School House Apartments
AVERAGE RATING
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I have to Completely Dissagree
From: -Anonymous-Date posted: 9/2/2009
Years at this apartment: 2006 - 2009
The last review was written obviously by someone who has a lot of negative energy and focuses only on such. I have lived at the School House Apartments on two separate occasions and currently reside there. Here is a more accurate assessment of what the writer of the review should have taken into consideration.
1) Issue with the main door key: The reality is that all of the 5 egress doors to the building use a universal key, as well as the door to the parking garage. This in mind, there are 77 or so units in this building with all of the tenants utilizing the same doors with the same universal key. The egress doors do; at times, require you to shift your key a little, but the locks never fail to work. Due to the amount of use they endure; it only makes sense that over time, the gears in the locks wear down resulting in a little movement in the mechanism. On these occasions and periodically; the locks are re-geared again.
2) Issue with the noise: This building used to be a city school before it was converted into its current state as a residential unit. I have lived in 2 separate apartments in this building and on two different floors and have experienced the same sound quality on both... "Excellent". The way that this apartments are designed, you have a firewall between each unit which acts as a sound barrier. I have never had an issue hearing my neighbors. In fact, sometimes it is too quiet if anything. I have in my apartment a theatrical surround system and do music recordings in another. I have asked neighbors on both sides if they have ever heard anything, and they both have said no. That is the way that it was designed. If the writer of the review experienced that much of a noise issue with their neighbor, and tried calling the apartment manager (who lives an hour & 1/2 away from the building) at 2:30AM; I don't blame him for instructing her to call the police. The police would be the best option for 2 reasons; A) They would get there a lot faster and B) have been able to do something if there was an issue. The fact that the review says that the sounds could not be heard by anyone without an adjoining wall speaks to the contrary of the complaint itself.
3) Issue with CATV/SAT providers: Anyone who has lived in an apartment complex knows that Cable Television in offered in geographical areas by 1 provider. At the School House, the only cable provider available is Comcast. The company (Delta Property Management) who owns and maintains the School House, also allows it's tenants the option of selecting Direct TV Satellite as an alternative to cable (which most apartment complexes do NOT give you this as even an option). As you can imagine, to maintain security of the building, it makes sense that Delta would prefer for the safety of its tenants to select 1 contractor to deal with the Direct TV installations, if nothing else than to prevent any random contractor form access to areas of the building where other tenants security may be compromised. If the writer of this review had/has an issue with their Direct TV or the contractor; then contact Direct TV. They are the ones who license their independent contractors, not Delta or the management of the School House; and to even thing that the building manager would have any control over what Direct TV/Contractor does or does not do is absurd.
4) Issue with the parking garage: I have parked on both levels of the parking garage (1 level is enclosed and 1 level is out in the open). I currently have a spot on each of the levels. I have NEVER in 4 years experienced any issues with the door to the garage. In fact, there have only been improvements made to the garage and it's security over the last 4 years I have been there. There are a number of security cameras and "Emergency" buttons located in the garage. It is very well lit, and the only time I have ever experience an issue with the garage was during a power outage when briefly the security gates could not open with the remote control because; well, there was no power to open them. The building itself has "Emergency Generators" that instantly kick on maintaining the interior common areas of the building (Hallways, Doors, Security Lighting, Elevators, and Stairwells). I have never had any issue with "garbage" on my vehicle, or anyone else. Chances are, that if there was any kind of debris on the reviewers car, it is fairly safe to assume that they were parking on the top lot that is open to the elements and wind could have very easily carried debris being tossed by someone on one of the surrounding streets that circle the lot. If this had been an intentional act, it would have been captured on one of the many parking lot security cameras and I am more than sure it would have been addressed with.
5) Issue with the laundry center: Again, the reviewer is complaining about an issue that is not easily remedied by The School House management. The laundry facility which is new; and is located on the top floor of the building next to the common area, has 6 washers and 6 dryers. It was at first a work in progress; just like anything "new" is. The actual equipment is not owned by The School House and it is provided by a third-party company that maintains the washers and dryers. My suggestion to the reviewer is two fold. 1) If you are having an issue with a piece of equipment; give a quick call to the company that is on each machine along with the phone number that says "For Service Call ...." That just makes common sense to me; and 2) If the reviewer is having that much of an issue with the laundry facility on-site, there is a very large Laundromat that is only 1 block away which is very clean, reasonable, and has numerous machines of all shapes; which I would recommend to anyone who needs to was anything big (IE:comforters & large bedding).
5)Issue with Doors Shutting: I can't believe that this was even mentioned, because this is not an issue that is custom to the School House. Anytime you don't make sure that a door is not closed behind you anywhere, the possibility of it not latching is probable. Security starts with the residents, and I know I make sure that any of the egress doors are closed when I enter or exit the building. That is just good common sense and security; however, there are some occasions when others do not do the same.
In conclusion... I have lived at the School House for 4 years now; and I can tell you, I have lived all over the city, and I have chosen The School House twice. I have never experienced anything that is mentioned in this reviewers comments, and have to assume that they are taking a few small incidences and felt frustrated and decided to vent by complaining on here instead of trying to resolve matters the logical way, by starting with them self to make things better.
The School House is a beautiful, safe, secure, and moderately/competitively priced housing option on Pittsburgh's Historic Northside. It has close access to a major highways, a Level 1 health care facility, colleges, restaurants, shopping, and churches. The building management is first class, respectful, attentive, and reliable. They building requires both a credit and criminal background checks on ALL potential residents; which is an added level of security to the building. There are amenities, such as a free internet lounge area with vending machines, a full fitness gym (offered free of charge to residents), an on-site laundry facility, and UPS/FED EX Drop Off in the office... just to name a few. Each apartment is unique an is modern, despite the age of the building and the outside facade. If you are looking for a very safe, reasonable, and accessible place to live in Pittsburgh; I strongly suggest taking a look at this building for yourself and taking a tour, because I love living here, so much in fact, that I lived here twice (and currently do). I would hate to see the rantings of one negative person prevent someone from experiencing what is a very pleasurable living environment, filled with a ton of positive energy, and an environment of very diverse tenants that all seem to get along very well (with exception to a few). It was the beauty of the building, the attention of the staff, and the intense diversity of the tenants that attracted me to the School House at first, and what continues to make me happy living here. I strongly suggest anyone who is looking for a place to live in Pittsburgh, to take the time to visit the School House and see for yourself what a wonderful place it is.
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