Let me first say that I have lived here for quite a few years (4 plus), unlike some of the reviewers that have lived here for a year or so. Since I lived here, I've gone through two owners (Dalcor and now Westdale), quite a few apt managers, and several maintenance crews. Old Dalcor staff and maintenance crew were good hearted people [the same for the current maintenance crew..very hard working and polite]. They just did not get the backing from Dalcor and had to take all the abuse from the tentants which is normal because who else were we going to yell at, certainly not Dalcor as they would take calls from tenants. Keep in mind, these old Dalcor staff lived on the property and they also had to overcome housing issues. Am I defending them...no, as they can probably speak for themselves, but I did live by some of them and witnessed the same problems we all had at one time or another. As for the new Westdale staff, I don't believe they live on the premises as they always drive in and drive out from work. If they indeed don't live here, then they don't know what we go through on a daily basis.

Some of you will tell yourselves, "why does this person live here if he/she can't recommend this place". Simple, it's close to work, easy shopping access (i.e, grocery store), and I've been a lucky resident who hasn't experienced the heartache that some residents have dealt with. I've seen the problems first hand, heard the complaints (very legitimate complaints) and heard what really went on behind the scenes from previous employees of this property and what they tell me of the new owner...Westdale Asset Management. Here are my thoughts so take them however you want to take them.

As previously mentioned, I lived here for quite awhile, while Dalcor ran the place. Though I never really had any major problems to my apartment, Dalcor really did not put any money into this complex. Dalcor also ran Greystone Apts and Indian Creek apts. Biggest problem with all three complexes was the water usage. Pipes were always rupturing and all Dalcor would do is patch work. You were lucky if you got hot water on days you needed hot water. The water problem was so bad at all three complexes, even when the new owner took over, that they would shut the water off during the day. I, fortunately, worked most of the day so I wasn't unlucky as to those residents at home during the day. I sometimes went through weekends without showering because the water was shutoff. Indian Creek made the local news because they were out of hot water for about two months. It got so bad that Dalcor was fined daily by the city if the repairs were not done. Of course, they did some patch work because their intention was to sell off the property. So in comes the new management, Westdale Asset Management. Given the name, seems like a firm that buys properties, fixes them to standard, and sells them off...get it, "asset mgmt". Sure enough, I talked to previous employees and other managers from other complexes and they told me the exact thing I was thinking. Anyways, Westdale came in here giving us all hopes of making this and the other two properties (yep, they also bought Greystone and Indian Creek), very liveable. Word was that they were coming in to spend millions on these properties. First thought was, oh oh, high rent. So far at the Pointe, they added new roofing, new building siding, re-did the pool deck, new patio rails, and some miscellaneous items. Westdale can't figure out what to paint the complex as some buildings and doors are painted as experiments, while the majority of the complex is left painted in white primer. Oh, the water problem has been fixed [we hope] as they added some new pipes. I give the new owners a pat on the back for the water resolution as I rather be clean than care what color paint they use on the building.[Note: Per one of the reviews titled "Some good,some bad", I lived here during the water problem and I never got a discount on my rent. Seems like old and current mgmt screwed me on that one.]

Ah, it all sounds good, but there's a catch. Mgmt will only add/fix the interior of the apts that are vacant (i.e., new carpet, new cabinets, new paint, new floor tiling, new applicances, etc.). Current residents cannot get any of these items unless they pay for it, as it is added to the rent as an "upgrade". Your apt will be upgraded with new features as you vacant at the end of your lease. New residents will have the option of getting an upgraded apt or a standard one with the same fixtures and appliances the previous tentant had before moving out. Difference...$$$. Here's an example on how the new mgmt takes care of their current tentants. I talked to one of the current tentants and he told me that his fridge had some problems and he wanted checked out. No one came to check it out till the fridge finally went out. He called the office and explained the situation and they told him they get to it when they can. He explained that it was not running any power and his food was spoiling. Mgmt finally sent some staff but they weren't the regular maintenance staff. The crew confirmed the fridge was dead so the apt needed a new one. They told the tenant they would be back. The tenant went to the laundry room and saw that crew taking a fridge from an apt that was just vacated. This fridge was not going to be a new one but a used one. The tentant went back to his apt and did some shores around his place. He was concerned that it was taking so long. He looked outside his apt and realized that the crew left the new (or should I say used) fridge outside his door. Knowing that his food was spoiling, he took upon himself to install the fridge himself. Oh yeah, it was used because it still had remenances of the previous owners inside the fridge. The crew never bothered to show up to install the fridge. Again, this was not the normal maintenance staff.

