As a professional, a local and very-well known Restaurantuer and developer I was once excited to move-in to this what seemed as an amazing community of greatness and that boasted a remarkable selection of floor-plans for those changing from a home and/or a lifestyle for MAHI (Middle-Aged Higher-Income) community. And the original-hype is splendid until you move-in.
When I tell you my beginning days here has been a nightmare, an absolute nightmare and if you do not like dogs daily, in fact all the time barking profusely in the middle of the night, running at you and your guest at anytime because at late night when many allow their dogs out the door to breathe and refresh, you will be greeted and just maybe you can be in my building the Dog Pound where urine and dog-fumes carry all day and night in the breeze because we live on the 3rd floor. It is crazy because we have a dog and love dogs, but you are forced to love them in this community and for us my daughter is highly-allergic and we have had to change our visitation arrangements just because I can not ensure that there will be any unwanted direct contact when leaving her own luxury apartment in the community. To continue, as a minority I will say this and leave the rest for your judgement but be prepared to be talked to any kind of way especially when you are not like those in the office. In fact, I don't think I ever been treated as shady, nice-nasty and distant as they do here obviously and it is justified by both the local office and corporate. I read the reviews before, stopped the leasing process the first time because I watched the difference in interactions with folks of color and listened to a forward conversation that the then-Community Manager had about the folks that looked like me in skin-color that left and witnessed the very-cultural that exist beyond her exiting. I respect all people, regardless and teach my children but I do not understand why no one has not called and contacted the NAACP and other forward progressive-circles to expose these poor housing practices based on race-bating and inconsistent practices that make one feels different when living here and interacting with this staff. And then the surprise when you have the audacity to share your experiences and communicate and articulate your dissatisfaction regarding your experience. Plus, both leasing professionals are different, I will leave that for you and one called me "a jackass" which I had recorded due to various issues with inconsistent call-backs and failed communications in their transition of leadership. I can continue but there isn't enough characters to highlight all the gaps that have happened in just the move-in and beginning phase of my move-in, which traditionally is the honeymoon phase at nearly every luxury community known in the United States.
Now I am one of truths, after the above incident I went in because I figured this is enough and this is not fair plain and simple. I was calling the corporate office first, visiting the local office to get resolve because the list of untouched and poorly communicated unfinished projects for a move-in that had been validated isn't right and/or going live on my social network platform and share these extensive incidents. Immediately thereafter, return call from the Corporate Representative that I spoke to now twice per above and I went and had a sit down with the-acting Community Manager that is graciously visiting from Jacksonville to help with the transition of leadership until a new Community Manager is found and got some resolve. Plus, the Supervisor of Maintenance is by far the best asset to the team and have been more than professional. It speaks to the character of at least one somebody that gets it and compliment to the Community Manager for getting the things that I had not received, but these things is what was owed upon move-in, i.e. like a trash can, working appliances, cable that works when you have paid for it from Cox Cable but the remodel team destroyed the lines, etc.
In short, this could be one of the best communities in Gainesville but you can tell that the corporate office continues to hide, deep-wounds and allow for this sub-par quality of help to grace the essence of a top-notch development that cost prime-monies. I have seen greater and lived at corporate-living in my more than 26-years as a Regional Director, Area Director and District Manager plus Chef in the business and never have I had some of the bizarre and unfortunate incidents and the level of unacceptable practices that transpire here. I know we live in a world that is challenged now more than ever, especially around the subject of race in America and the high levels of exposure for treatment of all people, treating one another as thy neighbor. Somewhere this place is excluded oddly, in a college-town at that and creates a unique-experience that doesn't embrace all mankind. And I am only speaking for myself and my family which is bi-racial and how hard I work to ensure that my children have a place that is safe, pleasant and a pleasure to live all the time. On a lighter note, the people that live here have been awesome and amazing as I have only interacted very-little because I work all the time and travel alot. Please do not stop at my review, read more and make a decision for yourself and in the words of a family I know that ran like hell, "If you want a great apartment inside to design, you got the right place but if you looking for a great community to raise your family and that lives with an obvious people pleasing attitude, good look here".
