Johnston Mill Lofts offers decent apartments for manageable prices. If you are expecting luxury accommodations, look elsewhere, but for fairly priced lofts in an okay neighborhood, look no further!
First of all, these apartments are located in the City Village district of Columbus, just south of Bibb City. The are has been slated for revitalization, but at first look it is easy to dismiss. Homeless shelters line 2nd Avenue a few blocks away, there are projects a few blocks south, and the surrounding community is comprised mostly of antique shops and old mill workers' housing. While there is a quaint feeling to the houses, they run the extreme from well-kempt to abandoned. There are RiverWalk entrances on both sides of the apartment complex, however, and the whitewater rafting ramp is directly behind the complex. As for the gates, in the past seven or so months, I'd say that one of the gates (usually the main one by the office, and never more than one at a time) might have been damaged may 10% of the time. Usually, it looks like someone miscalculated and hit the gate. Access to I-85, Phenix City, Columbus State University, and to the main shopping areas of Columbus is easy, allowing one to arrive at either destination in under ten minutes.
On to management and maintenance. I've had absolutely no issues with the employees since moving in. Granted, I have little interaction with them, but they always leave notices on the door alerting tenants as to changes or upcoming inspections. For example, a month ago they implemented a $100 fine for residents who don't pick up after their pets. Understandable, and to avoid the fine I simply adhere to the rule. I also tempted fate by replacing my tie rods in the parking lot (I wasn't sure if vehicle maintenance was permitted, and couldn't find my lease on a weekend). I put a tarp under the truck to catch any grease or other debris and nothing was said by the maintenance men who passed me a few times. Simply put, respect the rules and upkeep of the property, and there seems to be no issue. About the only "bad" thing I can say is that inspection notices are provided only a day or so prior to the inspections. Working a regular job would be bad enough, but working 12-18 hour days makes it a pain to do some last minute tidying prior to the inspection (with a big dog and those long work hours, it is easy to fall behind with cleaning).
The apartments are good, as far as apartments go. I'd say they are the most modern ones I've ever rented (which isn't saying too much), and they provide washer/dryer hookups and dishwashers. I've never had an insect or rodent problem, and the handful of stray cats only serve to amuse the dog and me. With pipes and vents suspended in the air, thick concrete floors (downstairs, the loft is carpeted), and the visible scars of old machinery (stains, threaded holes, etc.), the building and its apartments are a testament to how well our society can repurpose old buildings rather than simply tear them down or let them fall into disrepair. A walk around the exterior reminds me that this was once a place where people earned a living, and now it's a place for people to relax after getting home from work. There is a gym with functional--if not state-of-the-art--equipment, a pool, and even a tennis court. For walkers and joggers, the aforementioned RiverWalk access points lead from the Georgia Power dam down to the Central Business District.
I've noticed a mixture of people who live here, from young college types, to military families, to retired persons. This is one of the few places in Columbus that does not have restrictive pet policies (for those adaptive sorts looking for inexpensive places to live, even the trailer parks and houses-for-rent in low-income areas would not allow my Labrador) and it is about a twenty minute drive to Sand Hill. Unless something changes, I'll be renewing my lease in a few months. While not perfect, Johnston Mill Lofts offers a fair value in a convenient location. read more