City Lights at Town Center

con22

Resident • 2011

Nice

I just read the last review kinda of funny but had to say, I lived here 3 years not one problem. The location is great, nice complex other than the parking I really like it here. Sounds like the last person was either evicted or an ex-employee who got fired. At almost 70% approval that speaks for itself.

Pappyjohn

Resident • 2010 - 2011

HORRIBLE place...

No I am not a competitor, I live there right now in fact. Until the end of the month anyway. I wish I would have believed the reviews before I moved in.In the past year of living there, the copper piping in the bathroom, both bedrooms, and in the living room, have burst FIVE times. This required a repair crew each time for a week each time that cut huge holes in the drywall, pulled up the carpeting, and we had to live there with these noisy blowers and dehumidifiers running 24 hours a day. I have about 50 pictures of all this by the way if you would like to see them. As if that isnt enough, the garbage disposal works but if you use it, the sink will back up. If you cook, the fire alarms will go off, people will party until all hours of the night and vomit outside your door, and urinate on cars in the garage. The walls are RIDICULOUSLY thin, and you can hear EVERYTHING going on in the next apartment. The maintenance staff there are a bunch of good guys, but the rest of the staff just radiates "-----" wherever they go, and pretty much do not give a crap if you have problems with anything. As far as they are concerned, if you dont like something, move out. They have no problems replacing you. When you go in to sign the lease they are all SUPER nice and welcoming, but after that... screw you. The office staff is made up of low rent, bitter, Stuck up, trailer trash that thinks they have more authority than they do. Great location, but its not worth all the other crap. Do not live here. You have been warned. I wouldnt have even rated this at one star but the website made me.

jimbear

Resident • 2010 - 2011

CONSTANT DAILY NOISE FROM GARDENING EQUIPMENT MAKES THIS PLACE UNLIVABLE. It is so ridiculously loud I have to shut the bathroom door to make a phone call and have a hard time hearing the other person because of constant machine noise.

It is super-loud from 7am (sometimes earlier) until 2pm Monday through Saturday. You think you can sleep in on Saturday after working hard all week. FORGET IT. Home sick from work and need to recover with rest. FORGET IT. Need to use your phone and be able to hear the other person. FORGET IT. Want to open your window in the morning for fresh air. FORGET IT there are gas fumes everywhere from the MUFFER-LESS, NOISE-MAKING lawn equipment. Can they use quieter electric-powered equipment that doesn't pollute the air instead of gas-powered, muffer-less ones and have some common courtesy. Of course they can but they don't. City Lights posts these b.s. notices "We Have Gone Green". What a joke. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a traditional gas powered lawn mower produces as much air pollution as 43 new cars each being driven 12,000 miles. Gas Mower Pollution Facts EPA Statistics: Gas Mowers represent 5% of U.S. Air Pollution FACT: one hour of mowing is the equivalent of driving 350 miles in terms of volatile organic compounds. Fact: One gas mower spews 87 lbs. of the greenhouse gas CO2, and 54 lbs. of other pollutants into the air every year. Fact: Over 17 million gallons of gas are spilled each year refueling lawn and garden equipment more oil than was spilled by the Exxon Valdez. "Gone Green" my a$$. It is totally unlivable here with this SUPER-LOUD noise from these 6-day a week gas-powered, muffer-less machines: leaf blowers, lawmowers, edgers, trimmers, mulchers, etc. Can they get the job done all in one day at a decent hour with quieter equipment and not make noise everyday waking you up and continuing for hours on end. Yes, but they don't. The complex with the highest rent in South OC should be able to give you a little of peace and quiet to relax when you're home, but...FORGET IT.

wesspindola

Resident • 2011

Nice

Been here for like 3 years not one problem. Nice complex, nice area. No problems.

4truths

Resident • 2010 - 2011

ANOTHER LEAK ... WHEN IS THIS GOING TO STOP?

Just discovered the pipes under the kitchen sink leaking. This is the second time we've had a water problem with the kitchen sink. The maintenance crew came to "fix" the first water problem (gunk overflowing from the kitchen sink) not too long ago but he didn't address the core issue...THE TRASH COMPACTOR NEEDS REPLACING...Please do us a favor and get the job done the first time and stop wasting our time and energy.

mamama919

Resident • 2011

Love It!!

