Review History for anonymous

Designer Style, Location, Convenient (but wait til ´04!)

Prior to my move into the Mirage apartments, I had visited a friend who lives here. I was impressed with the central location which borders Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, The Biltmore, and Phoenix. With its views of Camelback Mountain, and a drive past the Esplanade on my way to work, the reasonable cost of rent I easily made my decision to sign a 6 month lease, and make the move. The "Retro" decor of the new apartments and offices, the resort-hotel like bright air conditioned hallways, spectacular heated pool and hot tub with fountains, a gym resembling a mini Bally´s club, a general store you´ll find yourself running to in your pajamas, a cybercafe you might also use talk with a nieghbor in your bathing suit inside or meet a business associate in your suit and tie. Tennis courts atop a 2 story parking garage. The buildings constructed in the 1940´s, are undergoing a full-scale remodeling/reconstruction project, down to the floors and walls, which I will say are like not many other apartments! The apartment building is constructed of solid block walls, thick concrete floors and balconies, and good old fashioned plaster interior walls that bend your thumbtacks, leaving you with almost no noise between your unit and the one next to you. No paper-thin walls and floors or foo-foo pretty awnings here... <br>Sorry Barbie!! <br>However, four months into my six month lease, I have decided already not resign my lease. I have found apartments for the same cost but that include things that the Mirage lacks for example: in unit washer/dryers, optional garages and storage, gated security or a paid security patrol or alarmed units. <br>I stress *SECURITY* !! First the layout of the complex wont allow for security gates. <br>The units are newly re-wired for state-of-the-art fire and gas protection as well as Qwest~DirectTV and Broadband, but NO security system. In 4 months, I have only briefly seen one of the tennant volunteer "courtesy" patrol officers on only 4 nights, one of these times in a lounge chair at the pool playing on a notebook computer after the pool was closed, who, as I was proudly giving my mother a tour of my new apartment, was quick to inform me that we couldnt use the pool (duh-we were clothed)! Then as I walked her to her car in the parking lot, we passed a tennant at a car window exchanging money for drugs. That didnt really bother me, yet...but there are 2 remaining buildings which I refer to as "The ------", to still be remodelled. The character of these tennants would not only make your mother clinch her purse and say, "Oh My!", but probably your friends too! <br>However, I have found most( as referred to by another raters comments) to be nice people who exchange smiles and "Hello"s with me regularly. The unremodeled buildings contain the dumpsters and the coin laundry and smell very badly of a baby poop, cooking odor, trash and laundry fabric softener combination that follows you on your elevator ride to your floor. These buildings wont be remodelled until late 2003-2004, hopefully they will re-think this area. <br>But most importantly *Security*. My brand new truck was stolen from the upper level of the parking garage, among 4 abandoned vehicles and another stolen truck that I found on the day my vehicle vanished. Two weeks ago someone fired a large caliber gun off so close to my balcony that I could smell the gunsmoke in my apartment on the 4th floor up. Then the latest incident; I was surprised at the doorway of my apartment just 2 nights ago, by 4 firemen, 3 never-before seen courtesy patrollers, and 2 police officers who told me that the fire alarms had been activated in my building, by a close nieghbors´ pot-smoking party. <br>My Recommendation: If you are considering the Mirage, wait until the renovation is complete and have full auto and renters insurance. They ARE beautiful and convenient, and the rental staff is bright and smiley like the crew of "The Love Boat"! <br>I hope this helps...