hear of any problems while we were there.
Our major complaints are with the managment. On our move-in day, no one from the management was present and the keys were just handed over to us. We learned later that important move-in procedures were missed. There was also a major miscommunication with management over which utilities we were expected to pay. Prior to moving in, we were told that we would pay a "water" bill only (when asked specifically if we pay other utilities like gas and electric, this employee answered a definitive "no"). Later, we learned that the employee had blatantly lied to us and that all utilities (gas, hot water, electric) were seperate. The employee had since been relocated to another complex under the same management corporation and the new management was unwilling to make any compromises in our utility bills, which we were unprepared for. Given that these utilities were separate, we definitley would have chosen to live elsewhere.
I should add that through all this, management was very hard to get a hold of by phone or in person, due in part to their constantly changing secretaries who take incomplete or inaccurate messages. Also, they don't receive packages for you.
After our hardships with management and their unwillingness to compensate us at all for their employee's miscommunications about utilties, we began making plans to move. Needless to say, they also kept our $760 deposit when we moved out after 6 months (even though we never signed our 1 year lease), even after all we had been through. After months of trying to contact them by registered letter and by phone and receiving no response, we've given up trying to get the money back.
Of course not everyone would have the same experience we've had if they chose to live here, but this was our experience in a nutshell and we wish we would have had a little warning before deciding on this apartment.
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