I read some of the reviews and I agree with the majority. NICE place so I will give all 5s.,

hankskim

Resident • 2011

Nice

I like City Lights not one issues at all been here about a year.

marley55

Resident • 2011

Extremely rude staff

I have been here at City LIghts for a year and a half now, and I hate it. It looked like an awesome place when I first checked it out, but after dealing with the staff I have grown to hate it. First of all I have a car and a truck for weekend camping and outdoor stuff. I had my truck parked in my assigned parking spot, and didn't move it for about 3 weeks. They told me they were going to tow it out of my parking spot if I didn't move it, and I could only leave parked in a spot for 3 days. Its so ridiculous that every time I go out of town for any length of time over a week I get a notice saying I have to move my car. Second we all split the utilites for the whole apartment building, and when we moved in we had it set up on auto debit. Then one day we got an eviction notice on our door saying we were two months delinquent on the utilities and if we didn't pay we had 3 days to move out. I called the manager and he said that they canceled the auto debit, but didn't tell anyone. He also said the same thing happened to over 60 other resident. What kind of idiot do you have to be to not notice a trend that 60 people in the same building weren't paying their utilites, and maybe if its not too reasonable send out a notice saying that we needed to set up a different way to pay the bill. Every little thing like that they don't take any time to be curteous, they just send out threatening letters. All the cute girls that work in the front are about as sharp as a marble, they need to be thankful that they don't have to work the pole anymore and treat the tenants with some respect. Also they raised the rent on me after the first year but didn't tell us until we were faced with sign a new lease or pay an extra $300 a month to rent month to month.

gmmman

Resident • 2011

Good

I did a review a while back when I first moved in 2 years ago so I get the email notifications when a new review is posted. I like it here and had no issues at all. The location is the best in aliso right behind Aliso Town Center, Laguna Beach, the 73 Toll Road and the complex is nice and for being such a huge complex pretty quite. I guess my only complaint is the parking structure and people sometimes parking in my space ( I will tow you ) so don't park in my spot!! But overall nice.

KidGeo

Resident • 2010 - 2011

The Pros & Cons

I have read the online reviews for City Lights Apartments both before and after we moved in. Some of it is true, and some of it is not. First off I am a software developer that works from home so I am around most all day and night so I see more of what happens than usual. First thing you have to remember is these are apartments and not private gated houses so don't expect the same experience in living conditions. We did live in a private gated community before relocation here from Las Vegas and even there we had issues with dog barking, bad neighbors and more, but it was still nicer to have more of a separation between you and your neighbors, plus a private garage and backyard. Oh well, back to the City Lights Apartments. THE CONS PARKING: Many people complain about the elevated parking structure online as if they didn't see if "before" they moved it (idiots I like to call them). Truth is I have lived in places with all outside parking on the ground level and not only does the elevated parking structure keep the sun off your car 95% of the time is keeps your car cleaner for longer which is nice for me because I like to keep my black car shining at all times. It is a pain to drive up the structure each day, but the trade-off is worth it. BREAK-INS: I think if you call the local police department (by the way there is one only a few blocks away from here) you'll find that "all" apartments have break-ins, in both cars and apartments (duh). But once again the elevation of the parking lots and most of the apartments (its a 4-story structure) deters most thieves who prefer to hit the first story units and cars. Call the local police if you don't believe me. BTW: If you're looking for the apartment complex with no thefts, you'll never find it, so do you best due diligence to find one with less than average thefts. NOISE & DRUG USE: these two kind of go hand in hand. While I think City Lights Apts may have a few more drug users than they want, because they are upscale apts and more costly than other apts around you'll find that drug users tend to like to pay less for rent so their numbers here are at a minimum (our first neighbors were very quiet, then a few months later a group of guys moved into their apartment, smoke pot so much you can smell it on our patio, and the noise level definitely has increased). I would tend to complain more about the music they play then the fact that they like to mellow out with some pot each and every day. Remember, just like houses you can't pick your neighbors, only your friends. THE PROS The best feature about the City Lights Apts is the location! You'll find every type of retail store, restaurant, movie theaters and more just across the street (literally) with a very nice park at the end of the block that has free outside movies on Friday Nights and Concerts on Sunday's during the summer months. But to be able to leave you car in the parking structure and walk to see a movie and have dinner, or earlier in the day to one of the coffee houses and relax is truly a pleasure you won't find many other places and we looked at them "all" before relocating here from Las Vegas. The streets around the stores and park are all cobblestone and not asphalt which may not seem like a big deal until you walk around a little and realize what a difference it makes on the mind. MANAGEMENT: now this I can't give you too much feedback about, but I can guarantee you that there are two sides to every story and the people who complained about not getting their deposits and such back may be telling only one side of the story. However, if we run into issues when we move out I'll be sure to update you! SUMMARY: if you come here looking to live, please do yourself a favor and after you park and before you enter the leasing office take a short walk across down the block to the park and stores. It will make a big difference on how you view living here than seeing a pretty common 1 or 2 bedroom apartment, pool, etc ;-) UPDATE RE-NEWED LEASE: (October 2011) well we finished our first year here and although we have wanted to move to a house the timing is just not quite right yet so we signed another lease for the same amount per month. Again, the complaints I read about City Light really seem to come from people who most likely were very ignorant that there was a parking structure here to begin with and/or seem to be upset that there deposit was not returned upon leaving. I can almost guarantee you that your deposit will not be returned because regardless of how well you think you cleaned the place, they still need to have it professionally cleaned, including the carpet and most likely some painting. So don't waste your time making the place spotless when you leave, they are going to clean it again no matter how well you clean it. And if you are moving into the apartment someone just left, you are going to appreciate that it was professionally cleaned throughout, carpets and painting too. Bottom line, your cleaning deposit is not a deposit, more accurately is it a fee which unless you put down a lot (more than $200 ) you should not expect to see upon leaving. We've seen many people come and go now and things around here are really about the same throughout the year. If you're lucky you will be blessed with good and quite neighbors during your stay but it is definitely not a guarantee and they do respond well to noise complaints 24/7. There is a special number you call after the leasing office closes to make complaints (mostly noise) at any time of the day or night. Is there a better place to live than City Lights? There could be but I doubt when you consider all the pros and cons of other places compared to City Lights you will most likely find them about equal. Once again the best part about living here is LOCATION! You have stores of every kind, restaurants and a large movie theater complex right across the street. And that will be a hard feature to match with most other apartments! We know we looked at 20 or more before we moved here ;-)

