I had to move into a place stat as I was unexpectedly getting the boot from my Walkers Point…read moreapartment so someone from Chicago could facilitate gentrifying the neighborhood and jacking up the rent. I found this apt. on 6th & Mitchell weeks before leaving for Europe for 2 weeks, signed this lease sitting in a London hotel room.
I'm thankful that I was able to find this place. It's updated enough to feel nice. Max was very helpful to me as new units became available. The two I saw were actually not the one I ended up moving into as he told me of another unit available while I was overseas. I took his word for it and electronically signed without seeing the actual unit. I'm glad that I did because the one that I ended up with was a better space! So, I appreciate the heads up I was given.
The worst issue with this place is the laundry and I would say windows/lack of light. Some units do have space for in-unit laundry, like mine did - there was a huge closet off of the kitchen, but they just don't offer this amenity. The laundry in the building has it to be the cheapest, low-end laundry machines. $1.50 a pop to use them and often one dry does not suffice, so really $3 just to dry totalling $4.50 per load. The second dry on high might scorch your clothes, too, so another thing to watch out for. And then there were some inconsiderate, lazy neighbors who don't get their stuff out (golden rule, people! If you don't know what that means google it) but gladly, this didn't happen too often. It was more the condition of the machines that was the worst. It ate up on of my bras, and then there's that time when someone who used the laundry machine before me who left gum in it (of course I happened to have washed something with fringes that day) what a mess! Having had my own washing machine in my last three apartments, this is a first-world pain in the rear. Sigh. But, the rent was super affordable. The windows in my apartment were also massive and heavy. I had to get on the ledge itself to have any shot at opening and closing them, using all of my body weight standing up on the ledge. I couldn't just open/close as I normally would for any window, without having to risk a hernia. They really need to do something about those. My last apartment let so much light in, I felt like this place was a dungeon. I think the top units are a lot brighter, but I've never been inside so not sure. The units really differ a lot within the building. I saw around 4 in total and all were different.
The construction of the apartments is cheap. They look pretty, though. The paint on the walls for Pete's sake of you so much as bump it, you'll leave a mark. It's like primer was used, it's really matte, and just shows every scuff possible. Not enough layers of paint and needs a good thick gloss finish or semi is needed so it doesn't stain so easily. I once tried lightly buffing out a stain in the bathroom and the wall peeled off, like PAPER. I did this with a soft wipe that is sensitive enough for a baby's butt and it peeled their wall. They just need more paint and quality paint. When I asked for scuffs to be touched up on the walls when I moved in, (this should already have been done!) they dump a CAN OF PAINT at my door. I'm serious! They expected me the renter to paint? Um, no - not unless you're giving me a free month of rent!
The walls are so thin. But, I guess the happens in apt complex living. I'm sure there are ways to help prevent this with the quality and quantity of building materials, but that's a cost thing. It's the right thing to do but it just doesn't often get done.
The stove is electric, boo. And electric will cost you more every month. I saw an increase in my utilities bill after moving here. Although, it was offset by the lower rent.
Good things:
It was great to have the gated lot for parking. Break-ins are well known to occur in this and the surrounding neighborhoods, so this lot really prevented that.
It's walkable to the popular areas of Walkers Point and Bay View, only takes 15-20 mins. Not something I did much of at night, and even got cat called during the day when I was near this building, but less once I was out of the Mitchell Street neighborhood. It's a short Lyft or Uber ride back from many Milwaukee destinations.
I never had to turn my heat in all winter long! I was on the second floor, so not sure if the units' heat above/below is what did it, but it was always around 70 degrees in there!
Maintenance is fairly good at being responsive. I complained about the laundry a few times, the FOB system facing the lot rarely worked (but you have a key), the door handle CONSTANTLY broke off, but minor things in the grand scheme of things.
The rent is inexpensive, there is no cost for parking in the lot (at least not at the time of me writing this review), good location, decent remodel... I wouldn't "not" recommend it to anyone but tell them to understand what they're getting for the price.
