Amberwood Place Apartments

Former Resident 898211

Resident • 2016 - 2024

Roach Infested & Terrible Management

If i could rate this 0 stars, I would. The place was bearable when Laurie was managing. I've heard from other units of their mice and roach infestation but never had any issues while living there until our last year. We lived there for 7.5 years total. During our last year, we experienced a roach infestation inside our unit and we followed procedures to have it treated. I purchased a home and was allowed to have someone take over my lease, so long as I found a replacement on my own and the new tenants applied and got approved. I did just that and found out 2 months before moving out that we had new management - Crystal. Everything seemed smooth until the new tenant came out to apply. New tenants got approved and we were going to complete the lease transfer paperwork. Crystal requested we turn in all keys associated to the building and unit - and we did. Unit had been vacant for 2 weeks and we saw some dead roaches in the kitchen and let Crystal know. She halted all transfers and would not let the new tenant move into the unit or sign any lease transfer paperwork. She said this must be treated and ensured there were no more roaches before the lease could be taken over. We gave her a week and the unit was still not treated. She told me this could take as long as 3+ months or until the end of our lease, which would have been another 6 months. We reached out to KJ Management HQ and they told us this should not have been an issue and transfer could process as normal the next day. We let Crystal know what HQ told us and she still refused to let us complete the transfer paperwork. She said this was all in the lease we had signed. My husband asked her to show us where in the lease it stated this and she refused saying that we should have a copy of our own lease and we could go read it over ourselves. My husband requested that she print him a copy so he could review it right there and then and she refused to print us a copy of our lease. (All our stuff were in storage due to moving) The new tenant was aware of the history of roaches and that dead roaches were spotted when the unit had been vacant and still wanted the unit. New tenants even called Crystal and told her that they are aware of the whole situation and are okay with it and are willing to move into the unit. Crystal still would not let us complete the transfer paperwork. It wasn't until I contacted an attorney and sent her a maintenance request letter that she even actually "scheduled" a treatment but refused to even tell us when the treatment was scheduled. Mind you - my name is still legally under this unit as the renter. After many calls trying to reach HQ again to please talk to Crystal personally and inform her that we were told from HQ that we were allowed to move along with the transfer paperwork, she never called to inform us that she got the OK from HQ and that we could come in to sign documents. I'd like to also mention that it's also IMPOSSIBLE to reach Crystal by phone and she almost never called us back even after leaving voicemails. I went to try to catch her in office on one of my days off work and she was conveniently not available. I left work early the next day to catch her in office and she was out for lunch/appointment early. I caught the maintenance lady and she said Crystal was in the office and for me to come back in an hour. I sat around for an hour, in my car, and waited for her to never come back and just closed the office early for the day. We called and left many voicemails for her to finally give us a call back to "schedule" a time with her to come in to sign the paperwork. My husband and I left work early to meet her at the scheduled time and she closed up the office early, AGAIN. The maintenance lady checked the office, in hopes we could catch her if she was still there, and she told the maintenance lady that she never told us to come at a specified time. We were tired of running in circles and finally caught her on the following Saturday to sign the transfer papers. She did not sign her portion of the lease transfer confirmation that we received and I had to go back to request that she sign it for us in the unfortunate case that we get tangled up with this apartment again. She never even asked us what our new mailing address was (for CRP purposes) and I had to mention it to her. She had me write it on our transfer documents. January came and I had reached out about when we would be receiving the CRP's and if she could confirm the mailing address she had on file and she stated: "We will have them in the mail by the 31st of January as per federal law." I waited and Mid February came by and we had still never received it. I called her and reached her VM, of course, and when she called me back - she informed me that she does not handle the CRP's and referred me to call a different number. The number she gave me was to a different property. I called her and she said yes - the person I am supposed to reach is at that property. I called the next business day and the lady at the other property let me know I had the wrong number and gave me the accountant's correct number. I reached out to the accountant and he had let me know that "we never left a forwarding address" and our CRP was sent to the unit we had moved out of and came back undeliverable. I told him that we left a forwarding address with Crystal and he said Crystal said we never left one. I let him know the whole situation and he said apparently in their system - I was never in any of their leases. I had to tell him that I've lived there for almost 8 years and was listed on the lease from day 1. Backstory: we had also taken over this lease from prior renters as well and they had the woman who lived there prior to us listed as a resident, along with my husband, instead of me. The accountant was kind enough to email us a copy of the CRP instead of mailing it out. Moral of the story - Amberwood Place is affordable, but affordable for a reason; terrible new management. Crystal is a 2-faced terrible person. I am so glad we never have to deal with this apartment, along with Crystal, again.

