City Lights at Town Center

Current Resident 252409

Resident • 2006 - 2007

Great Staff...if only they actually LIVED in the apartment they are renting!

I think out of the 5 years of renting, this is by far the worst apartment complex we have ever stayed at. Waiting till the lease was up...was by far, very grueling. We were woo'd by the amenities and suckered into a 1 bed/den, which had a model that looked much bigger than the one we actually got. We put a deposit down on a 2nd story apartment in the building we wanted. Instead, the renters pulled out of the 30 day notice, and management stuck us with an apartment on the 1st floor of a building we didn't want. It was a good deal, but seeing how the entire year sucked there, I feel we were bamboozled. First off, 1st floor apartments are notoriously known for more bugs and rats. City Lights was the worst of them. It was like a silverfish breading ground! And the rats are everywhere...running in the halls in all sorts of buildings. Problems with having interior trash areas, that are constantly left open. One they didn't have was ants...I will give them that. Aliso Viejo is built on an ant hill. I've known residents in houses who complain about the ant problem...but at City Lights, no ants anywhere. One piece of advice is never to get an apartment with a patio that faces a fire road. If this is the case, you are facing another building and getting zero air flow. We called our apartment "The Cave"...no sunlight, and no airflow. In the summer, it was a billion degrees, AC day and night. During the winter, it was freezing. Talk about expensive utilities. Something about the concrete walls that hold in all that heat. The apartment has great construction, but only if you are living in Phase 2. Phase 1 apartments have really thin walls, and cruddy construction. The construction is so great in fact, that cell phones don't work. Talk about hanging off your patio when you need to call someone....not cool. The garage seems all convenient, but honking horns, blasting stereos, and engine reving really make living nearby almost impossible. We heard all this day and night. We even heard cars hitting the garage segments all night. And, the best part of all was the fire alarms. I've had fire alarms for the apartment go off a few times. No, the fire alarms I am referring to are the ones that go off, and shut the hallway doors, flashing lights, ear-piercing alarms... Imagine this alarm going off at all hours of the day and night...most often at 2 or 3am, at least once a week....for a year. This was our life at City Lights. Now, the craziest part of our experience was the move out. I heard stories about Shea charging huge amounts of money for move-out. We paid only about $199 for the deposit on a special. We didn't really clean the place, shampoo'd the carpets with my Bissel Steam Vac a little bit, and definitely left patches all over the walls, from my filled in nail holes. When I moved out, I received an itemized statement, and a check for $100. I was beside myself. We were only charged for standard carpet cleaning. Our half-*ss cleaning job was apparently acceptable, and they simply spot-painted my nail holes. Totally crazy! Anyways, I wouldn't recommend this apartment to really anyone. The staff was nice, but I don't think they actually live at their own complex. We had so many problems with the apartment that were never resolved, I would tell anyone who wants to live here....check out your options carefully before moving here. If all the other apartments in the area suck, go for private rental. Don't be fooled by this place.

paula77720

Resident • 2008

horrible bill

I lived in the apartment for 7 months and we are happy until we moved out. First, they charged us 5 days back pay because we have to fulfill the 30 days notice, then we got billed for carpet clean of $140, moveout clean of 110, wall paint for 140 a total of $710.00 I was so upset because we didnt trash the place, we didnt even hang a single picture frame on the wall. Well i spoke to one of the girls and she said that when your back touches the wall, it discolors the pain because of the perspiration, etc... I wish me and my husband leaned on the wall all the time after we worked out so my perspiration will stain the wall, damn! And i wish we didnt vacuum the floor when we moved out cow we still get charged $110. I wish ... Well, im glad im out of there, i will pay my bill and hope people will learn from my lesson. Please, before u sign the lease, ask them to explain the move out expenses so you will not get charged for painting the wall because you perspire a lot!

Prospective Resident 109900

Prospect • Visited 2007 - 2008

THE WORST THIEVES IN SO CAL

The unbelievable becomes believable. My experience is a simple one. I put a deposit down on an place. I travel for work ( a lot) and couldn't make the day to return to pick up the keys. No supersonic from FL to CA. Though a rate schedule is implied "refunded at a rate...", since I couldn't be in CA I would lose the deposit. Forget that the move in date was weeks away and there was no loss of revenue from City Lights. City Lights then graciously decided to start fresh - [keeping my deposit], and the same situation ensued. I was in NYC for work and the rate of the apartment went up if I couldn't get keys that day. and oh yeah, forget that the were not losing any revenue, and the move in was, again, weeks away. So I politely declined the marked up rate and asked for my deposit back (see paragraph two and three) and was told no. You lose the deposit because you didn't move in. My response was - how did this business EARN $400? No answer. I promptly put a stop payment on the deposit. Months later I get a call from a collection agency promising to put this on my credit report as a derogatory entry. So the decision of 60 - 100 pts in a credit score drop for a losing a deposit to a place I never actually resided or pay the 400. I paid the 400 as I am thankfully not living with thieves - defined as an entity who takes something they haven't earned. The happy ending is I don't live there. VERY HAPPY.

