City Lights at Town Center

Current Resident 111994

Resident • 2010

Been here 2 months so far

I moved in around the beginning of May. So far I have NO complaints. There is plenty of parking, it is quiet, and I never see or hear any of my neighbors. I don't know where the people who complain live but in my building I have never heard or seen anything out of the ordinary. Yes it has been only a couple of months but I really like it here. It is a short walk to the Town Center which has a ton of stores and restaurants! The police station is down the street, there is a park nearby, and I think those are all good things.

Prospective Resident 573590

Prospect • Visited 2010

i dont even live here

I stopped in to view an apt without an appointment a few days ago. I had done the same at 4 other complexes that day, and far less "nice" places. The people I met here we BY FAR the rudest (in fact all day had met nice people until here!). It was the "fanciest" place I'd been to that day and I couldn't believe the girl at the desk who was too busy to take me to a unit could barely make eye contact while she gave me rates on a unit I asked about. Mind you I'd already done my homework, knew exactly what I was looking for and just wanted to see it REALLY QUICK wasn't trying to waste her time. Was unbelievably bad service. I WILL NOT be renting here.

klrobjohn

Resident • 2010

Nice

After reading a few of the reviews here it seems like there is ONE PERSON writing all negative comments on here (you know who you are)! I have lived here for 3 years and I am moving soon due to a job transfer to Los Angeles, I find the negative reviews funny and it seems that person out there should spend their efforts and talents writing stories for Hollywood. Your a great Fiction Story Teller. Your negative reviews, comments, make me laugh! Here is the truth : This is a nice, safe, and quiet place to live at. There is no other apartment complex as pretty as City Lights and as close to the Town Center. Each unit comes with their own alarm (you need to pay Protection One $25.00 a month for it) and each unit as its own Washer/Dyer in the unit. The police department is literally 1 block away. I lived in Laguna Beach for 2 years and there is more petty crime there than in Aliso. Aliso is a safe place to live. I guess my only complaint is that you dont get a garage but other than that this is a great place to live at. I cant wait to read the fake funny negative rebuttals to my review. Your comments literally make me laugh. You should really try wrting a screen play or something ! Here is a useful information for you : SCREENWRITERS FEDERATION OF AMERICA www.screenwritersfederation.org You should really sell you stories to them ! Cant wait to read your fake negative stories !!

kjimgdsk

Resident • 2010

Quiet

So I just moved here about a month ago and I like it. My apartment is nice faces the fountain and is quiet. I really have no complaints other that sometimes guest parking is not on my level. Other than that its a nice place to live. The review after mine is completely fake. It so silly how can anyone believe it.

Current Resident 482789

Resident • 2010

Nice Place to Live

Moved in the begining of April and been here 4 weeks and I like it. I have a view of the fountain which I love, I'm in Building 1 and it's pretty quite. Parking is a bit hectic at times but overall ok. Grounds very nice, every contact with the staff been fine. Close to Laguna Beach and town center, my apt is nice.

katey1980

Resident • 2010

Nice

Been here about 6 months and I like it. Close to work, Aliso Town Center, I have never even seen any of my neighbors yet. I've seen people in the parking sturcture that is about it. Place is pretty quite, I live in bldg 1 on the 2nd floor. Some of the comments on here are really fake not sure why they would take the time to write fake comments but this is a good place to be. Like anything in life, don't listen to anyone not even me, come down yourself and look around and talk to people. That is what I did.

heythere1

Resident • 2010

I Like City Lights

Just thought I share my thoughts. Lived year 2 years and like it. I currently have a 1 bedroom/1 bath, I'm going to renew and get the 1 bedroom with the den. Get a place away from the parking structure and you be fine. The location is great, looks nice and I feel safe. Each apt comes with an alarm, washer and dryer and Ref with microwave. I guess the only thing I dont like is the fact you need to have Cox Cable. I tried to get Direct TV but no signal.

kcandme

Resident • 2010

Nice.