Current Resident 112050

Resident • 2009 - 2021

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? decent place to live

Current Resident 432811

Resident • 2020

DO NOT LIVE HERE! It's cheap but it comes with A LOT of consequences. Laurie (the lady who runs the apartment), she does not care about what you complain to her about and maintenance will walk into your home without you even knowing or without no warning. Laurie will share your informations with other residents as if it's their business and most of all, the neighborhood is just bad! Crime rate are high and there has been shooting in front of the apartment buildings. NOT SAFE! Even people on first floor got robbed! Parkings are bad! People will park in a non-parking spot! Walls are thin so their will always be complaint about ya. Avoid living here if you can.

Current Resident 925742

Resident • 2019

I've been renting my two bedroom apartment since last April. I wouldn't recommend anyone to move in here it sounds like a good deal, but you'll get ----ed with the electricity bill most likely . I had to blast the ac on a super cold setting to get it cooled down, and sometimes the ac didn't even work at all then in the winter like now with the heat, it only really goes to one specific location it doesn't get to my bedroom. Make sure your parking sticker is always in your car because she calls to tow people all the time. There's not enough parking at all in the parking lot so you sometimes have to park on the street far away. I really am wanting to move out. There is a bunch of crab heads running around the building, and even sometimes homeless people sleeping in the hallways. And about the management, she ALWAYS has some girl in her offic with her or just someone she's chatting with. I once walked in her office AND SHE WAS SMOKING AND TALKING TO A LADY IN HER OFFICE. Literally the door to outside was right there!!! Can't wait for these next few months to be done so I can move the hell out of this place.

Former Resident 79932

Resident • 2018 - 2019

If you are an insomniac, this is the place. Do not expect to get any sleep. If you really want to complain about the noise, too bad, landlord won't do a thing about it, there's a couple bass lovers on top, a few domestic abusing couples scattered around, annoying kids with even more annoying parents. You haven't experienced thin walls until you come here. If you're an animal lover, you'll love it here. All sorts of mice roam the building, you can hear and see them no matter what you're doing. Same with insects, they love the place. So if you've been living homeless in the streets of New York, this is an upgrade, otherwise, look elsewhere, these apartments are cheap for a reason, poor plumbing, ---- neighbors, parking, especially during the winter, will probably cost you hundreds since you're left to park on the street where you'll get towed, friends of tenants go unpunished for taking the spots in the lot, or you can pay even more for a ---- garage. Either way, you've been warned. At least the maintenance people are decent.

Current Resident 384755

Resident • 2019

The manager lady is VERY VERY VERY RUDE she has her personal number as after hours number which its supposed to be maintenance there is multiple rats in the apartments she answers the phone at least I give her that which is backwards in awkward for this to be the front office she curses you out and hang up on you VERY uncomfortable and disrespectful and TOTALLY UNPROFESSIONAL ?????? I WOULD NEVER NEVER RECOMMEND NOBODY TO LIVE HERE NOR VISIT THE "MANAGER" IS REAL NASTY DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO TALK TO ANYONE RUN AWAY FROM HERE THIS DOESN'T EVEN DESERVE 1 STAR EVERYTHING IS A ZERROOOO I SHOULD REPORT HER TO CORPORATE AND BETTER BUSINESS BEARU!!!! NOBODY WANTS TO DEAL WITH A NASTY ATTITUDE REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE SITUATION IS!!! RUDE RUDE RUDE NASTY LADY!

Current Resident 99677

Resident • 2015 - 2018

The complex has gone downhill recently. It would seem that new tenants are just getting worse. Loud noise at all hours of the night. Of course, not every night, but many nights a week. The noise comes from both tenants and their guests. Items that really made this place difficult: 1. the smell of marijuana permeates through the apartment of the users into the halls 2. loud noise echos through the parking lot and into the units 3. there's mice in the walls. This can be heard at night when things are more quiet. 4. police and fire are constantly on the premises 5. people sleeping in the hallways 6. tenants use the hallways as their personal trash storage 7. outside 'security' door locks are constantly broken 8. manager takes no responsibility when told about these complaints 9. rent is going up every year with no attention to the things mentioned above 10. manager presents a biased attitude towards Black Americans 11. garages are falling apart 12. snow removal is always delayed in the lot 13. outside maintenance is minimal, especially in the parking lot 14. no parking for guests (they will be towed), only street parking Some good things about the complex: 1. maintenance workers are friendly 2. you can tell the halls are cleaned 2x a week 3. huge decks that are in really good shape 4. lots of recycle bins 5. each unit is in decent shape for the age of the buildings 6. family oriented area but there is no place for the kids to play 7. lots of light in the parking lot for security 8. laundry on each floor (2 washer and 2 dryers on each floor)

Former Resident 812088

Resident • 2016 - 2018

This place is horrible. The staff are extremely rude and invasive and the building is infested with mice and insects. It's in a nice neighborhood and the people here are friendly, but the rodents live here rent free and there's no security cameras or security at all. It became overwhelming and uncomfortable so I had to move.