Current Resident 138957

Resident • 2006

The worst management ever!!!

The company that I work for has had a 2 bedroom apartment here for 6 years. A notice was given by telephone that they would not be renewing the lease. They took the notice and everything was moved out. The management at the complex decided that the notice had to be in writing which in the lease it does say that. When the notice was givin it would have nice if that information was given. The management not only billed us for an additional month but billed us for a short term lease which was $2,200 /mo. We told them after 6 years this is how you treat someone they didn't care and would take us to collections. Eventually it was paid. Now guess what, we again are looking for an apartment for the company and anything owned by Shea Apartments is out of the question. This is what happens when you do bad business it will come around. The management needs to fired.

pilot77d

Resident • 2008

8th Stolen Car this year (It's only July) from parking structure. Cars are routinely broken into or vandalized by non-english-speaking greasy gangmember types who are allowed to loiter and case the parking structure to steal whatever they like.

From the Orange County Sheriff's Police Blotter: 7/5/2011 8:19:52 AM 7/5/2011 8:21:21 AM Case Number 11-118432 STOLEN VEHICLE 2400 BLK CITY LIGHTS DR [7/5/2011 08:21:04 : pos11 : JMURPHY] NBH: 921D5 92656 33.5724,-117.727455 BLACK CHEVY TRAILBLAZER STOLEN FROM PARKING STRUCTURE. Not only have several cars been stolen from the parking lot here the thieves also break into and steal parts off cars. At least two people I know have had their catalytic converters stolen off their cars here. Apparently there is precious metal in them that makes them valuable to steal. The sheriff's department posted warning notices about all the vehicle burglaries happening here. A resident was also attacked with baseball bats recently when he caught four gangmembers breaking into his car. When my lease is up I am running. I don't even care that the front office will phony up false "cleaning charges" so I lose my deposit as I heard they do here. I am never looking back.

notavictim

Resident • 2009 - 2011

Dozens of Junkies and Drug Addicts live and hang around a Halfway House located here at City Lights and break into cars and apartment units stealing and vandalizing and doing drugs. Google the word Hero House. Car alarms go off nightly from thefts.