So I lived here 6 months and I like it. I look around and there is no other property like it as far as apperance. I have a nice view of the fountain and its quiet. Just dont get a view facing any streets and you be ok. My apt is new and even has an alarm. I read some of the comments on here and most are fake. I know that the other apartment communities nerby; Alize, Barcelona, Archstone are so jelous of City Lights they cant compete so I think they are trying anything. I heard about crime ridden Alize not sure why they cant get renters there. Too anyone reading this. Like any important decison in your life, check it out yourself. Come down and see, walk around and talk to residents, I like it here and this is the truth. Dont take anyone elses word even mine, come down yourself.

jrtx

Resident • 2010

Overall Pretty Nice

Just moved here from Texas and I looked around Aliso and saw them all. This place is the nicest looking and closest to Aliso Town Cente. Just stay away from the street and you be ok. I'm on the 3rd floor and it's quiet. Parking is a but hetic but other than that its nice here,

kimissygirl

Resident • 2010

2 years here and I like it

So I been here 2 years and I like it. I'm moving to Los Angeles for my job in Sept so I decided to check this site out. Seems to be lots of fake reviews, comments. This place fine, just dont get an apartment facing the street or one at the begining of the buidling. I'm in the middle facing the courtyard and its nice.

sk92656

Resident • 2010

I like it here

This place is nice. I live on the 2nd floor facing the fountain and its quiet. I have not even heard any of my neigbors, The place is clean, nice to look at and my apartments is great. The sheriff dept is 1 block away and their are cops all over the place so I feel safe. Anytime I talked too the staff they have been nice and professional. Looks like someone out there is jeaulous can you be a the apartment complex nearby who everyone is leaving to come here ? Im in IT and your IP address keeps coming up over and over (you know who you are). People out there this place is great come down and see for yourself!

Prospective Resident 850511

Prospect • Visited 2010

move to santa ana its better

look nice but not safe , cell phones doesn't work no service. so noisy never never never move here. forget this place. until i sign the agreement everything was fine. after nightmare begins. here for 6 weeks feels like 1 year.not safe for car also. NO NO NO FIND ANOTHER PLACE.

needtobeclean

Resident • 2010 - 2011

really bad apartmants

employye is so rude speciallity their manager. she is mean person. she is not professional. so noisy horrible place. just becouse they are in good location. dosn't mean they are good .everything is problem there.dont waste you time to even look the place. and dont belive to nice comments i m sure some paid employee is trying to cover their shame. so many water damages .really bad plumbing. i have more nasty pictures..any bod want to see ?

meladygaga

Resident • 2010

Nice Place

Just moved in and I love it. Not sure why all the neagtive comments it appears that a few have sometype of grude aganist this place. Get a view away from the street you be ok. Like anything..check it out yourself like I did. Come down on diffrent times and days, walk around and talk to a few residents. Dont take some word of some wako...just come done yourself...you won't be sorry

cityightsrenter

Resident • 2010

I like City Lights

I moved in a few weeks ago in building 1 and I have a view of the fountain. I must say I love my new apartment. It is spacious, with granite counter tops, microwave, washer dyer, nice patio. It's quite here and not once so far I heard any of my neighbors. I'm on the 2nd floor and not heard anything. My only complaint is the parking; I dont like the speed bumps and guest parking is used by residents not guests. But other than that I love it hear and love that it is walking distance to Aliso Town center. If your thinking of moving here get a view of the courtyard not the streets or roads facing the entrance of the parking structure. That part is noisy so you dont want to face the street that leads to the parking structure. I think I got a good deal for were Im at and what I'm paying for. Every time I have interacted with the staff they have been nice and helpful.

chguy27

Prospect • Visited 2010

Still Love It!

Did a review back in March when I was moving in, I liked it then and I still like it. The complex is quiet, clean, safe and close to everything. I have no complaints. Apt is nice, alarm, FULL washer/dyer in unit..granite countertops, wood floors,I can recommend. thanks!

Current Resident 92619

Resident • 2009 - 2010

WORST PLACE TO LIVE!!! HELL IS BETTER.

Don't move in this place. It may look nice from the outside but once you move in, all hells break loose. We've just moved in 2 months and already moved out. They're lucky we didn't sue them. Management SUCKS!!! Insulation sucks. You can literally hear your neighbor fart. It's noisy everywhere. You better say a prayer before you walk to your car because you'll never know if someone will run you over in the parking garage. You'll soon find scratches and dents on your car cuz parking sucks. It's like you live in low budget hotel. You'll hear people slamming doors day in day out. You'll hear people talking in the hallway 3am in the morning. You'll hear siren, cars speeding by and honking all day and night long if you're facing the street and the loud water fountain if you face the interior. Not kids friendly either. If you have small kids, tie them to the chair at all time when you're home or you'll get complaint letters from management. I have 2 kids under 3 and we had so many complaints from just doing normal activities inside my own home with my kids. You're never quiet enough. Better tiptoe or you'll get the letters. Also, the foundation is very shaky. I lived there for only 1 month and already found molds along my window frame. Our neighbors have felt the building moved when earthquake hit. Not a safe place to live. The management team will also sweet talk to tie you in signing the contract and will blame you for everything later. Also they'll try to distort more money from you get you leave for little things like small paint chips on the wall or the bathroom mirror is not squeakly clean. So if you like Aliso Viejo, live elsewhere with peace of mind.

