Well-appointed design like a hotel. Lobby and hallways clean and tidy. Units themselves are spacious and well-designed. Rent comes out on pricy side, but factoring in included utilities, gym access, and parking it's a sweet deal. By far one of the nicest apartment complexes I've been to within the city. Never had an issue with noise and had a yappy dog next door to me - probably only heard it 5 times over 13 months. The walls must be super thick or something because there'd be huge thunderstorms I never heard. I think amount of noise depends largely on location of unit; interior units or units off street may have more noise. Leasing staff helpful. Plenty of space, little fuss, good location away from downtown. Really enjoyed the unit I had. Good diversity in the community between backgrounds and ages and lifestyles.
For negatives it's really petty stuff for the most part, and by and large never really got to me. The grounds could be maintained better in terms of cleaning and building upkeep, but the effort put into the plants and flowers is appreciated. The waterfalls, Christmas trees, flowers, dog park, etc. really show the extra effort to me. Just wish some of the hallways/stairwells/building exteriors & windows were treated with same attention to detail. Maintenance was pretty slow and did some things I scratched my head at, but I only made a few requests and nothing was urgent. When I did need to escalate, it got done. I personally thought most of the guards were useless (often sleeping or unfriendly), but it was nice to have a set of eyes on the building. Hot/cold water took a little long to kick in - probably my only legitimate complaint. I never had issue with bed bugs, but there were a few isolated incidents. I wouldn't worry about BB. Didn't fear for my safety ever, but in day time and esp. night time you need to keep alert. Car jackings, break-ins, etc. do happen. It's a safe neighborhood, but has vulnerabilities. City of Detroit NEEDS to improve lighting on McDougall St.
Ultimately, I really, really liked it. I personally never understood the mediocre or average reviews. Friends, family, & out-of-towners I had over were always very impressed. Unfortunately I decided to sign a lease elsewhere for a year to live with friends/save money/better nightlife, and I kind of regret the decision. RPA is at the top of my shortlist for places to consider for next year. So, if you read the other reviews on the internet and feel wary to the point where you don't want to sign that's fine with me - less competition.