Here is an actual police report called in by a resident after she was assaulted by two drug addicts and ran for her life to the leasing office as the junkies were chasing her. Not the best choice of places to run to for safety as the City Lights office workers allow the junkies living at the halfway house live and prowl around committing crimes here. 4/27/2011 4:09:44 PM 4/27/2011 4:12:53 PM 11-072242 SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCS 5000 BLK CITY LIGHTS DR read [04/27/2011 16:12:11 : pos15 : MCFADDENGC] Landmark Comment: CITY LIGHTS APTS 921D6 Landmark: CITY LIGHTS APTS NBH: 921D5 92656 33.5724,-117.727455 10-87 W/INF IN LEASING OFFICE REF 2 SUBJ`S THAT HAVE BEEN SQUATTING IN ELECTRICAL CLOSETS & LAUNDRY ROOMS DOING DRUGS AND LEAVING DEBRI. INF WILL DIRECT.

mike97

Resident • 2011

Nice

Ive been here in Bldg 1 area not one issue, I just renewed my leased another year. Nicd place, nice location, staff is reponsive whenever I need them. My rent went up a bit but other than that, Im happy here.

Current Resident 457697

Resident • 2006 - 2011

Problematic

I have lived here for 6 years. Frist two years, no problems. Next three years lots of problems mainly to include leaking pipes causing walls and ceilings to be ripped out for weeks on end with dehumidifier blowing in apartment 24 hours a day. Management does not compensate for this inconvenience to include temporary furniture rearrangement, higher utility bill due to running dehumidifier, and just plain having to live with torn out walls and ceilings for extended periods of time, it's not pretty!!!! Decided to move to another building and within two months, leaking occurred at new apartment. Deja Vue, here we go again. :( Time to move out. I would however like to emphasize that the maintenance team is really good. It's the management that needs to learn a thing or two.

Current Resident 554128

Resident • 2011

Great apartment and worth a little extra

I checked out these apartments and fell in love with the layouts. I had seen the reviews on this website and was a little unsure about how it would really be to live here. I decided to take a risk and sign a lease anyways. I have been here now for a little over 4 months and I have nothing to say but good things. The staff is great and someone is always in the office to help out. I really love that they have a receptionist at the desk and she is very helpful. I've heard from my neighbors that the plumbing isn't always great here but living on the 4th floor has its benefits and you don't have to deal with that. The area is pretty clean and well kept. I've never heard it be too loud, maybe overlooking the pools I could see why it would be a little louder but I've never even had a problem hearing my neighbor next door. The parking structure takes a while to get up and the speed bumps are a pain but in the end it keeps drivers from speeding and keeps us safe. I've never had a problem with ANYTHING getting stolen or vandelized. Anywhere you live you have that risk. People on here make this place sound like if you live here you'll have your car stolen asap and that is false. The layout is what sold me and everytime I have friends over they are amazed at how beautiful these apartments are inside. City Lights are worth the extra 50-100 dollars more a month than the other apartments in this area. You get so much more here. I would absolutly recommend these apartments.

Current Resident 460233

Resident • 2008 - 2010

Don't Live Here

I've lived here for 2 years. At first it was great. The management WAS nice the apartment WAS nice etc etc etc. After about 1 year, the apartment just seems to fall apart. We have had constant issues with the kitchen light and the washer and dryer. We have maintenance work order in all the time for something or another. The most recent 1 is for 3 things: mold growing on the window due to the window leaking, weather stripping on the front door is gone, and the toilet seat is completely cracked. This work order has been in for about 3 weeks. They called us yesterday asking if the work was done to our satisfaction. We mentioned that none of it had been done at all. The guy then mentioned that they would send someone up yesterday to fix it. Still nothing. The management is horrible. The apartments are not well insulated. The upkeep of the grounds in general is horrible. The fitness center is very tiny and almost everything in the fitness center is broken. The parking garage is a joke. Sure..there is enough parking but....the speed bumps in the garage are the worst I've ever seen. They are practically wedges. They are really not worth the money. Great location but beyond that really not worth it.

treny

Resident • 2010

Nice

I really like it here can't beat the location. No complaints been here since April last year. I will renew my lease.

