Review History for abesottedphoenix

Columbia Crossing Apartments


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abesottedphoenix

prospectiveVisited 2009

5/13/2009

I viewed these apartments yesterday. When we moved down here last year, we were in a bit of a rush and only had 2 days to find what we could. We ended up around the corner from here at the Dominion Towers. We are willing to pay more to get more or pay less to get less. There is a lot of exterior charm to this complex. Some things I picked up on from just the standard tour: This is a luxury complex that isn't. No location, no nice perqs, no community, no frills. They seem to be the only building in Arlington with a rower in their fitness centre! Hooray! Stairs to apartments on higher floors are concrete with molded rubber. They are at a super uncomfortable grade for my gimpy leg. Walkways between apartments are not secure - your door is the only door a would be thief would have to pry. Their crummy design costs you a $10 security fee. In addition, indoor outdoor carpeting between units smelt awful, and I was left with the impression that maintenance did not clean them. We got to see the inside of an upgraded unit when the unit we'd be getting was not upgraded. That being said, there was nothing very special about the upgrades. The ornamental moulding was at a strange height that would have perpetually clipped my husband's head. I'm not sure when beige over white qualified as an upgrade, nor fake granite laminate. Crappy GE kitchen appliances, but oooh ahhh stainless. (By the way, our actual unit would have mismatched appliances, none of which were stainless...) The balcony they give you is spacious, and there were several units sporting a dish, which is really nice since Comcast is a terrible service in the neighbourhood. Closet space was less ample than our current unit, along with floor space. Pet fees were RI-DIC-UlOUS. I have a cat. I grumble and pay cat rent. The "pet sanitation" fee that they're charging is $450 a year and was enough to make me restate to the staff that I own a cat not a dog. The dog fee is $700. This is *not* on top of the montly charge, it's a flat fee. You've a monthly to pay for them as well. Parking spaces outside are in fact tiny excepting the handicapped and visitors' spaces. With the confusing parking layout, I'd not like to have to park here. In addition, they charge $50 for the first spot per month, which they bragged about bringing down from $75. Most of the other places I've looked at are either free or $25. Utilities are not included as they are in my current rent. This made me a bit squeamish since I'd have vaulted ceilings in the unit I'd rent. Heavy calcium deposits were evident as they are in our current building. When will landlords install a filtre? The bathroom is nothing to write home about, but doesn't look like it's out of psycho either. Mechanicals don't seem terribly old or inefficient. However, a close look at the kitchen light switch was a bit scary. In all, when you add the laundry list of fees we would have had to pay to the base rent, you're paying enough to either purchase a nice condo or live in an actual luxury complex. So about $1600-$1700.

    Review 49 out of 92

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