I recently posted a fairly good review for this property and its owner Machelle Ralls... she spent an afternoon crying to me and my boyfriend about "the evil lies" people on this site were spreading about her. We took her at her word and wanted to help her out... thus- the nice review... We have since learned "the true nature of the beast."

Ms Ralls agreed to pay us for contract labor beginning 6/15/09, and ending 6/25/09... Ms Ralls has yet to pay us a dime!!!! She has begun disputing minutes of the days that we worked under her direct supervision... we were required to supply "daily summary" emails to her for her review- she did not dispute ANY of them- it was only after I asked her to pay us what was owed that she began to dispute the hours.
she has as of today's date threatened eviction, threatened to take our only working A/C unit, threatened to have our locks re-keyed, and tells us we need to be out by 6/5/09 although we have accrued a balance of more than $800 for our efforts on her behalf and have a legally binding lease allowing us to stay until the end of the month in July.

I retract ALL my previous compliments of the landlord/owner Machelle Ralls. She has caused us severe emotional distress, and due to her threats- we are unable to leave the property for fear of theft or property assault.

I still think Park Avenue Place itself is a fairly nice property- I would, however, NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER recommend this place (under its current ownership)to any friend or family member!! STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY! STAY AWAY!

Good Luck to all who have gotten out alive!!

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/03/2009
Beau, you've been here for at most a couple of months ("2009 - 2009") and you're writing a review already? And put your name on the line to boot? That's fishy. You say you're not bribed, but are you working for her in some capacity, say, as a manager? I know for a fact that a couple of the positive reviews that Machelle did not write herself are written by her on-site manager or assistant? Are you such a person? Why else would you call on people to contact you to discuss their complaints?
From: missy1957	Date: 07/06/2009
These are the facts: 1. The tenant did not disclose that he would have another person, living with him in a one room studio. Only after complaints from residents did I found out his "significant other" was living with him, This was a sublease for the wonderful resident in 110, whom had lived there for 2 years. I made a huge mistake by allowing them to stay in the unit, as they were perhaps going to move to an outside unit a 2/1 in August. I did not bribe, nor ask to have anyone post anything on my behalf. All of my responses have my log in. So as far as being an actress, I would have to say that this resident was a good actor, and not truthful at all. 2. The hours they are claiming are owed and that they have been refused payment is incorrect. They were offered a refund for July from the tenant in 110 and payment from me for the contract labor if they would take the time to document and explain the hours they were claiming. We offered to meet them and pay them on Sunday. They declined and instead used this website to post their issues to the public, Fact: they are both unemployed and on Unemployment. While most if not all the other residents are working on their grad, law, engineering degrees, these two are not in school and never attended college. Fact: The hours they worked were to be in Rent/ Work in Kind for a deposit and rent for the 2/1 outside for August move in. The tenant said he had financial issues and an emergency and had to use the money for July rent, as he had car problems. Fact; I asked them to sign a lease for the 2/1 and put up a deposit to make sure they had a unit to live in or I would have to get it leased. They were unable to do that. Fact; The tenant from 110 and the attorneys are handling this at this point. Also,. there are countless that are very happy at the property and understand that for what they are paying that the services provided are acceptable. There were many renewals and I have been told that several people that recently signed leases did see these terribly hurtful postings but made up their own minds. Often times as managers owners we have to enforce the rules, that is part of the job. again, I am not sure who wrote the last posting on 07/03 but rest assured I did not post anything that was not signed with my log in. If there is anyone that wishes to move or get out of their lease they certainly have the legal right to do so under the TAA guidelines.
From: baddog1303	Date: 07/06/2009
Dearest Machelle, FIRST- Both our names are on the lease- we have proof and so do you. SECOND- We both went to college. DO NOT lie about us. We kept your personal life out of this- do yourself and your family the favor of keeping this professional. Would you really like me to talk about the contract work you wanted from Louis regarding your son? THIRD- Our lease was with YOU directly- not any other tenant. Get your facts together and quit avoiding the real issue. You still owe us for services rendered- you were provided DETAILED daily summaries each day of work we are asking to be paid for, and you approved each of them. You had NO issue with the balance or the hours until it came time for payment... again- we have proof. FOURTH- You threatened, in writing, to take 3 illegal actions against us when we asked for payment... I have that email- and am working with the Austin Tenants Council regarding those threats. FIFTH- I would NEVER sign a year lease with you. The 2 month trial period, in the efficiency, was exactly that... and you failed miserably! You tried to take advantage of us by moving us 3 times in 2 months... by asking us to cover utilities in 2 units, paying the deposits for both, and, while working my "significant other" 9 hours a day, you STILL had the nerve to ask us to get loans from our parents to cover the deposit. You have no legal or moral ground to stand on here. You know you owe, you know you took advantage of our goodwill... but most importantly- I KNOW we will get what is owed us because we know we did NOTHING wrong.
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/06/2009
Beau, I am sorry that you had to go through what a lot of us had to. Perhaps now you see why some of us find that this is the only forum where we can get back in some form. Just like you opined, the apartment itself and the facilities are fine, but it was unlivable because of Machelle. I left more than a year ago, and I saw so many people getting utterly screwed over, and i joined the club just before i left (with regards to the deposit). In fact i moved all my important documents and laptop to a friends place coz i was so scared i would be locked out of my own room. I'm not really affected by what she did anymore, I just want to warn those people who are moving in. I don't even bother reading what she writes anymore, I know its probably laced with utter lies of all sorts. I'm not even sure she knows the difference between the reality and lies anymore. Hope everything works out for you man. Dont worry about a lot of her threats, look up your rights carefully.
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/08/2009
Wow! This has probably become the most interesting post on this entire forum. It's just loaded with the real-life, right in front of you kind of proof that people need to see of what Machelle is like. We even have Machelle admitting to be Machelle. It's fantastic! I hope everyone considering this place is reading. I'll add my regards for you Beau--sorry you're dealing with this. I am too. Wonder if uniting our causes would be of any help legally? I could write a short novel about this probably.

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