Have been living here nearly a year and I love the place. The apartments are pricey, although my roommate and I got lucky on our rate. We're paying $1000 for a 2 bed/2 bath flat. The 1 bed townhouses with attached garage are going for $975 currently. The apartment is very nice, grounds are very nice, location is amazing (walking distance to grocery store, movies, restaurants, bookstores, banks). It's tucked away from traffic and noise as well.

Apartments are very nice, maintenance and groundskeepers are great. Parking is okay... could be a little more numerous. Office people are okay.

The first big gripe I have about this place is the internet. They are in contract with Grande Communications (which means you cannot get any other internet, cable/dsl or phone service), which control phone, internet and cable. Grande is the worst crock of ---- excuse for an ISP. The most expensive internet plan they have is $50/month for a whopping 1.5 Mb down / 768k up. Their representatives are clueless in regards to tech support. Grande blocks ports and sites, including Myspace, Gizmodo, Yahoo Mail, Versiontracker, and I'm sure a number of other sites (although these can be accessed via a proxy). I have to access my mail via the web based login instead of my client on my computer. Since they are the only game in town, they can (and do) jack up their prices for internet, cable and phone "service."

The other big gripe about this place is the ridiculously expensive electric bills. $185 a month in the off season (winter). I'm afraid what it will be like in the summer when we have to have the air on.

If you don't care about the internet too much and don't care about the not having a choice for cable tv or your phone service, then I'd choose this place. It truly is a great place - has well kept grounds, great apartments and floor plans, and generally overall good service. The location is great. If you can swing the higher than normal electric bills as well, then I would recommend this place.

I am on the fence about moving or staying, as I love the place. However, being a techie and having a sh1tty ISP really really is pushing me away from this place. I still have a few months to decide...

User Responses
From: krazyken04	Date: 05/20/2008
Yeah, dear god, the hassle I went through to get internet through someone else, and the idiots on the other line at Grande. And the port blocking?! Screw that, thats awful. I'm also in a 2 bed and 2 bath, and love everything but the internet. Grande's prices are horrible for the crap they hand you back. I wholeheartedly agree with everything said above. Good review.
From: Anonymous	Date: 12/20/2009
I lived here quite awhile only because I didn't feel like moving after the terrible experience of living at Bishop's Gate/Archstone but; c'mon, doesn't everyone know that the minute you sign your lease and pay your upfront fees, you only become a number to management, and that is everywhere! I have paid several utility bills that exceeded 300.00 in 2008 (2bd/2ba)and I was very conscious of where I kept the thermostat. Grande comm...well the previous reports are accurate. Plano, TX (according to FORBES magazine is the richest big city in the US..it has alot of convenience, alot of corporate headquarters, but if your young and single Archstone and Plano may not be the place for you. I now live in a PRIVATELY OWNED apartment building in an historic area (925/mo vs 1120 at Archstone)). The maintenance men will stop what they are doing, and carry your groceries up to your apartement (no tipping) as soon as they see you exit your car, the management knows your name. Once, I was a couple of days late with the rent ans when I went to pay the fees, the manager said "he (the owner) doesn't charge late fees." OMG!!! Now this my friends is apartment living!! Living in an old building cons: 2 prong electrical outlets...just go to Home Depot and buy the three-prong...believe me, it is worth it.

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