Firstly, I have to say, beware of any review that sounds like most of the good or better ones written for Arbor Lakes in Middleton, WI. They have all of the trademarks of "padding" written by the owners or someone compensated by the owners, or at least is not a legitimate writer of an even-handed review. It never ceases to amaze me how stupid owners must think potential renters are to write such self-appeasing and apologetic drivel just to artificially raise the bar on their substandard or outright poor properties.
Ok, rant over regarding the other reviews on this place. On to the actual and factual about Arbor Lakes. Let it be known that I've been here for two years. The first year out of ignorance; it looked a lot better in the proverbial brochure, and boy does the management take steps to hide this place's warts. The second year was mostly due to my laziness in wanting to find a better place because it hadn't gotten much worse... did it EVER get worse at that point.
Gradually, the alleged "new management" (same owners, who rotate staff like burger joints rotate fry cooks) must have really changed priorities from the image of this place being safe and peaceful, or maybe they never did care about that beyond the local police reports, which, by the way, are public record. Check them out for the amount of calls here.
I'll break down the remainder of this review to bullet points so I don't tear out my own fingernails in effigy.
- Smoke. Smoke. Wow, more smoke. I swear, even before Middleton's smoking ban, which does prohibit smoking in virtually every public/commons area at this property other than the parking lot, the management and owners haven't ever respected nor attempted to keep smokers renting in separate buildings than non-smokers (that's just an idea-- legally, they are supposed to prohibit smoking in public/commons areas and adjacent living areas) or something to keep the peace. Their "lovely nature views" won't be enjoyed by anyone whose lungs aren't black with tar. I asked the management to figure out something, and all they did was change the office staff when I held them accountable to the law. Besides, screw the law. It just plain reeks, and ashes and cigarette trash are all over, let alone the increased fire risk.
- Speaking of fire risk, my insurance will no longer cover me here. It's mainly why I decided to move, along with the conduct of many residents and the stinking smoke factor, and management unwilling to take action on either. I was told that this building has so much lead in the walls along with other contaminants that it should be condemned and would probably burn blue if (when') it goes up like a torch and burns the residents to death due to all the grills on porches (they prohibited that recently, but don't enforce it at all) and people shooting off fireworks in the nearby dry grass or falling asleep in a lawn chair in the living room with a cigarette literally burning into the carpet-- yes, I walked by that lovely picture portrayed in the wide-open porch area of my neighbor, lying dazed and infused at about 04:30, when I had gotten home from third shift.
- The aforementioned neighbors who seem not to care about their own conduct, and how it affects others, and the management that allows them to live here. Since I moved here two years ago, the people renting here have gotten worse and worse in personal etiquette and conduct. They let their dogs run lose (illegal and dangerous), and yell at them or their kids in the worse street slang you've heard... very lovely to have THAT booming out of nowhere in random intervals a few dozen times a day. Speaking of their kids, they allow them to do just about anything and go anywhere, including two of them I caught trying to break into my basement storage unit. No, the management didn't do anything about it when I told them.
- These buildings aren't security locked, and everyone cuts through the halls to go to the basketball courts or pool, and bounces balls, yells, and slams doors from about 9am to 10pm any given day. I am not exaggerating. They have also dumped ash trays and garbage in the halls on their long trek from their own apartments, through our building's hallway, to the courtyard-- a 2-minute walk they'll do right past your door any day, not caring how they affect others.
- THUMPA, THUMPA, THUMPA. Don't you love to hear bass of someone's cruddy car or home stereo pulsing through your fillings' Starting at about 6 in the morning, all the way up to about 4 in the morning, it's likely you'll be treated to the buzzing lovely stylings of uncaring motorists and music enthusiasts thumping through your wall, or directly in your window, even if you have it open and defy the constant stink of cigarettes.
- The toilets flush with all of the gusto of a tree frog with the hiccups. Have fun watching the same thing swirl around and around and never go down. No, the management didn't do anything about this other than "fix" it twice. Fix it again, Tony.
- Speaking of toilets, any time someone flushes a toilet, uses their sink or shower, starts a dishwasher, or utters the word "shower," (made up that last one), you'll either be scalded from temporary lack of cold water, or treated to a refreshing blast of arctic permafrost when the hot water is used by the other apartments who shower at similar times.
