Reading all of the vehemently negative reviews has caused me to scratch my head... not because I doubt the sincerity of the reviews, but because they are so very different from my experience. First, let me assure you I do not now, nor have I ever, worked for the company, and am in no way affiliated with management. I was, however, among the very first to move to this complex in 1995, and no one else has ever lived in my apartment.

In 12 years, I have had no more than 4 or 5 maintenance issues (leaky faucet, clogged toilet, etc.), and in each instance, someone was out to repair the problem the same day it was reported, before I returned home from work at 5:00.

As for noise, I hardly ever hear my neighbors. Yes about 5 years ago, a young man lived next door who partied constantly and played loud music. There must have been numerous complaints because he was either forced out or left voluntarily. In 12 years, I've had 2 or 3 noisy neighbors but their disruptions were short-lived. My building today is remarkably quiet.

I note that my neighbor across-the-hall has lived in her unit almost as long as I've lived in mine. She moved in around 1997. It would seem we both are pleased with the living arrangements.

The office staff has changed innumerable times since 1995, and while some personnel are more friendly than others, never has anyone been even remotely rude to me. Unless they are busy with prospective tenants, they greet me warmly when I come to pick up a package, for example.

I've even had unexpected courtesies extended to me. For example two years ago, I had an emergency hospital stay for 4-1/2 days and when I returned, a notice to vacate had been left in my apartment since I had been delinquent in paying the rent (being flat on my back and unable to). So I went to the office to explain matters when -- surprise -- they instructed me to ignore the vacate notice and said I could even pay that month's rent "whenever you can" -- without incurring a late fee. You see, entirely unbeknownst to me, my secretary had called to inform them of my hospital stay after they had already posted the late notice. So instead of going strictly by-the-book, they trusted I would honor my lease. I paid on the spot (non-certified check, and no penalty fee), and was very moved by their consideration.

In general, my rent has been fairly uniform, never spiking unexpectedly from one year to the next, and many years not increasing at all when I went in to sign a 12-month lease. Parking has not been a problem. My covered space has only been infringed upon maybe 3 times in over a decade. I politely let a new neighbor know he was parking in my space about 6 years ago, and he ceased doing so.

Of course not everything is perfect. I dislike having to pick up mail from the small postal center on the property -- not nearly enough parking spaces. Hence, cars frequently park in the middle of the road as drivers run up to their boxes and retrieve their mail. Also, from time to time, skateboarding youth make driving through the complex hazardous as you pray you don't send some skater airborne from the hood of your car.

Moreover, as much as I would hate to see them, perhaps the complex needs speed bumps. Not having speed barriers was one thing that attracted me in the first place, but the way many residents (or their guests) drive -- not obeying the 15 mph speed limit and giving me dirty looks when I do -- they need to be reminded that small children and elderly individuals live here. I'm surprised there haven't been vehicular casualties.

Further, the trash pick-up arrangements while certainly adequate are unsatisfactory. Thus, you must deposit your trash each morning in front of your building between 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. ONLY -- Monday through Friday. Employees then collect the garbage and take it to the central waste receptacle. Woe unto you if your garbage is not set out by 9:00 a.m.

If instead you decide to take your own refuse to the central garbage center, likely as not the dumpster is literally overflowing with trash and stench. And despite warning signs, intransigent residents still leave discarded couches and old TVs in front of the dumpster.

Finally, a complimentary word must be said on the beautiful landscaping. Crews apparently work very hard in assuring lush green growth, well-trimmed shrubbery, and a gorgeous palette of flowers. A well-landscaped property inspires confidence.

Let me reiterate, first, that I do not discount the other overwhelmingly negative reviews, and second, that I am in no way affiliated with management. This is a very large complex, and perhaps one's experience at Oak Forest depends on one's location within the community. I am very satisfied but I also pay my rent on time, respect the employees, am courteous to them and they to me, and am blessed with considerate neighbors. With what appears to be full occupancy in my vicinity, I have to believe there are other satisfied residents here, though one would never know it from reading these reviews.

I'm fortunate to have been spared the inconveniences of others, and gratefully give credit to all who make living here pleasant. In sum, Oak Forest has been all that I expected and more.

(I respect the opinions of other reviewers and appreciate that they will reciprocate).

User Responses
From: char1972	Date: 12/22/2007
thank you for your opinion on the community at first i was afraid because i put in application to live here but this review has put my mind to rest, your home is always what you make of it .
From: Anonymous	Date: 12/31/2007
That person that made the review probably is on the staff......they are the only people that would lie like that........go around and talk to some current residents who live there now, I promise they will have nothing good to say!
From: thefoxbox	Date: 02/21/2009
I doubt any staff member would take that much time to write a review. If they were to actually bother responding to these, they would probably want to take a look at this one first: http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/TX-Lewisville-Oak-Forest-Apartments-725453.html Seems quite genuine to me. Regardless, after reading that review, I was horrified, and will not be getting anywhere near this complex. It is now in my banned list.
From: Anonymous	Date: 12/21/2009
you are full of crap. Are you getting paid to write this crap... They suck and you know it.
From: Anonymous	Date: 12/21/2009
I wrote the "Satisfied" review, above, in October of 2007. It just so happens I moved out of Oak Forest last week (Dec. 18, 2009) because of dissatisfaction with a few issues that are no longer relevant. How easy for the last anonymous responder (above) to cast aspersions on my review without having the decency to detail his or her complaints in an eloquent manner. But then judging from the crass and scurrilous comment, "eloquent" is not a word that has ever been associated with that individual. How reckless and petty to level unfounded charges without a shred of evidence, simply because one is disgruntled and cannot possibly believe anyone has a contrary view. But even in my "positive" review of 2 years ago, I had complaints, which only grew worse in the intervening period; hence, I left. Nevertheless, regardless of my protestations that I have never been paid for my honest views, some narrow-minded souls will never accept that fact, so why even bother?

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