Colony at Dadeland

Current Resident 125823

Resident • 2004 - 2008

Gone DOWNHILL under New Owner

I've lived at The Colony for almost four years and it has become a real dump. The stove in our rental apartment is one of those old push button stoves from the late sixties or early seventies. The maintenance was just OK under the old management but became horrible when the new management took over. They stopped trimming the hedges and the place began looking like a jungle. They even stopped the pest control. Under the old management they spayed every other month and I never saw and bugs. Now they are everywhere. I spray my own apartment but anytime work is done in an apartment near mine or when someone moves out here they come. The former owner had pride in the complex and did timely quality repairs. He sold the complex after the 2005 hurricanes. We were living here when the new management company took over. They made us pay a huge increase in rent and then only provided us only a 7 month lease versus a 12 month because they we planning to go condo. In Sep 2006 our rent for a 2 bedroom 1 bath when from $930 per month to $1025 a 10.3% increase in one year. In Apr 2007 they announced the complex would be converted to condos. They announced that the current tents would have the opportunity to purchase their apartment. They actually offered the apartment I was renting to me for a little over $184,000 as is. What a joke? These apartments are full of termites, they treated mine in 2006 but they were back last year. During last year they did not care about the renters, only trying to sell these old run down apartments as condos. The few conversions they have done look to be done with cheap labor and materials. I went around looking at the models when they had their grand opening and was rather disappointed with the craftsmanship. They paved the entrance and beautified the office gave it a face lift with lush landscaping to make it look nice to people buying. But if you drive towards the back of the complex the street has numerous potholes and not enough of or proper speed bumps to control the many speeders that live in the complex. This is not a safe place for children to play. There is no playground and with the many speeders the street is definitely not safe to play in. The complex s security is far from satisfactory. Most of the security guards that sit at the front gate can not speak English and it seems every few weeks it is a different company providing security. This is suppose to be a gated community however the only the main gate is manned and only at night. The north and south gates are suppose to be closed by a certain time but rarely on time. I do not know why they bother the gates are only 4 feet tall and I have watched many individuals just jump over them instead of going to the main gate. I walk around the complex every night for exercise but rarely have I seen the complex security personnel checking out the complex only sitting on their behind at the front gate. The previous owner at least had a decent security company. This is the same complex that University of Miami s football player Brian Pata was murdered. The same are where he was murdered is the same area where the security lights have not worked since the new management took over. As of today 2 March 2008 they still do not work. The reason we are still here is my wife and I just finished school and are now looking to leave this area soon. I would not recommend this complex as long as the current management still controls it.

llobo56

Resident • 1996 - 2000

Excelent & friendly enviroment

I lived at the Colony Apartments from May 1996 through August 2000, while studying at the University of Miami, and left when moving back to Brazil. I found the Conoly Apartments very safe, clean, with good maintanance, and a very pleasant atmosphere. The staff working there at the time were friendly and answered promptly whenever there was a problem (very rare). I highly recommend the Colony, especially to students attending the University of Miami. Access by car to the University is fast via 826 (Palmetto Expressway) or via Metrorail. I have good memories the Colony! Lygia Lobo

boukephalos

Resident • 2002 - 2007

New Management is truly horrible

I've lived at The Colony for four years and it has become a real dump. Building still not repaired properly since hurricane season of 2005, several muggings in the past few months since the new management got rid of security, and there are always many "improvements" (closed pool, closed gym, etc) the current owners are doing in preparation of trying to sell the units as condos. Don't let them rope you into renting here.

lygialobo

Resident • 1996 - 2000

I lived in the Colony from May 1996 to Dec 2000, when I left the US to come back to Brazil. The maintenace was great, managers and staff very polite, the environment very friendly and pleasant. I definitely recommend the Colony!

pocketcathy

Resident • 2006

Great place to live!

I lived at the Colony over a year, and it was fantastic. The maintenance was great; our AC died the first week we were there (hurricane related) and they replaced it the very next day. I didn't like a woman in the management office, but she has since left and has been replaced by someone far more competent. We even got our entire security deposit back when we moved out. We only moved out because we moved out of state, not anything to do with the Colony itself. For the price you pay in rent, you get a lot -- two pools, a rec room, parking, and a nice community. The rooms are VERY spacious. I miss living there and wish I could move back.

Current Resident 291210

Resident • 2005 - 2006

Colony apartments, is this the ------?

Dont even bother! sure the prices sound good and the area is nice. But this complex is horrible, the office manager lady is very rude with no tact. The service people also happen to be very rude, as well as the night time manager he likes to yell at the residents. As a former resident I know first hand, I would think since, I'm paying rent I deserve respect. Theres no parking and if it rains the parking lots flood. Its very noisey especially at night, neighbors on both sides and above can be heard clearly. After 05's hurricane season the buildings suffered some damage and it took some weeks to clean up, some other residents even lost a/c for up to a month. With I might add no rent reduction. As to the rest we suffered from mold, leaking pipes, broken fixtures, old carpeting, even crumbling sheet rock from my first day as a resident. we Had a huge 2 bedroom one bath, the rent was under a thousand dollars. Also, the public washer and dryers were gross if they were even working. In all I did enjoy the apartment at times because it had so much space and its almost next door to dadeland mall, barnes & noble, and starbucks but all that is not worth what I put up with. I never once used the 1980's era pool or gym or tennis courts. I recently heard the property had been sold to developers, I hope they knock it down to build one of those new beautiful condo buildings that have been going up in the dadeland area. The colony is not recommended!!!!!!!!

