On the plus side, it?s small, fairly quiet, and close to UT and I-35. Rent is pretty decent ($425-495, you can bargain a bit). There?s a convenience store and a laundromat across the street, and pretty good restaurants close by.


I have to say, however, that the bad outweighs the good. Looking over the full version, I see that I rant a bit..to sum up, the complex is ill-maintained inside and out, on the unsafe side, management sucks, and you?ll never have a good shower. Don?t live here unless you absolutely have to!


The long bitter version:

If you live on the second or third floors, it can be hard to get your furniture up. The elevator is smallish, and walkways are narrow. In addition, the elevator is old and fragile, and I have been stuck in it on occasion.




The complex is pretty old--it looks like it may have been a motel or something in the 60s, and up until recently was incredibly shoddy-looking. However, fate intervened with a rather comical fire and after some pro-condemnation remarks by the fire marshal, the building is now being renovated. However, do not be fooled by the appearance of outside ?improvements?!


Parking can be problematic during the school year, especially on the weekends.


I must admit that my stove, though old and decrepit-looking, does work. Harder to deal with are the warped countertops in the kitchen and bathroom. It makes it a bit harder to work or even put things _on_ them in places. Whatever finish they put on the countertops peels off with normal washing as well, so you can see what color the previous tenant had..


Even if you?re not the sort to be put off by cosmetic problems, the water here is a nightmare. The pressure and temperature change often and without warning, veering from freezing to scalding to hardly running with alarming frequency. There also seems to be a problem with rust, as many tenants have rusty-looking water dripping from the AC or building up in the toilet.


The absolute biggest problem here, though, is an alarming crime rate coupled with an indifferent landlord. Everyone here has a story about either being robbed or catching someone in the process of stealing.

While it is true the complex is technically in the so-called ?bad? east side of Austin, it?s barely past the freeway and hardly qualifies as the hood. Since I?ve been here, cars have been broken into--mine was stolen, and I caught some people trying to break into my neighbor?s last night, apartments have been broken into with the tenants in them, etc.


The landlord reacts to all reports with the same indifference. He blamed me for the theft of my (locked) car, telling me it was of the easy-to-steal variety (!!), and has blamed others for thefts they?re not at fault for.


I would say managerial indifference is the main problem with these apartments. The manager is never in the office no matter when you go. The buildings aren?t really looked after or maintained particularly well, and I honestly don?t think the current renovations would be happening if there was no threat of the building being condemned.


It?s not the worst complex ever, but be careful if you decide to rent here. Maybe invest in a club and renter?s insurance. BTW, the guy who owns this place also owns Archway as well, so stay away from there too if you can help it.

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