Current Resident 657067

Resident • 2008 - 2010

Corporate Phone Number- 949-359-7243

Do you people actually think that current residents would log on to apartmentratings.com every day and post rebuttals to poor reviews? Why? What is in it for them? No one has that much time on their hands nor should they care what people are saying about this community. Obviously, we have had negative experiences at City Lights have come on here to warn prospective renters. I think we are all aware that anyone can create an email account and log on to create a review. This includes YOU CITY LIGHTS STAFF MEMBERS. City Lights needs to stop saying that these are fake comments and this place is nice, I like it here . The staff here is all uneducated ------ who have no idea how to run this community. Especially --------! She is the manager, and -------- is the Assistant Manager. They both will avoid you at all costs. I have called the corporate office and filed several complaints. I am perusing a court case for discrimination. These people are so rude and do not care about their customers. I am FURIOUS with the management here and I hope to shut them down one day. -------- and -------- need to be fired. Also, here is a little bit of reality check for the rest of you... http://ryanbrittdevine.blogspot.com/2009/08/standoff-at-city-lights.html http://www.ocregister.com/news/victim-238191-bat-haldeman.html Obviously not a safe place to live.

Current Resident 723903

Resident • 2009 - 2010

Amazing!!!

My boyfriend and I moved to City Lights almost a year ago. I have lived in 8 different apartments. This is the first apartment I have ever lived in that I wanted to stay. We felt like we had moved into a vacation condo! Its very quiet in our building I almost NEVER hear any neighbors. The layout is beautiful and very relaxing. The view through our bedroom window and balcony is also such great perk. The bathtub was the first thing that sold me on our unit! Its soo big and comfortable! Obviously location is an asset too. Brian helped us move in and was very helpful. Some people complain about the structure but if you have ever lived anywhere outside of south oc, you know what a pain parking usually is.I find the pros out weigh the cons as far as parking goes. I work in customer service so I am very picky about that and I have never had an issue here. Before you make a decision based on any of these reviews I suggest you take a tour and see for yourself. Sometimes I have to question the person who writes the review before I would ever question the residence. Just saying.

Current Resident 917777

Resident • 2009 - 2010

Terrible Service and Mediocre Staff

The staff at City Lights is terrible. There are women on the staff there who are incompetent and inconsiderate. Customer service is awful. It's obvious that Shea (owner/builder of complex) is losing money - the staff called me asking to renew SIX month early, with a small cost incentive savings good towards one of month. I cannot wait until my lease ends so I can leave this hellhole and never look back.

socalalstone

Resident • 2008 - 2010

This Place Is Under New Management Every Month

I've been here 2 years and have been through 4 different Managers....and THEY ALL SUCK!!!!!! They dont solve any issues, and they have the nerve to try to throw the issues back on to the tennant. There was a tennent partying every night, we complained...next thing you know, we get a etter because our infant cries!!! They also have a horrible Assistant Manager; they call her -------- -----..She loves to BS you.....she is the rudestt person I have met in OC. She doesnt realize that she is in customer service. This lady is utter trash!!! I dont think this company tells their employees that they are in the service/hospitality/property management. They act like the bother are a bother....THIS IS YOUR JOB!!!!!! They also think that its ok to make snide and racist remarks. Can wait to be out of this dump....would have been good, but the management is just the worst. The best Part....the staff actually burglarize the apartments.

CaliforniaDreamin09

Resident • 2009

Site Compromised Alert!

