I lived @ Salado for approximately 6 years. I could've moved out much sooner but I was saving money for a home and the apartments are located near my place of employment. I was made aware of the complex sitting atop a landfill at move-in. I didn't like the idea but was new to Austin and wanted a place near my job.
The frequent and inconvenient water shut-offs were major annoyances. The frequently reported car break-ins were unsettling. The fact that there were no entry/exit gates @ the complex made me feel unsafe and insecure. However, each unit has a home security system; residents must pay for monitoring services. The bedroom in my unit began to leak when it rained and although it was "repaired" the water would still collect at the breach point and appeared to be spreading as there were brown watermarks in some areas of the bedroom ceiling (which presents a mold hazard). While there I observed that the stairwells needed to be reinforced for safety as well as the plank-like boards that run alongside some of the front windows and connect the units (i.e. act as an overpass) to the pavement. The stairwells did not seem to be well tended to. Noise travels through the not-well-insulated walls and I heard stuff that I'd rather not hear while I was a resident. As other raters have noted, you are likely to hear booming radios and arguing at any time in a given day. Of course, mgmt has no control over external sources of noise.

While there I had an ant infestation and locusts/wasps took over my rear balcony. There also seemed to be an electrical outage issue in my unit as the stove's overhead light and the overhead kitchen light frequently went out for no apparent reason. I visited the laundry room once and, suffice it to say, am glad that I had my own washer/dryer units. I would occasionally smell marijuana emanating from a unit below mine. In another unit in my building, the roommates actually got into a loud verbal and physical fight, that escalated to the parking lot, which led to police intervention. On one occasion, I looked out of my window to see the APD on the grounds searching for someone and/or something with flashlights. Count on the police visiting the premises at least once every 1-3 months. There was a murder-suicide on the premises while I was a resident.

Each time my lease was up for renewal I was given incentives to stay based upon my track record (rent/water payment NEVER EVER a day late). After the new mgmt came on board, they got my unit # confused with another unit # (numbers transposed) and I got some late notices that I should not have received. In another incident, the new mgmt sent me a notice (before my water bill was due) reminding me, a resident of over 6 years, not to forget to pay my water bill. Something I had never done (forgotten to pay my water bill, that is)!!! Trust me, they heard from me on that but it still happened again. I found that an indication of their lack of organization. I'll also add that it took me more than a few months to get a fair portion of my deposit back.

The units at Salado are OK but the environment at the complex is not conducive to peace and quiet. Apt. dwellers can find serene surroundings, better amenities and safer living conditions (at reasonable prices) elsewhere in the area. Overall, I'm glad that I've moved upward and onward.

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