Current Resident 803182

Resident • 2007 - 2008

I wish my contract would end sooner!

besides some nice floorplans, everything else sucks! the amount of noise is unbearable, I think it is above the standard 55 dB, yes well over that..if you want to hear the alarms going off at 3:00 Am or you want to hear the loud noise and disturbance from all sources that you can imagine blowers, trash transportation, garage cleaners, cars, loud musics of some young college folks..... all day long move to this place.

unclemike

Resident • 2007 - 2008

Not a bad place

I've lived here almost a year and am very happy. I have never seen any rats, silverfish, spiders, or any of the other things the people here are complaining about. Maybe they should keep their own apartments cleaner, I don't know. I live in Phase I and i hardly can hear my neighbors (not anymore than I did in other apartments, anyway). The only thing I agree with is that the fire alarms sometimes go off, but they are usually stopped after a minute or two. In the past year this has happened maybe 6 or 7 times that I can remember. Not sure if you can really blame managemtn for somebody setting off an alarm though.

Current Resident 971762

Resident • 2006 - 2007

If you want crime, noise, bugs, and 2am fire alarms...this is the place for you!

We moved here from Barcelona apartments about a year ago. The place looked great, and we thought an apartment owned & operated entirely by Shea Properties couldn't be bad right? Well, the maintenance is nothing to complain about. Completely top notch, but with so many apartments in the complex...expect to wait a couple of days. Hope you don't have any emergency! Contruction was also not bad at first. The walls, ceiling, and floor are made of concrete; up to condo standard, apparently. This is great because you never hear your neighbors thru the walls. The downside is if you have T-Mobile, your cell gets no signal...concrete absorbs all signals. Floorplans weren't too bad on paper, but in reality were far too small for your money in Aliso Viejo. Great for singles and roomates, but terrible for families. Also, with so many funky angles, baby gates were nearly impossible to configure. Also, limited closet space & no personal garage basically put your stuff in a storage unit at $80-$120 a month. Kind of unnecessary since most complexes in the area include garages. Proximity to the town center is a plus, but don't walk there. I've seen too many shady drug deals in the park & have seen tons of teenagers deface and destroy public property. There is "FU" type of graffiti everywhere, and it never gets cleaned up, despite multiple calls to the city. The other night we found condoms and broken beer bottles everywhere...apparently quite a party. This is not the apartment's fault, but the Sheriff do nothing!!! Be careful crossing Grand Avenue...everyone speeds beyond the 30mph speed limit, and no one stops at the stop sign. I even saw a sheriff deputy on his cell phone nearby, while no less than 15 cars ran the stop sign.. Proximity to a police station means nothing....as these teenagers get in our complex, and set off the building fire alarms on an almost daily basis. There is nothing like an ear-piercing alarm going off at 2-3x a day, almost daily. Building 7 is the worst of them....we hear their alarm go off all the time. Ours went off a few times as well.....not too fun, with an infant. Theft seems to be a real problem at City Lights. Several of our neighbors have had their cars and motorcycles stolen...we've been lucky. Had one weird guy try to look into our back patio, called the police....they did nothing. Worse yet, he still comes around and checks out apartments....because no one stops him. The previous tenant apparently had some bad debts, and had several thug-like guys bang on our doors, trying to collect. Somehow....telling him we don't know the guy, doesn't get the message across. Everyone here smokes...so if you smoke, you are in the right place. We've even smelled pot sometimes on our walks...no idea where it comes from. The complex says they call the police....but as you know, the sheriff does nothing! I saw a deputy once, and he basically walked around...because even he couldn't figure out where it was coming from. Bugs is a real issue here! We had black widow spiders, brown recluse spiders, and TONS of silverfish. No ants.....probably because they were eaten by all the dangerous spiders! We've seen and pointed out rats everywhere. The complex says they are baby rabbits....oh ok, whatever! Looks and run like rats to me. Garbage chutes smell all the time! Probably a source of the rats. The parking garage is a real problem! People are so loud and inconsiderate, when they constantly honk their horns at 2am. This happens all the time. Phase 2 is the worst, because everything echoes from the garage here. Don't bother opening your screen door for air in the interior apartments. The noise is so loud, you are better off closing all the doors and windows, & using the A/C. Also, because the gates are a facade, there is a lot of strange people wandering around in the garage doing who knows what. Anyone can get into the apartment...don't let those gates fool you. Also, with a speed bump every 20 feet...how can people rev their engines and speed up and down the place...but they manage to. The hallways absolutely suck! Just the feature of the apartment that you can't get around no matter where you live. Drunk people, domestic disputes, and skateboarders are just a few things you will have the pleasure of hearing at 2am. Pet policy seems pretty nice....no dogs, cats only. However, I've personally heard some "barking cats" walking up and down the hallways....kind of strange. You tell the office, and they tell you "there are no dogs at City Lights"....R-I-G-H-T! My recommendation is to not rent here. The staff is great, but are they living with you....probably not. I told their staff about the noise from the garage and the fire alarms, and they played dumb...what fire alarms? Obviously they don't live here....since don't get the pleasure of experiencing an ear-piercing siren at all hours of the day and night. If you want to live here, ask for a 4th floor, outward facing apartment in Phase 1. Anything else, and you will truly be sorry!

