I wish five years ago me had read this. So I'm telling 2024 you, as if anybody reads apartment reviews.
As much as people love to dog on this place, it isn't the worst option out there. If you're disabled, or feeling lazy, or hate slipping in massive rain puddles in the stairwell after a storm, there's an elevator. There is in house laundry if you have a payment card (can't load singles on, which is frustrating but it means avoiding the inclimate weather when you want clean socks) on the main floor by the mail area. Your box is locked, though you'll need to be quick if you're expecting something bigger, as I did have more than one porch pirate incident, remedied by watching back camera footage.
There is a main lobby that the usuals like to hang out (you'll also find them outside) and most of them are nice and talkative. There is a bad string of folk that live there as well, a displeasure I experienced first hand for the entirety of my stay. Unfortunately people can be loud and not the most clean. Depending on where your room is, you may get lucky.
Personally I thought the kitchen appliances were a bit small (can't fit a sheet tray in the oven long ways) though there was ample closet space. You have the convenience of turning in your rent without a stamp and garbage chutes on every floor.
There's a safety bar in the shower that I'll admittedly miss and safety cords in the room that I will not. The alarms when pulled are aggravatingly noisy, as alarms should be.
There is a call box in the main entrance (three doors to the outside all together, all needing a key fob to enter) that'll let you ring in your guests. There's also my personal favorite, a mini gym that consisted of a treadmill, stairs and squats, all surrounded by shelves of books to borrow. Or you can grab a book from the side entrance to the massive parking lot. (I will miss the choice parking and plowing sadly.) Also there's a food pantry out back last the seating area if you can't afford food. It gets emptied very quickly as many people living there use it. The income requirements are quite strict (it's pretty much a poor person house at this point) despite the costly rent. For a single bedroom you're looking at over 1000. That was a price I was willing to pay as they allow pets, which I came to realize a lot of local places don't. And honestly, it is perfectly placed at the edge of North Tonawanda, by shops and restaurants, where you can get anywhere in a reasonable amount of time.
The staff has a limited schedule, but I promise you, they are working hard for you. You are always safe to address problems with them, and they are doing their best to play the hand the government restrictions placed on them. There's a lot of upper interference they have to deal with, but they made my stay bearable.
If you can find a better place, I suggest it, but if you end up here, it's not the end of the world. read more