As a long-term resident, I have been a participant in the history of Deer Run Apartments since 2005. I was always proud of my home here and enjoyed and appreciated all the amenities and other benefits this community offered. Not anymore!
The deterioration in services and amenities under Greystar management has accelerated over the last 2 years, along with the increase in rent and other fees. For the past year, all tenants have been required to pay a monthly fee for water and trash pickup, in addition to the regular gas and electric utilities. My rent has increased by 18.3% over the last 2 years, exceeding the total increase over all my previous years of residency. The absentee landlord down in Illinois may argue that he has invested millions in renovations of the pool and fitness center. That's money down the drain if you don't properly maintain the facilities.
The pool? Don't let anyone kid you! It's been out of commission since the end of June and has turned into an algae-infested swamp. The root cause of the problem has been known to management for some time, but no one has taken any action. It will almost certainly remain unusable for the rest of the season. I would not get my hopes up for next year either. So scratch that as an amenity! Also, the gate is always open and anyone could wander in, fall in and drown. So much for enforcing security!
Broken equipment in the fitness center is neither repaired nor replaced. I have given up on trying to get that corrected. And then, there is the unreliable trash and recycling pickup service. The schedule that everyone is supposed to follow in placing their containers at the end of the driveways for pickup is not being followed by the waste management service. The pickup days come and go and no one shows up. Many tenants, myself included, have resorted to just leaving the containers out until someone comes by to empty them, however many days it takes. I will not put a container full of garbage back into my garage. Nowadays, when you drive through the complex, you are greeted by the sight of all these garbage bins everywhere, some of them tipped over with the contents spilling out. You might think that I'm describing a scene in Harlem, but no, this is in the "fashionable" neighborhood of Brown Deer.
The overall trend here for residents has been a dramatic decrease in value for the money spent on rent and fees. Call it what it is: a colossal ripoff. Don't believe the rental prices that are posted online. My 1 bedroom is supposed to be in the range of $1,072 to 1,116. I was just quoted $1,353 for my next lease period. Apparently, the longer you live here, the more they will jack up the price. You will be penalized for being a long-term resident!
Call me a sucker, but I decided to give this place a chance for another year. Are my hopes misplaced? Probably, considering what I've seen so far. Also, having had so many good years here in the past, I can't seem to give up on the idea that sooner or later, things have to improve. I'm not holding my breath, though! read more