Nine and Pine

Pros:
-Units are quite well maintained for the apartment's age.
-Staff are responsive and concise.
-Units are decently sound-insulated from other residents. I hear the occasional door banging closed.
-Maintenance is relatively quick. Turnaround from my experience is 1-2 days.
-Location is near most things I want to be near.

Cons:
-Construction is still ongoing and is relatively loud. It will last at least a year or two. Not a problem for people facing away from them.
-Nearby highway makes... constant noise 24/7. As loud as the airplanes that fly overhead. Loud cars drive through Pine weekend nights.
-Garbage collection comes most mornings. This is EXTREMELY loud and is on the side opposite the construction. They come at 5AM, take around 15 minutes and always wake me up.
-You pay internet, electric, parking, renter's insurance individually and average all other utilities. Make sure you do the math on your real monthly cost.
-28 addendums in lease, you must sign all in 1 sitting or you lose all progress.

Also 0.2 mile distance is actually about 6-7 minutes. This increases with distance. Read More

A very convenient location (no need to have a car, but there is on-site parking), and very well-built property with almost no maintenance issues. Not to mention, the sound insulation is great. I could always hear my neighbors blasting their TVs when I was in the hall but when I was actually in my apartment I heard NOTHING aside from minimal street noise. There is construction across the street, but because the project is so high profile the crews do a good job of sticking to the legal window for... construction noise - it can get noisy during on weekdays though.

Most importantly, I loved the property management. The office manager takes building security and package delivery seriously, but she is very friendly and responsive with residents - exactly what you'd want in a busy downtown property. Maintenance staff are responsive and helpful.

If there is an issue, it is heat during the summer. If you live on an upper floor you won't have to spend anything on heating all year because you get the residual heat from everyone below you. This is great during the fall and winter, but in the summer a fan or two often won't cut it. You are going to want an AC unit - just be sure to check with the building what type they can support.

Had it been my decision, I would have stayed longer than a year, but we all have to make sacrifices for love. Read More