Pros:
1. Location, location, location! The Crescent is undoubtedly located in the middle of the premiere community of Lafayette, and also within the heart of the booming, growing, and "cool" side of Lafayette.
2. The Maintenance Crew Rocks! It was so refreshing living at an apartment where you could submit a maintenance request in the morning, and your request would be taken care of by the time you returned home from work. I surely miss that because you do NOT get that type of maintenance responses at other properties.
3. Apartment Events: The staff at The Crescent occasionally throw little fun get-togethers for the residents a few times throughout the year. There is a nice Christmas party for residents, and the staff actually do a good job purchasing REAL food that people like.
4. Utility Costs were excellent. My highest bill never exceeded $100 ... and my lowest bill was $35! The apartment also covers the cost of water, sewage, and trash ... so you'll definitely save a little more money.
5. Parking was excellent: There are so many parking spaces on the property that you will never have any issues with parking or inviting guests over.
Cons:
1. Hidden Fees EVERYWHERE! If you thought the rent prices advertised on The Crescent's website were real ... LOL ... then you need to wake up. Firstly, the prices on the website are the bare MINIMUM prices for an unwanted, 4th floor level apartment with the most basic designs and amenities imaginable. If your apartment is going to be on the 1st floor or have a "pond view" for example, then be ready to pay a lot more. If your apartment will have a balcony or patio attached, then be ready to pay extra. And I can keep going and going . . .
2. Severely Outdated Interior Decor: For an apartment that is so beautiful on the outside, you would expect the inside to be equally beautiful, right? ... well the architects missed that little detail somehow when they built The Crescent. Other than the overall layout, high ceilings, and beautiful french doors in the living room, the rest of the apartment's decor is BASIC (that's "BASIC" in all capital letters). The decor of the apartment's interior is stuck in the 1990s, and that is completely SAD for a place that charges one of the highest leases in the entire city. At that price, you would EXPECT to get stainless steel appliances, updated finishes, recess lighting, etc. etc. ... well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but you thought wrong.
3. Security Walk-In Gate Constantly SLAMMING. For those who will (unfortunately) get an apartment that is located near the apartment's entryway security gates ... you will be annoyed to the highest degree by the constant slamming of the apartment's security gate EVERY time someone enters and/or leaves the apartment's entryway. The gate is magnetic, and the magnetic force on the gate is so strong that it makes the gate close so fast that the inside of your apartment will literally rumble and sound like actual THUNDER when the gate slams shut (and no, I'm not exaggerating here). Many residents complained about this. I even complained all the way up to Park Management Services (the property owners), and was simply told there was NOTHING they would ever do about it, other than having maintenance "re-adjust the gates' hinges," but that never helped.
4. Pests Control Sucks. The apartment "claims" there is an Orkin Pest Control guy who sprays, but there was always some kind of weird cockroach, beetle, or other weird bugs inside of my bathroom at any giving morning. Although it did not happen frequently, dealing with pests of any sort is NOT something anyone should be subjected to when paying rent THIS high...ever!
5. Traffic noise that drove on Camellia Boulevard was a nightmare, and will take a couple weeks (or months) to get used to (if you're lucky).
6. Although you don't hear the neighbors in the adjacent apartments, you WILL unfortunately hear the neighbors who live immediately above your apartment, even if it's one petite person living above you, their footsteps will sound like a giant.
7. There are absolutely no security cameras anywhere on the property or parking lot.
8. There are absolutely no security cameras anywhere on the property or parking lot ... which is crazy in this day-and-age.
In conclusion, even with all of my complaints (more like warnings), I really did enjoy living at The Crescent, and I appreciate my time there now that I have moved to another property that do not compare to the "pros" I miss at The Crescent. For what it's worth, if you have the money, then I recommend living at The Crescent, but only for a short-term basis. Otherwise, you'll be equally satisfied renting one of the many townhouses around Lafayette ... and you'll save yourself a lot more money as well ... I do miss living on the "cool" side of town. Good luck in your apartment search! :-) read more