Wednesday, March 28, 2007

The ugly

So there are good things and bad things with any apartment complex, but unfortunately things have only gotten ugly since I moved in. Here it is:

  • Towing - There is a tow truck driver who lives in the complex and he has a propensity for actively towing anyone who does not fall within the parking regulations (more on that soon). I have seen him watch people get out of their cars and go into the building and then immediately hook them up and tow them without even giving them the courtesy of reminding them that they need a parking permit.
  • Parking - When I first moved in, residents could obtain resident parking permits for their cars and then visitors parking permits for visitors whenever necessary. Since then, though, management has decided that visitors parking permits must be dated and will only be good for the dates indicated on the permit. Gone are the days of providing a permit to a dog walker, house cleaner or other frequent visitors (family and friends!). There was absolutely no good rationale for this since, as I stated earlier, there has never been a lack of parking. Visitors now must obtain a parking permit as soon as they step out of their cars or risk towing. Management claims a 24-hour security presence on-site, but this is a joke since the night security guard leaves promptly at 7:00 am and the property manager sometimes does not arrive until 9:00 am. Sadly, it seems as though the parking permit policy is intended only to make it more difficult for visitors to park and easier for the towing company to make more money. This leads one to the unfortunate conclusion that management is likely receiving kick-backs from the towing company for each vehicle towed. If anyone can give a better answer, I am willing to listen.
  • Lowell Sun - Our friends at the Lowell Sun have moved into the American Textile History Museum building next door and clearly did not plan for parking well since their employees now park in our lot. The memo from management indicates that this will be only between the hours of 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM Monday through Friday. However, I have seen Sun employees parking in our lot before 7:00 AM and leaving well after 7:00 PM on a regular basis. Where is the ravenous towing to which we (and our visitors) have been subjected? If Sun employees can park with what amount to permanent visitors passes (placards indicating that they are Lowell Sun employees), why can't 305 Dutton Street residents have the same privilege of permanent visitors parking passes (a "privilege" that we formerly enjoyed)?!?
  • Pets - I think that one of the greatest advantages of this building is its allowal of so many pets. However, it comes at a steep price. Management charges an illegal (in Massachusetts, at least) pet fee upon move-in (Mass. state law indicates that only the equivalent of one month's rent may be paid at move-in in addition to the first month's rent...since a security deposit of one month's rent is charged, that makes any other "fees" illegal). Management disavows any responsibility for messes that pets (usually dogs) make throughout the complex. They send many memos out when pet owners irresponsibly leave feces on the ground (or worse, in the hallway) and threaten to take away pet privileges. I am all for aggressively going after the irresponsible pet owners, but management should at least make a regular effort to clean up areas that are frequently marred by pet feces. One example is at the southwest corner of the property which is partly landscaped with mulch, trees and plants but has an enormous amount of dog feces. I am sure the "pet fee" could cover a once-monthly visit by a dog feces removal service. That area is simply disgusting and a huge black eye for the complex.
  • Management Attitude - Although the "on-site" property manager is friendly and reasonably accessible, the tone that she takes in her memorandums is decidedly unprofessional. Rather than informing residents and taking a community-friendly or cooperative tone, her memos exist solely to either inform residents when amenities are being taken away (such as permanent visitors passes and an entire entrance to the parking lot) or to threaten to remove further amenities (such as threatening pet owners with the elimination of pet privileges.

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