Reader beware: This is a vindictive run, but applicable to those considering giving money to Woodwillow Townhomes and JLD Properties Inc.

I am a student who moved into Woodwillow three years ago, and who loved my stay there up until about the last six to eight months. I never had a problem with the neighbors, the management was courteous and polite, the maintenance man was a pleasure to have around, and I made several friends around the complex. It used to be a really cool and beautifully secluded place. That is until Woodwillow got a -----------, by the name of ---------------, who seems to feel that her job at Woodwillow is the only outlet of control and power she can really hold onto and acts accordingly...woe be unto those whom she perceives to challenge her.

What I mean by that I will illustrate with a few instances.

1. In one instance the first of the month came around on a weekend. With previous management, the deal was for the tenant to make sure the check gets to the office the following Monday. With no notice of change, under ---------, my roommate and I were fined for handing in rent during office hours that given Monday. --------- stated the first fell on the weekend, and accordingly the check should have been in the box when she entered the office first thing Monday morning. That I can dig. But the policy was not mentioned until after she asked for money.

2. More often than not, my experience with the current manager is that she is not in her office during office hours, which makes it hard to respect what I mention in the first point.

3. I have a 10 person barbecue outside my door in a drainage ravine in my final weeks. It ends early, and no music is played outside. No neighbors come by to ask anyone to quiet down, and it is a weekend. Things are over before 11. The next week I am called into the office and told I and my roommate have until the end of the month to vacate the premises. The grill was a fire hazard, I am told, which I accept. But this is the first time in three years that I or my roommate had been called in for a noise violation. No neighbor had come to anyone during the barbecue. Lots of petty things. During the course of a pointless argument, it became apparent that I was being essentially evicted because I had challenged --------- in what appears to be the only area of life she has much control over. (This being a woman who drives across the parking lot from her apartment to her office, and who is usually crying or steaming angry when you enter.) I pointed this out to her, that she was evicting someone (my roommate) because of a personal vendetta against me, and she claimed that was not the case. Immediately following her denial, she launches into a tirade of instances in which I had questioned her authority over the course of our time dealing with each other. Go figure.

4. Most of the trees in the complex were just cut down and it is very ugly where I used to live now. Dry grass and concrete.

5. JLD Properties, the owners of the apartments, is extremely secretive and difficult to get a hold of. I called an employee of theirs once to contest the rent fine, and the first question I am asked is "How did you get this number'"
Not, "How can I help you'" Or "How long have you been a tenant'" I should think a company whom I had paid thousands of dollars to over the years would at least give me the time of day. But no. They are inconsiderate and obviously solely profit-oriented.

7. The cool and respectful and competent maintenance guy was fired in favor of one who appears to be --------------------- with ---------.

6. A neighbor/friend of mine was threatened with eviction for allowing his brother, girlfriend and dog to stay at his place for a few days following one of the many destructive hurricanes over the last few years (don't remember which). They had no place to go as their home in Louisiana was damaged. They stayed with my neighbor briefly. When this was explained to ---------, she explained to my friend that she didn't care.


So if you like being treated like a human being, look somewhere else for lodging. Woodwillow isn't even cheap anymore. It used to be when I moved in. But you can find better places for better prices. I did, even though I didn't want to originally.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/21/2009
I have to say that while this review sounds petty and mean-spirited, it's wholly in line with my experiences with the -----------. I have not gotten into any fights with her, but I can also say that I've yet to have a positive interaction with her. She does seem to want to create an adversarial relationship with her tenants and throw around whatever authority she's been given. It's in sharp contrast to the old manager, who was very friendly and seemed to appreciate the people that were living in the complex. I used to say how much I loved living at Woodwillow, and recommended it to my friends, but since the ----------- came on, I'm considering moving when my lease is up. I can also echo that she's difficult to get a hold of, frequently opens the office late, leaves the office early, doesn't return calls, and is not easy to talk to about problems. Like I said, I've never gotten into any real conflicts with her, but this review confirms what I felt would happen if I did. The complex isn't the value it once was, and it certainly isn't the community it once was.
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/24/2009
Wow, I dont think this review is very fair at all, just because the manager, has to enforce rules, and such, I have never had a problem with her, in fact I think she is great, It sounds like this review is personal, like he said she was being to him. She has always been in the office when I went there, so I dont know what sinking ships problem is.
From: Anonymous	Date: 08/24/2009
Woodwillow Townhomes and Duplexes welcomes you! Right now we have one lovely townhome ready for move in. It has 976 sf, two bedrooms, one full bath, two half baths, private patio, fireplace and w/d connections. We have a pool and bbq area and are located in the SoCo area, very close to St. Ed's, downtown Austin, major thoroughfares and shopping. We do our best to keep our residents happy and the property nice. If you want a peaceful place to live in a convenient South Central area, you'll love it here. Dogs are permitted in the duplexes, but are not allowed in the Townhomes. We do our best to enforce the Austin Fire Code concerning use of private bbq grilles. The City of Austin cut down trees in the back of the property recently. Fortunately, we had planted crepe myrtle trees all along this area a couple years ago, that are quite lovely in the spring and fall when they are in bloom. We use the TAA Apartment Lease contract and have reasonable community Policies that we enforce equally among all our residents. We care about our resdients and try to serve them fairly and courteously in all matters. We usually stay full and don't expect this apartment will be available much longer. Call today at --------------------------, one of the best apartment managers you'll find in Austin! Woodwillow Management
From: Anonymous	Date: 09/14/2009
Sounds to me like you are complaining about an apartment manager doing her job (enforcing the lease-a LEGAL contract that YOU signed, but are apparently unwilling to live up to). Turning in rent late, using a grill, having parties, having people (let alone dogs) stay with you for an extended period of time without giving management notice: these are all things expressly prohibited in the lease. To complain about a manager just doing her job sounds like typical entitlement. You feel that someone owes you something, yet you are unwilling to hold up your end of the bargain.
From: Anonymous	Date: 10/31/2009
just a FYI, the anonymous poster on 9/14/2009 is the manager in question in this article :) So ignore her.

Your thoughts? Post a response to this review. Display my response: with my username anonymously Responses appear below reviews and one response per user is permitted.

   Free estimates on moving trucks      Find apartment share/roommates