Current Resident 122607

Resident • 2005 - 2006

Sucks!! Run Like Hell from this Place!!!

The complex is old. The apartments seem to be solidly built concrete structures. Though management did absolutely NOTHING to prepare residents for Hurricane Wilma, amazingly, even though no windows were shuttered anywhere in the complex, I didn't see one broken window. The A/C units were ripped from one building, but that was no fault of management. I would fault them for not sending out guidelines to prepare for the hurricane (like removing all items from the balcony). You'd be amazed at how many residents kept their balconies full of junk that could have endangered people. I liked the roomy apartment, but I must say Colony has not updated anything on the inside for decades. One sink was full of rust and all plumbing looked as if it had been in use for 100 years. All sinks and toilets should have been replaced years ago. The carpeting is worn down to paper thin. It too should have been replaced years ago. Maintenance is also slow. Eventually it did get done if I stayed on management (except for A/C repair). The elevator frequently malfunctioned and often took a couple days or more to get it going again. If you live here, you'd better like walking up several flights of stairs frequently unless you rent on the first floor. If you like slow maintenance and ancient appliances and fixtures, then this is the place for you. When our lease came up for renewal after the condo company bought the complex, we'd finally had enough. What little maintenance they provided under the previous owner came to a grinding HALT. They even quit trimming the hedges next to apartment. It began looking like the Amazon jungle. Before the arrival of the rain event known as tropical storm Ernesto, they pulled the plug on the elevators for NO REASON forcing people to walk up to 4 levels to their apartments for about three days. What the F? When our lease came up for renewal, they offered only a 7 month lease with a HUGE increase in rent. This dump wasn't even worth what we had been paying on our first lease, let alone a 20% increase in rent to live in the ------ it had become. We bailed. When we first moved in it was just barely acceptable. By the time we left, it had turned into a slum. If you have the last brain cell left in your head... AVOID THIS PROPERTY LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDED ON IT!! Actually, it might... there was a murder there shortly after we made our escape.

LLW2003

Resident • 2005

Nice, peaceful apartment

Moved in here 4/1/05 into a 2 Bedroom 2 Bath. So far it has been a very pleasant experience. I love the assigned parking place, too bad it can't be two, but you can't have everything. The only parking problem is the northeast section of the parking lot floods when it rains quickly. I do not live on the first floor, so have never had any water issues in my apartment, I'm not sure if you would on the first floor or not. The two swimming pools are nice. The apartment is pretty roomy for the price (in Miami). Most important, we feel safe here.

Current Resident 336298

Resident • 2001 - 2002

Awful Experience

Although the rent prices are low for the area, the buildings are very old and come with many problems. There were major roach and other bug infestation problems that were not adequately taken care of by maintenance and bug spraying. Roaches were frequently found in our food cabinets and falling out of the A/C vents. The kitchen appliances are extremely out-dated(Our unit came with a push button stove) and the complex refused to up-date them to more modern models. We also had leaking pipes, which led to mold growth in our clothes closets. To fix the leaking pipes, contractors had to tear apart each bathroom, leaving only one working bathroom at a time. This took a long time to complete and management did a poor job of compensating for the major inconvenience. Parking may be difficult, particularly at night. Each unit has only one reserved spot. Depending on your building's location and if you have more than one car, you may have to walk across the grounds to get to your unit. The units are old and have poor sound insulation as well. You can usually hear movement on the floors above and people walking outside around the buildings. The few positives about the complex are the price (but remember you get what you pay for), two pools, a night-time security guard/gated entrance, and its location relative to shopping centers, grocery stores, and metro-rail.

Current Resident 594594

Resident • 2004

Decent place

Been here for the past 2 years. Great location. 10 minutes walk to the metrorail means I dont have to drive to work. Staff very courteous. Any complaints were handled promptly. Security gated at night. The common areas were maintained quite well. <br> <br>The only drawbacks would be the abscence of covered parking, some noise from the neighbours because of poor soun insulation in the walls. <br> <br>If you are looking for a decent place, not too expensive with easy access to the metro-rail, this is the place to stay. <br> <br>Would definetly recommend it.

Current Resident 608709

Resident • 1998 - 2001

Not the best, but decent.

Get ready for peeling paint, water leaks, and slow service (this building is over 25 years old afterall). We still have a leaking wall after 3 years and many maintenance calls. <br> <br>Parking lots flood multiple times each year, and 1st floor apartments flood every hurricane season. <br> <br>But, unfortunately, there isn´t a whole lot better in this price range in the Miami area.

Current Resident 596185

Resident • 2000

Don´t even think about it!

Kids running and screaming in halls at all hours. <br> <br>Incredibly slow (if any at all) response to maintenance requests. <br> <br>Barely any guest parking spots available. <br> <br>Gym and pool hours are not compatible with working professionals. <br> <br>Inadequate telephone wiring. <br> <br>Only one washer & dryer per building. <br> <br>Parking lots and first floor apts flood when it rains. <br> <br> <br>