I moved in back in 2005, and considering my budget and the other places I had visited, I was reasonably pleased with what I got. I was getting more space and better kept grounds than the other options I was looking at.

My experience with the office staff has been generally pleasant so far. The staff even made good on a pre-sale misrepresentation on the part of a new employee.

I have never had difficulty finding a parking spot. However, parking isn't quite secure. My car window was busted and my cheap Wal-Mart CD player ripped out of the dash (I paid $200 to replace a window so someone could pawn off a 3-year-old stereo that cost $80 brand new) But I consider myself lucky. A guy around the corner had his entire car stolen. Thankfully the police found it after a few days, but it still speaks volumes about the security of this place.

We have Smith security driving around at night, but it doesn't seem to help much. At least half (though quite possibly more) the times I go out walking my dog after 7 pm, the security officer is parked by the tennis courts, just sitting there. Maybe he's doing what he's supposed to do... Can't imagine what, though.

On the subject of security, early on in my lease, I got a letter from the office warning all the residents of a recent increase of burglary incidents. Thankfully, I'm here almost 24/7, so if the thieves had enough intelligence to check for tenants first, I've managed to avoid some problems so far. But it only goes to support such claims on other posts here.

Despite all the security issues, the "security" gates are rarely in working condition. And anyone who wants to come in just goes in the "out" side if the "in" side is closed (and sometimes even if it isn't). I have, on three different occasions, had near head-on collisions with people trying to come in. And of course, *I* have to back up and get out of *their* way if I want them to stop honking and screaming.

On a positive note, as I stated earlier, the landscaping is good and well kept. That was one of the things that turned me on to the place. During growth seasons, they're out every Thursday, mowing and trimming. They work hard at that.

Generally speaking, getting to the complex is easy enough, but the bottleneck traffic on NW 19th thanks to the destruction (err, I mean construction) can sometimes make it hard to get in or out of the complex once you get to it. Nothing against the complex itself, but you have to take these kinds of things into perspective. I guess they'll be done with the construction soon enough, but it's a nightmare for now, and they've been working on it for a long time.

As for sound and so forth, I haven't had any issues. On occasion, I can hear the lower end of bass from my neighbor's stereo, but only enough to intrigue me. It's not enough to disturb me or interfere with my phone calls; just enough for me to play a game trying to figure out what song is playing by the bass line.

Next, a pretty big issue I have with the complex (though it's to be expected from units this old), is that they're anything but energy efficient. I spend $200 to $250 per month for an apartment that is less than 700 square feet. In the spring and fall, it's a little better because I can open up the windows, but it doesn't help that there are only two (if you count the patio/screen door as one). I have to crank up floor fans and so forth just to get air flow.

Common apartment issues...

Bugs: no problem. I had a mini-infestation (found about ten per day) of ants for a week, but I couldn't find where they were coming from or where they were going. Either way, the exterminator took care of that with one shot.

Maintenance: so-so. Once the maintenance guys get an issue, they're there quick and get it fixed quicker. But I've had to call the office multiple times before to get an issue sent to them. Mind you, I'm not talking like weeks of delay resulting, but days. That's the only complaint I have about the office.

Cleanliness: When I moved in, the apartment was clean, aside from a couple minor stains on the carpet. Nothing to fret about. Outside, it's not too bad. Occasionally, there's a broken beer bottle or something like that. It will sit there for two or three days before it gets cleaned up. Beyond that, general litter isn't bad at all, especially considering that the length of the complex borders an interstate highway.

Overall, I would recommend this place if it fits in your budget and you don't have a family to keep protected. That said, I would also recommend renter's insurance if you have valuables, and full coverage on any vehicles you might have.

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