Current Resident 762775

Resident • 2006 - 2007

WE COULDN'T GET OUT OF THERE FAST ENOUGH

When we first moved in, everything was rosy. Like being in the honeymoon phase of one's apartment complex-tenant relationship. Everyone was friendly showing us around to the best open units (there were a LOT of open units; it felt like a ghost town. And we were soon to find out why. The place is built so cheap that you can hear every step of every neighbor all around you. It's almost funny if it wasn't such a disturbance. And we're pretty easy-going people. However, when our neighbors across the way started with their every-Friday thru Sunday parties, there was no help in site. We asked the "night emissary" (he's totally ineffective) who goes by and they'd just crank up the music after he left. Like there was nothing he could do. We'd tell the office and the office always says they'll discuss the noise problem with the neighbors, but nothing ever comes from it. No warnings. Nothing. Kept going all year long. People smoking in the halls, pot everything. We had enough of it. We had a BIG BUG PROBLEM year-round with ants and cockroaches. They said it's because we were on the ground floor and you have to expect that sort of thing. We complained 5 times, and by the time, the pest control guy came, it was 3 MONTHS later. We couldn't get out of there fast enough! When we finally left, the ghosttown was down to about a 10% occupancy by our own estimate. And yet it all made sense.

bradmad

Resident • 2006 - 2007

Great place overall but it has quirks

The move in was great, the price was good the apartments are GORGEOUS!!! Best place I have ever lived in.<br><br>However: The parking complex is loud and by loud I mean LOUUUUDDDDDDD. Always horns going off from alarms, jerks in Subaru WRXs blaring their mufflers at 2am. <br><br>The landscaping is amazing, the repair guys are always there within hours and our moveout was the best I've had. They didn't do the normal rape at the end of the lease, we got our deposit back!

Current Resident 846443

Resident • 2006 - 2007

Quiet=building 6

We have lived here for 6 months and we love it. Some tips : Be smart and don't go with the first apartment they show you, even if you love it. They always want to get rid of the crappy ones first, there is always something better. <br><br>You want top floor because it's quiet and away from the parking garage. Don't face the pool because the sound really carries over the water even if people are only whispering. <br><br>Look for neighbors with plants on their patio, they tend to be older and quieter. (They are also more likely to complain over a little bit of noise). <br><br>The only minor problem we have is that the water pressure is not that great but really, that's nothing to complain about. It's clean here and very safe. There is also a ton of parking. <br><br>We haven't had too much experience with the staff but so far they have been very friendly.<br>

Current Resident 322103

Resident • 2013

RUN DONT WALK OR LIVE HERE! Shea doesn't care about you. They treat their renters like ----! The manager is the worst!They have the worst plumbing and now they are in my apratment for a week tearing the walls out because they have leaks in the plumbing. I have to be in my apartment while this is happening and they could care less. Don't let them fool you! It is not worth it. The gargae is a joke as well. People speed all the time and I have had my truck broke into twice since I have been here. When I went to the Sherriff's office to fiel a report they told me that this kind of behavior happens alot at City Lights. They are always being called for break ins and neighbor issues.

drewrx

Resident • 2004 - 2006

Get a good location

Okay at city lights, location is everything. You want to move into buildings 9 or 6, anything to right of the entrance. Why? These buildings were built later and have better sound protection. How do I know? I switched locations. It's way expensive to live here but if you're into thinking you are great becasue of where you live, then by all means move in! Also, if you're nice to the leasing staff you get way better service. There's lots of guest parking at the top of the parking garage, tons, a whole floor!

