I'm calling it quits with The Reserve.
I wrote a review about a year ago -- I lived in a huge one bedroom with jacuzzi and was moving into a three bedroom across the lake.
Since everyone cares about it, I'll talk about safety first. Personally, I have always felt safe here. It's quiet at night, and you get to know faces and learn who belongs here and who doesn't. I lived here alone as a single female originally, and I never felt threatened or in danger in any way. Crime has picked up here a bit -- car break-ins, and a few apartment break-ins, but I'm afraid that's just becoming the state of this city. They have a few security officers who patrol around; not sure if that's really a deterrent, but it's better than nothing.
My experience with the three bedroom hasn't been as positive as my first apartment, but it's mostly not The Reserve's fault. First and foremost, the bugs. Oh, heavens, the bugs. If you are considering moving into a first floor apartment facing the lake, be warned. You'll blow half of your monthly income on bug spray/traps/poison. In the warmer months, spiders are EVERYWHERE, not to mention ants and other assorted insects.
The other thing, and I don't know if this is a widespread problem around the complex or just around my area, but many residents do not seem to understand the use of a leash on a dog. Granted, your Fido might be the most well-behaved dog on the planet, but what happens if it cheerfully runs up to Brutus the angry canine' Or if Fido gets spooked and suddenly runs out into the street' There is also the issue of dog waste around the lake area -- sometimes it's bad, sometimes it's not really noticeable. It's gross to look at, but it's a common issue in many complexes, so I don't spend time worrying about that.
Noise, especially on the first floor, is a problem -- like it is anywhere. The people who live on the floor above me have no problem allowing their kids to run and scream up and down the stairs all day long, so that doesn't help. But I lived on the third/fourth floor in my first apartment, and noise was never an issue, so I know that's just part of apartment life.
My only real issue with The Reserve, aside from the lack of adequate dumpsters, is the lack of amenities. Don't get me wrong here, the grounds are beautiful, just absolutely gorgeous. The groundskeepers deserve all of the accolades, for they are meticulous in picking up trash and keeping everything great. My first apartment had the jacuzzi, which I highly recommend. The pool, while small, is beautiful and kept in great shape.
But...that's it. We have a dishwasher, oven and stove, and that's about it as far as included appliances. And I understand that the 2/3 bedroom apartments are undergoing renovations, which should give the apartments a (much-needed) sprucing up. But for the price I'm paying, is a microwave really too much to ask' Would a washer and dryer be out of the question' Of course, I knew this when I moved in, but I was too enchanted by my apartment to fully care. Now after a few years, I realize that if The Reserve had spent half as much time on the inside of the apartments as they do on the outside, this complex would be tops.
One last thing: you have to pay an ISTA bill each month, on top of your rent. This is for water and trash pickup, and can be anywhere from an extra $8-20 per month, it's mailed to you separately. You can write it in as part of your monthly rent check, which makes me wonder why management doesn't just include it as part of your rent.
Bottom line: I have, mostly, loved living here for the last two years -- I know the review makes it sound otherwise, but generally, this place has been great. My fiance and I are moving to an apartment that is a bit closer to work, cheaper and with more amenities, but we will miss living here very much.

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