good deal but comes with its downsides
Pros
The rent was very reasonable and we had a stabilised lease. Free laundry in the building is great (though we went about a half year with non-working dryers before they replaced them). The super is generally a good guy and will do what he can to help but his resources are limited. He runs a minimal but effective system and keeps common spaces very clean and orderly. He is retiring soon unfortunately. There are many friendly people on the block with a small community garden, families with children, and older folks who are really invested in the area.
Cons
Getting solutions for more structural issues like plumbing and heat can take a bit longer, the management company can be slow and unresponsive and will schedule plumbers and such at awkward times. Apartments are pretty small and somewhat awkwardly laid out, we just fit a full bed in the bedroom and had to remove the closet doors to make it accessible. By far the biggest issue is that one neighbouring building is a hub for a near 24-hour party with people coming and going at all hours and often very loud music at unreasonable times. The street can be filled with double parked cars of party goers and music is often blasted at 100 decibels, sometimes for days. These neighbours are generally friendly but will not back down on the noise issues. I believe they have a relationship with someone in the police so they are seemingly untouchable. There is usually no violence but there were two gun-related incidences on the block during the 4 years I lived there, including one where bullets did strike our building and others
Not recommended at all!
Pros
The apartments are clean; the building’s super is very very nice and is always around - quite friendly which is always welcomed. Rent is cheaper than in other places, but not worth it.
Cons
Avoid this building at all costs unless you’re comfortable with extremely loud music at all times of the day and night, particularly in the spring and summer. You can’t really ever open your windows our music will blast into your apartment. Often, large groups of people are in front of the building - particularly in the late afternoon and night. Folks that don’t live in this building play board games and scream quite loudly in front of the gate to get into the building and/or back alley. A large majority of people in this bldg move out by the time their lease expires. This is not recommended at all. Zjama promises you quietness when you’re touring the building - it’s all lies. They also promise you storage area in the basement - lies (there are not enough storage units for all 16 units).
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