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I rented a one-bedroom at Princeton Gardens for a year. Winter is the best time for rental deals, and I got a great one--no security deposit, just prepaid the first month. Management initially scheduled a tour but sent the maintenance man instead, who was very nice. When I requested a follow-up visit, it was again handled by maintenance.
Apartment Condition & Renovation
My unit was completely renovated--new floors, walls, doors, paint, and kitchen appliances. However, the walls were paper-thin, making upstairs noise unbearable. My neighbor worked from home, and I heard everything--walking, phone calls (even on speaker), and alarms. Footsteps at all hours (1 AM-5 AM) often woke me, with my ceiling fan even shaking from the movement.
Noise & Other Residents
Aside from my upstairs neighbor, a man from another building smoked weed under my window daily at 4 PM. I had to shut my windows to block the smell, but my AC unit still pulled in the smoke. The garage doors also made noise when opened and closed, which I heard from my unit.
Smoke Detectors & Pest Issues
Smoke detectors were extremely sensitive, going off even with normal cooking. When the weather warmed up, ants swarmed my cat's food. I initially tried ant traps, which filled quickly. Maintenance sent pest control, which helped, but ants later entered through the living room window. No mice or rats, but plenty of squirrels, which I enjoyed watching.
Trash & Parking
My unit was near the dumpsters, but I never noticed a bad smell. However, dumpsters were sometimes misplaced, blocking parking spaces. Trash pickup wasn't always early, but on some days it was. Parking was generally okay, though an abandoned car took up a space all year, and construction vehicles sometimes blocked spots. A few times, I couldn't get my car out due to blocked driveways.
Move-in & Maintenance
On move-in day, my toilet had no handle. Maintenance promised to fix it the next day but took a week after I reminded them. They were responsive to other issues, though.
Rent & Utilities
Rent was a steal, especially with discounts. Free, unlimited water and gas were a huge bonus. Prices change frequently, so deals may vary. A quieter unit with unrenovated neighbors might be more pleasant.
Deliveries & Address Confusion
The official address is "7330," but USPS lists some buildings as "7326," causing delivery issues with Amazon, DoorDash, and UberEats. Drivers often got lost. Also, I was told the doorbells didn't work, but months in, mine suddenly did when a delivery driver pressed it.
Final Thoughts
The location was great, off-street parking was a plus, and some neighbors were very friendly. However, noise from thin walls, pot smoke, and occasional parking issues made it a mixed experience. Whether it's a good fit depends on your tolerance for sound, smells, and the deal you get.