Many people working around here as you don't know who is coming and going. Ladies, a tid bit. The current hired hands to work on this site and at the other complexes will gawk at you and make you feel very uncomfortable. Most hired hands live on site. Most female tenants I know won't go outside their apts to check their mail, throw their trash, do their laundry or just go to their cars until work has completed for the day and hired hands are gone for the day. For those hired hands that live onsite, the tenants will avoid their area they live at because most hang outside. The female tenants I know understand that they are here to do the work they were hired to do, but they don't need 10 males staring or gawking at them.

The new mgmt also has the nerve to start charging residents for trash and for pest control, yep, pest control. We also get a water bill that never stays the same rate. Of all the water problems we had here and at the other properties, they want us to pay for water, plus Westdale wants to put an irigation system. In my opinion, the new owners are using these new charges as hidden and/or added costs to pay for their new developments/modifications. Per some of the other reviews on this property, I would not doubt that they will in the future, charge for keeping a mailbox and/or keeping pool maintenace. Folks, understand, this new owner is an "Asset Management" firm that knows what they are doing...make the money and move on, no matter how affects their fellow man. This is how tricky mgmt can be. To inform us of the added $5 a month for trash, they posted some flyers around the mail area and some on the front office windows. Being that my lease contract is a legal binding document and they are wanting to add to my lease agreement, I would think they put some kind of letter on my door addressing the issue. Nope, it seems they can't be that professional. They prefer to put a few pretty colored flyers up rather than professionally address it with each tenant. Oh, the other complexes don't get charged for trash. How do I know' I have friends living at Indian Creek and Greystone. For that reviewer ["Come on"] $5 may not be much to some, but to others it is. For me, it's the matter of what I signed on my agreement and what mgmt is trying to add during the agreement. If we allow them to do it, who knows what else will be added. If these charges were on the agreement I signed to begin with, I wouldn't be having an issue.

All in all, would I recommend this place to others' Hmmm, I'd be too embarrassed if I did because I wouldn't want that awful feeling of putting that person through what some current tentants are putting of with at this time. If you do move in, make sure you read your lease and ASK, ASK, and ASK questions before signing. At this time, very angry people living in this complex with these added charges. What I heard and seen, many are getting these threatening notices from mgmt staff if they don't pay these fees. On their pretty flyer, it states that if you don't pay the required $5, you'll risk the added late fees. Read the reviews for the other complexes they own and you'll see the same responses. Be careful and use your judgement!

All in all, I can say I've been lucky. Though I love living in this area, only one thing will make me move when my lease is up...mgmt and the future of this place. Have I started looking for another place' Yes, but will see what happens. Given the makeover Westdale is attempting to do, I forsee the rent going up for current lease renewals and new leases, and that, for sure, will be my exit from this place. Maybe that's Westdale's intention. Get rid of the rift raft. Well, this rift raft is well educated (gradute degree) and is holding a great job. The other rift raft tenants I know are also well educated, hard working, or students looking to better themselves. If Westdale mgmt looks at us as this rift raft, then you know where the problem lies. Good Luck to you new tenants!

User Responses
From: detaildzO34	Date: 11/16/2005
were you high, or on speed when you wrote this very lengthy review????

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