adiemmus10

Resident • 2010

this is a real review from my point of view

First, one thing to me that that makes me wonder is why this complex have 3 time as many reviews as any other apartment complex in aliso Viejo. I live here for 2yrs. If you usually go online the review any product you will find that people write reviews only if they have a problem with something so you cant really trust nether good or bad reviews. With bad reviews you something will see patterns that indicate there may be a problem but in my experience here this is what I think. The management In 2yrs I probable talk to them about 3 times over the phone, and they came to fix the maintenance issue in reasonable time. But I know about the poor plumbing that people complain, Its TRUE. I live in the 3floor and the guy in the first floor had Many issues with the pluming. I also receive the letter indicated that people are using too much soap or bubbles. Sorry but bubbles has nothing to do with bad plumbing. It was can of rude to tell us to minimize the about of soap I used until they fix the problem. Anyway my apartment didn t have any issues. The Fake reviews I think they are true. Security: This is a hard subject to review. ---- happen everywhere no matter where you live. The SWAT came because a 20something years old ex military war veteran barricaded on his apartment. By the way Nothing happen. About stolen cars I only know because I read it here. People braking into cars, Nothing has happen to my 2 cars and I have a convertible , I don t leave anything to steal inside. I cant say its not true but it probably happen to others. Sheriff's Department records and warnings they have posted City Lights are true. Also the main gate is a joke, when it open any car can follow and if its closing and you get close it will open again so you will see people waiting for someone to open. I have read some reviews that say Gang and Crime Infested Totally NOT TRUE. Thare have been issues in the pass but this quote is wayyy over the top. I have a 4yr daughter and every weekend I come down so she can play with the group of other kids that are usually playing there or I will take her to the pool which is nice too I can say for sure that you always have to be careful were ever you live but I feel completely safe HERE. Neighbors: Is completely disgusting how people write reviews here refer to other, especially the racial slurs. Get real people we are in America there is going to people from everywhere so as far as I can tell, if you can afford to live here( which is somewhat expensive )go for it. Its illegal in any part of the US to discriminate base on Race. If you don t like living with people with other nationalities, you should move out of CA or any other state like FL, NY, TX. All my neighbors are nice I don t know them much but I see them all the time and they look NOTHING like they describe in this site. I don t know why people write here that there are illegal s living here in every apartment which is NOT TRUE, I don t think anyone illegal, can afford rent here. Im a professional with a good job and I have to take care of my family since my wife don t work. So $1700 a month is expensive to me. Noise: Yea some time you here your people walking above or if they drop something especially in the kitchen area. If you have the windows open you can listen people outside but is not too bad. You can also here barking dogs sometimes. Im not that close to the parking lot so I don t here car alarms. But there are Many occasion of fire alarms going off at different times including in the middle of the night. Also we are close to the corner of the main street, there is the Fire station across the street so you will hear the siren all the time any time The areas: I think they do descent in maintaining gardens and the pool, I hear people complaining of other by not picking waste after their pets and that happens in every complex that I have ever move to in the past. Its nice to walk to the supermartket, restaurants or the Movies and also take my kid to Grand Park to play.

Trent1976

Resident • 2010

PIPES BREAK ALL THE TIME, FLOOD YOUR APARTMENT

Terrible plumbing. I moved in only a couple of months ago and so far twice I had pipes break inside the drywall, flooding everything. The maintenance people come in and fix it but they make a mess and they keep you up because the pipes happen to burst in the middle of the night. NIGHTMARE!

bradm95

Resident • 2010

Very Nice

Lives here for 2 years and Love it. Location, Looks, everything about this place is awesome, you can ingore the weird reviews not true at all.

Current Resident 393860

Resident • 2009 - 2010

Shea Properties is a business... NOT a place to call home

Shea Properties | City Lights Apartments made nothing easy and whenever I had an issue they reminded me they are more concerned about their bottom line than making a tenant satisfied. Over the course of a year I lived at this comminuty I was evacuated from my home due to a terrorist, my window was shattered by maintenance and not fixed for days, other residents constantly parked in my assigned space, and all office staff are very arrogant and incompetant. Finally when I terminated my lease they erroneously charged me for obsurd things which I had to fight with the corporate office for over two months to have rectified. This apartment community is nicer than other's in the area but definitely think twice about how you will be treated by staff.

sk2000

Resident • 2010

Overall Good

nicest looking place in aliso, good location and my apartment is nice. Parking is crazy but this is a huge complex, still can recommend.

amandawoodward

Resident • 2010

Great Location, Great Staff, Great Apartment

I really like it here. My apt is very nice, location is great and every apt has it's own alarm you can activate with Protection One, I did it and feek very safe. I love Aliso and it's location to Laguna Beach. Every contact with the staff has beeb great very nice and professional!

christianman93

Resident • 2010

A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE!!

I love the location. You just cannot beat it. You can walk everywhere. Very Quiet AND very safe. Also the complex is very nice the nicest in aliso.