Current Resident 730247

Resident • 2006

Good Place

We've lived here for a little over 5 months and have enjoyed it. It's a great location where you don't have to hassle with the parking of the Town Center. We live close to a pool, but haven't had a problem with any noisy kids. You can hear all of your close neighbor doors closing, but it is relatively quiet. Overall our experience has been a positive one and I would recommend it to anyone.

joselaburra

Resident • 2005 - 2006

Warning...

I've lived in this complex for over a year now and overall I'm really happy. It's a very new construction with an excellent location close to shoppings, movies and restaurants. No major problems with the management so far. <br><br>BUT... I'm warning you in advance. If you're planning to take the apartment I'm letting on vacancy and you're sensible to loud music...be ready to have a the EXPERIENCE FROM HELL!!!<br><br>MY UPSTAIRS NEIGHTBORD IS FULL OF LOUD MUSIC!!! WALK LIKE AN ELEPHANT SO IT SEEMS HE'S GOING TO COME DOWN ON YOUR BED TROUGH THE ROOF...<br><br>THANKS GOD I'M MOVING AWAY FROM HIM AND HIS RAP MUSIC.<br><br>IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE EXACT LOCATION...SEND ME AN EMAIL AND I'LL GIVE YOU SOME CLUES TO FIND THE APT.<br><br>

JAMES.B.LONG

Resident • 2006

PL

saddleback9

Resident • 2005 - 2006

Great apartments in a great city.

I've lived at City Lights for about a year now and overall I'm very happy with it. It's easily the best apartment I've had (I've only had four though) and it's also the best area I've lived in. It's not perfect, but it's an apartment community - you can't expect it to be like living in your own house. The cost is pretty fair, when you compare it to other communities around the area. It's even not so bad when you compare to areas that are not nearly as nice. Last year our rent here was $1,300 for a one bedroom on the fourth floor. This year the rent is $1,365. <br><br>Like any community there are going to be units that are much better than others. Being on the fourth (top) floor here is great. The wood floors and cabinets color scheme are better that floors 1-3 and the vaulted ceiling really does make you feel like you have more space. In all rooms but my bathroom, I never hear any noise from my neighbors. For some reason, the bathroom wall must be thinner because sometimes I can hear talking through that. But, overall this is the best apartment I’ve had for keeping out noise. <br><br>The parking is pretty good. There's plenty of it, even for guests. The downside is that if you have an apartment close to the parking structure, you are going to here a lot of noise from that. (Such as car alarms, and cars going over the speed bumps). So don't get an apartment here next to the parking structure if you don't want to hear the noise! Seriously, really consider the location of the unit within the complex, it makes a huge difference. Also, if you don't like noise, get an apartment that’s not facing a pool. <br><br>The maintenance crew seems to do a fine job. Everything is kept clean and in order. I've never really had any maintenance issues though. The management seems professional, and the concierge is very nice. There are over 700 units here though, so you are going to get a few people that have problems. About the comments below - it wasn't just this community that had that naked guy run through it. It was all the communities in the area. Overall it is very safe here. I've seen the gates broken about 3-4 times in a year. And this is not really a place that needs gates. <br><br>The surrounding area is very nice. You can walk to the park, and to the town center – (hence the name City Lights at town center). You can also walk to the library, fire station and police station. Overall this is about as good as apartments get. If you want better, save up and get a house.

Current Resident 387788

Resident • 2006

F-ING TERRIBLE

management is worthless. they claim to have "controlled access gates" which they dont. they gates are left open all weekends and some weekdays. so theres a directory for guests to find your name and call to have the gate opened. it took them 5 weeks to put my name in there. all you have to do is type in a phone number!! why does that take 5 weeks? and dont think that gate is security. 4th of july there were 6 motorcycles stolen (mine being one of them) and 2 cars keyed. apparently this has been happening constantly since the beginning of the year. when i tried to put up flyers to find out who else had theirs stolen so i could make a claim they told me i had to take them down because they were advertisements. first, they werent advertisements, and second, i come home everyday to a new pizza coupon on my door. why dont they stop them from putting up advertisements? they then proceeded to have someone take they flyers down and charge me for the "service" of removing them. i've also had 3 gate "passes" stop working for no reason. and everytime they charge me or hassle me before giving me a new one. my door handle has been broken for about 3 weeks now and no word from maintenance. anytime theres a problem and i call management they dont help and come up with some crazy excuse and when i get pissed and yell at them, they do it right back! what kind of business yells at their paying clients? what kind of customer service is that? ive had noise complaints on a thursday at 7.30 pm because there were TWO people on the balcony talking, not yelling or drunk or screaming bloody murder, just talking. i can hear every step the tenants above me take. the walls are paper thin. there was also a lovely incident recently. last week i received a paper on my door saying "a naked man ran up to a lady in the parking structure and grabbed her". so not only do cars gets stolen and vandalized but people are now getting attacked in the constantly crowded parking garage. for $2100 a month you think they could afford to put some cameras up, i mean they bought those big expensive gates that just sit open and dont provide any security....why not get something that actually works. im irritated just talking about the place. i cant wait to get out. its the worst place ive ever lived and way over priced. then again, so is all real estate out here. overall its a terrible place to live. i wouldnt recommend it to anyone...ever!

