Van Alen

Save your money and look elsewhere.

Day-to-day living at Van Alen is fine—until something goes wrong. I lived here for several years. I heard other residents complain about management, but I didn't fully understand their frustrations until I experienced my first major maintenance issue. That's when the cracks began to show. Luxury living requires more than resident socials and attractive amenities—it requires responsive management, clear communication, and accountability.

Van Alen markets... itself as a luxury community, but my experience did not reflect that promise. The service issues I encountered went beyond inconvenience and, at times, raised concerns about resident safety.

Following an annual fire inspection, the property's fire alarm system was out of service for an extended period, and 24-hour fire watch personnel patrolled the building around the clock. During that time, I never received direct communication from management explaining what was happening, what the risks were, or when residents could expect the issue to be resolved. Residents should not have to piece together information about a significant life-safety issue on their own.

Unfortunately, that lack of communication reflects a broader pattern. During the past year, the property went through multiple on-site managers, with lengthy gaps between leadership transitions. Maintenance experienced similar turnover. In my experience, the constant staffing changes made it difficult to get issues resolved and nearly impossible to receive consistent communication or follow-through.

Water intrusion also appeared to be an ongoing problem. Restoration crews were a frequent presence on the property, and recurring leaks became part of the normal landscape. That did not inspire confidence in the condition or upkeep of a community marketed as luxury housing.

When I escalated my concerns to the corporate management team, I was equally disappointed. I expected accountability and meaningful customer service, but I did not feel my concerns were taken seriously.

If you're apartment hunting, I encourage you to look at other communities in the area. There are newer properties with stable management teams, well-maintained buildings, and service standards that better match the premium rents they charge.

In my opinion, Van Alen looks like a luxury community on the surface, but it does not consistently deliver the level of management, communication, or resident experience that the luxury label implies.
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I lived in VA for years. Cockroaches were always an issue. Often times, my friends and I would avoid use the rooftop amenities because they would be crawling on the walls and furniture. Every time I encountered them, the building staff and the building's pest control vendor would downplay the issue by saying the waterbugs were common in this area. My apartment in the tower had cockroaches for months after back to back pest control treatments. The issue later got resolved when a long standing... water damage issue was finally handled appropriately and repaired. So, beware if you walk into an apartment with air freshers or see live or dead cockroaches, ask more questions! Renters deserve transparency and proper maintenance, and I do not feel this building delivered either. Read More

I’ve been a resident here since 2021, this place has went extremely downhill. Everything is always broken elevators, exterior doors, garage gates, dog pee in elevators/stairs, I could go on. However MOLD has been a huge issue recently and everyone is moving out because of it. The new leasing manager “Alden” has been trying to cover this issue up in a way that’s unsafe to the health of residents. Which is why we are at 30% occupancy and they’re handing out free months of rent. So go ahead get... some “luxury living” as they call it. Read More

Perks:
Concierge Staff: Exceptional staff who are helpful and caring. They ensure security, manage packages, hold deliveries, and assist with concerns, providing safety and convenience compared to neighboring apartments.
Package Pickup: Packages are secured in a locked room behind the concierge, avoiding issues seen in other complexes where packages are left in the open or in overcapacity rooms.
Events: Thoughtfully planned events with great food and drinks, I attended even though I am not the... kind of person who goes to these things. It's just worth it here!
Residents: Friendly, helpful, and considerate neighbors, primarily working professionals, not college students or loud children.
Quiet Hours: Enforced quiet after 10 PM.
Amenities: Includes a steam room, steam bath, top-notch common lounge areas, coworking lounges, pool cabanas, and courtyard.
Location: Proximity to Bulls Stadium, DPAC, ATC, and main downtown walking streets, with easy access to Highway 147 without traffic lights.
Safety: Despite being downtown, it's safe with increased foot traffic and proximity to the Justice Center.
Maintenance: Responsive and efficient with good communication. Maintenance staff like Ashley are particularly noteworthy.
Common Areas: Well-maintained and inviting. The gym could use some updates like a new multifunction machine and replacing worn-out equipment, straps, and cushions.

Disadvantages:
Roaches: Common in shared areas, especially at night. Despite weekly pest control, it's ineffective. More frequent spraying with better chemicals, and spraying every crevice on every tile in the sky lounge needs to occur.
No EV Chargers: Promised but not yet installed. Residents must use public parking decks.
Elevator Issues: Frequent outages, especially during rain, requiring manual resets. Some elevators make unsettling noises and require frequent servicing.
Train Noise: Close proximity to the train tracks can be disturbing for light sleepers.
Parking Deck Issues: Tight parking spots, frequent gate malfunctions, and a lack of EV chargers. Security concerns arise from broken gates, allowing random people into the parking deck.

Van Alen is great if you don't have an EV & can afford the rent. It's a secure, convenient, and community-oriented complex with minor drawbacks that can be managed. Choose a higher floor to avoid roach problems and avoid units near the noisy metal gate by the pool. Utility costs are reasonable, with power around $50/month and water about $17/month. Read More

It has been such a pleasure living here! The entire staff has been welcoming and I really feel at home. The community amenities are great and my apartment was just the right fit for me. My friends love coming to visit, which is great because Van Alen is a lovely venue to host. Katie, Drew, Rei and Merrin have been wonderful in my transition to Durham. Not to mention, the location is wonderful! I can walk to just about all the favorite hangout spots in downtown. This was one of the best decisions... I've made. Read More