Every apartment complex has it's issues. The more you pay, the less you expect to deal with issues, right' Wrong! We've been here for roughly two years. Let me tell you the good, the bad and the ugly and provide some constructive criticism.

Good - nice community layout, abundant amenities, and covered parking/garages. Plenty of hallway storage closets available. Nice floor plans.

Bad - anyone can walk onto the property and use the amenities without being challenged. I have seen families and teens from other neighborhoods walk into our pool area and simply set up shop. Or they sit outside the gates waiting to drive in. This makes it difficult and unpleasant for residents when the pool area is crowded, our exercise and business office areas are trashed and kids use the hot tub at night. Sometimes there are pickup games in our indoor basketball court for hours and I don't recognize any one of the players as residents.

Bad - clean out the darn breezeways. They need to be power washed.

Bad - be aware that some of the buildings are on a direct approach path for the airport. Don't live here if you don't like HUGE, LOUD UPS jets flying in at 2 a.m. right over your building. I visited here twice before moving and never saw or heard a jet, and the staff didn't mention it before I signed the lease. Some days see 30-50 jets landing. To be fair, it's not all that bad unless you are extremely noise sensitive. Be sure to visit your apartment before signing and listen with windows closed and open.

Good - we have a new manager here who seems to be cleaning things up. And at least one of the new staff girls is extremely nice.

Bad - I've run into at least two office workers who need training in how to deliver pleasant customer service.

Bad - make absolutely SURE anything they promise you is in writing. We've had at least one broken promise cost us dearly and it wasn't due to a misunderstanding.

How can this place improve' First, start actively controlling who comes onto the property and uses the amenities. For the amount of money we're paying, I would expect the office to actively montior pool and amenity center usage - especially in the evenings. We are NOT a community charity. Second, get an off duty police officer to actively patrol at night for an hour (not just lock things up - where's his resident list so he can verfiy who is supposed to be here and who isn't'). Unauthorized users need to be kicked out of the amenities center and pool area and/or cited for trespassing. You have NO IDEA how much this upsets people who live here. Finally, post signs right on the front gate of the pool, the basketball court, the workout center and the business office that it's for residents only and enforce it. I can see allowing 1-2 guests per resident in the pool area, but c'mon - enforce it! This past weekend one resident had a ton of guests in the pool area who drank, smoked and tossed their puppy in the air over the pool. I'm not exagerrating. I'm 95% sure one of the office girls saw the puppy in the pool area earlier in the day and did nothing about it.

Bottom line - the Villas of Vista Del Norte could EASILY be a stellar place to live, but it's not - not at this cost. There are better places to live at less cost. If the use of the amenities by outsiders is actively controlled, things will improve dramatically.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 06/21/2009
That was definitely some good criticism that you wrote well. Hopefully management will read it do something about the situation.
From: Anonymous	Date: 06/25/2009
y're right, for the money this place sucks!!!!!! You forgot something, a chain of recent brake inns so beware of this place
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/30/2009
if you hated it some much why didn't or why haven't u moved! stop complaining!

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