Current Resident 918498

Resident • 2005 - 2006

Overall...pretty sh*tty

Overall...pretty sh*tty

Current Resident 676739

Resident • 2005 - 2006

Luxury

Love the fourth floor aparments! <br>The detail in the aparment is beautifull! Yes, it is pretty noisy over here though. Parking could be better. The staff is great,too!!

Current Resident 689201

Resident • 2003 - 2006

Do you get what you pay for?

I have lived here 3 years and now the real problems have started. First they are raising my rent $100 on the first and only gave me 7 days to find a new place. Second the new mngt staff sucks. Very abrasive and rude. The property manager was in no way professional when i attempted to speak with her about the rent increase. Most recently i have issues with the security here. (1) guard between 8pm to 5am for this large community. my vehicle was stolen from my space in broad daylight. I made a report with the police but why have a gate if anyone can get past. Where is the gate cam? I don't feel safe.

azunprinzess

Resident • 2006

beautiful! I love it!

I came onto this site before getting the apartment, and I have to admit, you guys made me skeptical! I love it though, I haven't had any of the problems that these people say, in fact it's quite quiet! It's beautiful... love it! The price I pay is with appliances, it was about $100 less without them.

HermitNCali

Resident • 2006

Location Good. Management Bad

I've been living here for a few months now. And so far I don't really have any serious complaints. I do enjoy the facility's offered. I take advantage of the Yoga classes. The pool area is usually really clean. The rates are kinda high here but they do include the Yoga classes as well as other for free so I guess if you make use of them then It's good for you. The constant complaints about noise I dont know what to say about that. I live in the enterance way and I don't think it's that bad. I believe those complaints are by very finicky people. I know I have had the security come to my door three times for talking to loudly on our terrace. So they do try to keep the noise down but it's almost to the point of harassment. Parking sucks, but there are few places where you can find ample parking for two cars plus guest. Management do not answer your call about problems for long periods of time. Two weeks would be reasonable to get a class back from them. Over all I'm still content but I know I will not renew the lease at the end of my contract.

toyporsche

Resident • 2004 - 2006

Sky High rents for what You get

Promises promises .. noisey, poor facalities( half they time machines and equipent broke ) try to get something fixed a joke !!!!!!!!!! just changed the manager maybe that might help !!! cumtomer service is non-existance

Current Resident 841843

Resident • 2005 - 2006

WORST PLACE TO LIVE EVER FOR ASTRONOMICAL RENT

The Worst place I ever lived. The management is non-responsive to your needs. They mislead you when you tour the place and once you rent it you'll become a second-grade citizen. everything is done for the convenience of the employees and not the tenants. The facilities they clsaim to be amenities are never avsailable because the emplyees need to entertain their families for free, while you paying for it by high rent. Walk as far as you can from this one

Current Resident 343454

Resident • 2006

It's beautiful

I just moved in to the complex but my experiences have only been wonderful. There is nothing outside that wakes me up in the morning or keeps me up at night. The condition of the proporty is beautiful and we feel like we are staying in a hotel. I looked at the other comments people have posted and I think the negative comments are just finicky complaints you have to hear from someone everywhere. It's sad though, that people are that picky, obviously you hear a few noises throughout the day but it's an apartment not a house out in the country. So all in all it's great!

Current Resident 675369

Resident • 2006

we enjoy it....

I read the complaints before I chose to live here, and will say that they are not completely unwarranted. They could sweep around the hallways a bit more, and I can see how in some locations it would be loud from the garage. However, I enjoy living here, the location is great, we've met great people, and I think anyone reading these complaints should keep in mind that the majority of the people who take the time to post are one's who have had a bad experience and they want to share. Typically you don't take the time when everything is satisfactory. Anyway, feel free to email me with questions that you don't want to ask THEM. Maybe we'll become friends and split the refferal bonus ;) <br>ali@reeltoreality.com