A note to anyone visiting this website in an attempt to get honest opinions on living at City Lights...you are out of luck. Anyone with half a brain can see within seconds that the overwhelming majority of the reviews are fake, both positive and negative. People that will surely respond to this review, such as Ndiesel71 and CHguy27 to name a couple, are clearly Shea Company plants. It was actually quite hilarious to see how Shea mobilized to add photos of courtyards and apartment interiors after someone posted a photo of a swat team parked all over the City Lights entry area last month. Honestly Shea, do you really think an intelligent person is not going to see through this blatant attempt to cover up a real occurrence that anyone looking to rent here should be aware of? Let me guess Ndiesel71 and CHguy27, this review is FAKE FAKE SO WEIRD FAKE LOL LOL and the photo that was taken of the swat team was FAKE FAKE FAKE LOL LOL "1" PERSON SAME IP ADDRESS LOL SO FUNNY LOL YOU SHOULD GO TO HOLLYWOOD AND WRITE SCREENPLAYS LOL GO GIRL LOL LOL FAKE SO WEIRD FAKE FAKE. Question to you Shea plants, have you taken a look at the number of reviews of any of the other Shea or non-Shea apartment communities in the area? There are hundreds more reviews here than any other complex, even the large ones. This is in and of itself a huge red flag. However, the fact that there are always 3-5 positive reviews written within a day or two after a negative one, replete with the same poor grammar and comments about how 70% can't be wrong which immediately proves the reviews are fake and only posted to drive up the rating, is even further overwhelming evidence that this site cannot be trusted...and neither can Shea. Remember, they are lying when they check the box next to: "I certify I am not an employee or contractor for this community or any other community." To be fair, a lot of the negative reviews appear to be from the same 2-5 disgruntled people as well, but note that the descriptions of break-ins and criminal events that are easily fact-checked by photographs, Orange County Register articles and Sheriff's Department records and warnings they have posted City Lights-wide are true...not FAKE FAKE LOL SO WEIRD SO FUNNY LOL GO TO HOLLYWOOD AND WRITE SCREENPLAYS LOL like NDiesel71, CHguy27 and the other non-native English speakers and overall uneducated Shea maintenance workers who write on this site would have you believe. In sum, this site is compromised and you are better off looking elsewhere for opinions on City Lights. I won't even bother adding my own because the Shea army of grammatically-challenged morons will drown it out with their drivel anyway.

Current Resident 350535

Resident • 2009

DONT LIVE HERE

Although the facilities are nice at City Lights, management and the poorly-built apartments do not make it worth living here. Neighbors who are loud can be heard very well. Little or no respect from many neighbors and their noise levels. This place was not well thought out when making a cement hallway and doors facing eachother, VERY LOUD.

Current Resident 313581

Resident • 2008 - 2009

Worth every penny in the OC

I read these things for advice sometimes, so here's my opinion of City Lights. My husband and I lived here in early '08 in a one bedroom. When he returned from Iraq we moved into a two bedroom since our daughter was just born. Now, we are upgrading to the two bedroom w/den and it's just amazing to us. We were going to buy a condo, but our new apartment is bigger, nicer, with a great view of the park and we are paying WAY less than if we bought the Condo. We had the same two girls help us every time we moved from apt to apt. I have always found them helpful and kind! Unlike some complexes, City Lights cuts you a break when there is good cause for it! After we moved out of the 1st apt, they suggested we have them get the carpets cleaned instead of finding someone ourselves - it saved us money. They gave us the rest of our deposit back! I truly don't feel like they were trying to rip us off when we moved! We have had a great experience here! My ONLY complaint is the parking structure. There are SO MANY speed bumps and they are bound to blow out a tire - esp. if you have low profiles, like my husband! There is ample GUEST parking on the top level, but on the lower levels they are hard to come by. So, I can park in our assigned spot since I have the baby, but my Husband has to go up a level and take the stairs or elevator down...Small price to pay for all the perks here! Love the Area!! I take walks daily and when I've had to go w/o a car while my Husband's was in the shop, I had access to everything I needed in walking distance! Movie Rentals, Groceries, Starbucks, Bank, 24 hr CVS...I can even browse around in TJ Maxx or take my daughter to "the zoo" aka petsmart!

Current Resident 132041

Resident • 2008 - 2009

Truth is...we won't be returning to City Lights

I think there are TWO very big problems prospective residents should know about first before they make the decision to move into these apartments. The first problem is the parking ramp. There isn't enough parking spots for guests, unless they want to drive all the way to the top floor, park there and walk down. The turns are meant for two cars, but you'll find yourself slamming on the brakes often, because people will take the turns as if they are the only vehicles driving. Living on the fourth floor seems great because you get the vaulted ceilings, but the drive to the top can get very tiresome. It takes four minutes to drive from bottom to top, but can take longer depending on who your stuck behind. Considering, you'll have to make the drive up and down every single day and more than once....it can really suck. The second problem, and maybe a make or brake deal, is the management. They do not care about the residents at all. They are very rude, and two-faced. They'll treat you nice as your about to sign the lease agreements, but as soon as you become a resident, they become rude. If you have a problem and let them know, you'll get snippety attitude. Don't even think about getting an upgrade or moving into a different unit within the complex. They consider it "breaking the lease" and will make you pay for two rents in one month, new security deposits, and other fees. They'll also tell you that the apartments are pet friendly, but if you get a pet during your lease, beware they'll tell you to get rid of the pet or move into a different unit "designated pet areas". And when you decide to move to another unit, they will tell you it's "breaking the lease", make you pay double rent for a month, pay new security deposits (you might not even get back your original security deposit), and pay other fees. It's all very frustrating. Management sucks. I won't be returning, that's for certain.