- Generally, I can't stand it when people adopt dogs while renting... they don't belong in such commons setups. But, that's just my opinion. The fact of this point is that people have dogs here, and they'll put them in any apartment instead of around other dog owners. The result: every building has, or will have, one or more undisciplined or uncared-for dog barking and slamming into the windows to snarl at you when you walk past. They howl and bark since their owners left for a six-hour bar run. Plus, the added treat of dogs let loose in commons and courtyard areas, where they relieve themselves everywhere (of course, no clean-up from indifferent owner) and knock over or bite kids that play here. Again-- I have witnessed and reported this.
So, potential Arbor Lakes resident, beware of all of the above. It's all fact, and I have documentation for it all. Before the management writes a counter-review to this actual one, know that I tried all of the normal things one does to remedy most of the above, and I'm tired of talking to "managers" that can barely conjugate a verb let alone a renter's complaint, and more tired of calling the police about stuff that management should be weeding out by policy. Even the police told me, during a time when I called about an unattended grill fire sitting next to a motorcycle stored on a back porch, that "this place needs a wrecking ball, an architect, and then new owners." I agree.
A final note: I found out that one of my neighbors is on parole for violence and drug offenses. Thanks for the heads-up about that tidbit, managers... oh yeah, you didn't do that either. And guess what' He chain smokes, lets his dogs off the leash, yells at his kid and dog constantly, and I've seen him smack his kid (and got it on video too) who often is locked outside whilst daddy smokes a fatty with female friend 1-5 (pick one).
Am I too sensitive' Are you thinking "get a life'" Try living here with everything I wrote happening every day, mostly more than once a day, and knowing that battling a lease isn't worth it. So, instead, I pass on my insights of two years to you. I'm not complaining anymore. This is purely documentary so you don't have to go through it, or at least get an opt-out clause in your lease if this kind of stuff happens to you.
Be warned. Maybe the owners will finally decide to stop putting talcum powder on their egos and monitor the behavior and safety of tenants a lot more, and put some dang locks on the doors (not because of a law-- because it's safe and keeps the peace). Or maybe they'll continue to offer $200 off for referrals and keep renting to lower and lower standards of people.

User Responses
From: Anonymous	Date: 05/19/2009
Couldn't have said it better myself (I too have lived here for two years for exact same reasons.)
From: toddcasteel	Date: 05/19/2009
why do people stay if they think it's so bad. This is what i think is funny. Lets blame all the problems on everyone else and how much do you wanna bet they never brought any of these concerns to the managers. If i have an issue i bring it up and it gets resolved right away and i'm not compensated in any form. The whole thing about the water is funny. IT'S CALLED AN APARTMENT BUILDING DUMB ASS NOT YOUR OWN PRIVATE HOUSE!!!!!! I swear people get joy in life by knocking people down for some sick twisted thrill. You would think that if these people really hated this so much they wouldn't have lived here past their first lease let alone renew it. They would've jumped ship long ago. But no...lets stay for a few years then ----- to high heaven that they hate the place. Must really hate it to resign a lease. People need to grow up and deal with life and not blame everyone else for their misery. For everyone who is an idiot like this ---- OFF
From: Anonymous	Date: 07/10/2009
Ilived there for four years before moving last month and she hit the nail right on the head.As for Toddcastle can you say hypocrite.(it cost alot to rent trucks and move and deposit because these guys will make you wait at least 90 days so noew you havee two deposits i can always tell a stupid twenty yr old who just watches the real life As he slams a person for slamming a bad complex if you read the responses there is a 4 to 1 ratio in favor of this place being a DUMP and yes it is if you like living the ghetto life i just bought a house and hav lived in over 10 different apts in my life i am 37 yrs old and ther e is no reason for any one to defend this place.Check the police records like the lady stated its the truth.It was nice when we moved in then the good manager left and all the good people too.Then they just premoted some young kid after firing the good thiry yr old who was trying to fix the place up this new kid has no clue thats one of many reasons we moved besides the cars broken into flooding basements my wife caught some sort of rash from the pool her doctor said and recomended she not use it anymore and it went away another reason we moved and not to mention the MOLD PRoblem several people had to move out due to Black MOlD!NOT GOOD so they moved them to a different unit

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