Gravity is a fine option if you're just looking for basic housing! However, Gravity is no where near the community it tries to seem like it is. If you are interested in Gravity for its amenities, events, rentable spaces, or community feel, I would just go save money and rent elsewhere.
1. People often comment that Gravity buildings are smelly - they are. I truly have no clue how it happens but I hear residents in Building A, B, and D complaining. I live in D and chose the top floor so I wouldn't be near trash at the bottom - however my hallways often smell of trash or smell sour. The lobby randomly will smell strongly sour or sulfur-y. The water in unit is often sulfur-y too. They drained my tank when I moved in to help but my ice always smells strange and the garbage disposals/ dishwashers aren't good quality. Even after work order they maintain odor and said they weren't sure why. My neighbors have the same issue even though we all clean them out. You can buy freshener pods but it's a hassle and costly.
2. The management is relatively strict and not flexible. I had rented our community room just as a curtesy, as people hold parties in there often (the building is at less than 40% occupancy, it's not in high demand) and when the room was trashed and not properly set up, they only refunded half, referencing a rule buried in the lease that any more than 2 people requires reservation. Again, sure that's the rule, but it further emphasizes that Gravity is not trying to make a community with you. The right thing to do as a business that really cared would be to fully refund to build that trust back.
3. You may think you'll get used to the trains, but unless you are a deep sleeper, this probably isn't the best pick. Anytime I have friends stay the night it's all they can talk about (trains come about every 20-30 mins most of the year). Some are a quiet rumble which the fairly thick walls do drown out, but many are screachy or make booming sounds. I've lived here nearly a year and about 1-2 times a week will wake up in the night from it.
4. Back to the community feel - this is what made me choose Gravity. I was devastated when they stopped monthly programming a few months into my lease. They used to have 1-2 events a week ranging from yoga, speaker talks, bbq's, movies, sound baths, acupuncture, really neat picks. They sadly fired their 2 events people as they're trying to sell the business, and it's a shell of what it used to be here. The only amenity I've never had an issue with is the gym, though I found it to be limited enough that I ended up still getting a LA fitness membership. The pool took way longer into the summer to open than expected. The cold plunge never opened, and I imagine since the pool is costly they'll close it as soon as they can.
5. They cut my buildings security with no notice. A big draw as a single woman was having nighttime security I could call, which I did utilize a few times. A friend found out a few months ago when she needed them that they no longer would service Building D, that they only work for Building A. They would only would come to the Pool near D since it's also an amenity for Building A.
6. There are also no cameras in the garage I unfortunately found out when my car was broken into. The garage is owned by LAZ, but as the garage for Gravity (+ considering the loss of security), Gravity has asserted their hands are tied, even though when I spoke with the garage, they said they hadn't gotten an ask for cameras which is why they didn't bother. I've spoken to other residents since who have also had their cars broken into, last week someone even had their tires slashed. I've started parking on the second floor to avoid the issue which has seemed effective.
7. If you have friends visiting you often, you might want to consider somewhere like Grandview's The Yard. There really isn't much parking in this area that isn't paid, just one side street next to Idea Foundry (which some of my friends refuse to park in because it's so narrow and near where the homeless people enter/exit the tracks). It's always a stress having a friends stay the night, because they have to remember to pay for their parking at 8 AM the next day, and that's if they can even find paid parking due to all of the local businesses requiring parking themself. The garage is $16+ for overnight, more if there's an event in the area.
Gravity is great for:
1. Not having to park to go to the different summer festivals in Columbus such as the arts festival, jazz & ribs fest, Latino festival etc - and events like 614 Night Life, Franklinton Fridays, and 614 Fest
2. Even though it's not walkable to any grocery stores, you can walk to nice restaurants and breweries
3. In-unit laundry, dishwasher, full bathrooms, smart appliances, etc. Some units even have a bathtub not just a shower which is hard to find in Cbus.
4. Pet friendly if you have them! So many dogs
5. Curb appeal, doesn't look sketchy. Safer than Short North. read more