Current Resident 31847

Resident • 2018

I am currently in a year lease. The Manager, i have nothing but wonderful words to say about her and her staff. She was very welcoming. She is very considerate. Always on top of any maintenence request. I will most likley sign another lease. My Boyfriend and I are happy here! Some loud neighbors who like to fight and yell and act without consideration of their neighbors is my only complaint. However that happends in any multi- living community.

Current Resident 343090

Resident • 2014 - 2015

This apartment sucks. I lived in amberwood apartments on east 7th street.she gave a great deal for a large one bedroom apartment. Did not finish my lease bc its a terrible place. This old hag did not do anything bout the mice in the apartment after I complained many times. hall way always smells like weed. She did nothing bout it. The door broke they didnt fix it for three months n black kids would sneak in to smoke inside. This old hag rip off my friends. My friends were gonna take over. She over charged them n said they didnt make enough when I clearly see on their pay stub they make 3 times the rent. My friends complained and she gave them their money back. Thid show she did do it wrong. This old lady needs to go. ---- u amberwood

Current Resident 23660

Resident • 2010 - 2014

I have lived here for 2 years and found no problems with anything. Everybody is very nice and accommodating.

Prospective Resident 246327

Prospect • Visited 2014

Beautiful apartments but HORRIBLE management. Glad they stood me up on my apartment so I didn't rent with them.

Current Resident 331391

Resident • 2001 - 2014

I have been a long time resident of Amberwood Place Apts. I have been extremely happy with my apartment. The office, caretakers and maintenance staff are top notch. I would recommend these apartments to all my friends

Current Resident 854547

Resident • 2012 - 2013

This place is a joke the manger is a racist old hag. She tells everyones business to the crazy lady that sits in her office all day.Lori also rents based on your race. The maintenance staff is nice and so was the caretakers.This place needs a class on customer service because there is none.You should never walk in a business office and see the manager playing Facebook games. And standing outside the main door smoking cigs so the renter has to walk through a cloud of smoke to get in the office nice and classy. Oh and I almost forgot to tell you about the mouse problem bed bugs and roaches their motto should be (The Place That Comes Alive At Night)

HappyRent585

Resident • 2013 - 2014

DO NOT RENT HERE . The landlord is a SLAVE. You can never go to the office & talk to her about anything with her having 2 other women in there CONSTANTLY & the whole entire building will know your business. She is very nosy and watches comes in and out of your apartment & on occasion will question your guests . She gives poor notice on snow removal days & is quick to call & get your car towed. Just very bad management, i definitely moved before my lease was .

Current Resident 541409

Resident • 2005 - 2011

Mice

I lived at Amberwood Place Apartments for six years, primarily due to price. I paid $500 a month for a reasonably spacious one bedroom apartment, which was increased only once during my stay to $525/mo. I never had a problem with the management and they maintenance guys took care of everything reasonably quickly, although their repair skills were marginal at best. Laurie was always very nice to me and great to deal with, although it's really inconvenient that the management office refused to accept packages from UPS/FedEx. Unfortunately the building is aging and it's in a less-than-desirable neighborhood. Due to its low cost, Amberwood Place attracts a lot of undesirable tenants. When I moved in (June 2005) it was mostly older people, but when I left in 2011 there were many more undesirable elements living there. The first few years were okay aside from a pervasive ant problem (the place has no proper basement, giving ants easy access), but the last three saw things go downhill fast. I had a lot mice in the apartment and one very unfortunate experience with cockroaches (nasty). When you share walls with tenants who live in filth, it's nothing for them to bring in vermin that easily move from apartment to apartment. The management did their best to stay on top of the problem and didn't hassle me about it, but the mice kept coming back despite treatment. Fortunately I never saw another cockroach after my apartment was treated the first time. The pipes burst above the ceiling of my bathroom, causing the cheap popcorn ceiling to become saturated with water and partially come down. Maintenance did a quick fix of mesh tape and spackle a few times but it was only a band-aid on a much larger problem. Needless to say, mold got inside the walls. The coin-operated laundry rooms are typical rental fare - too expensive and frequently broken. When I moved out, KJ Management (the company that manages Amberwood Place) tried to charge me over two thousand dollars to replace and repair nearly everything in my apartment. They wanted to replace the carpet on my dime, which is laughable. The carpet was nasty when I moved it (old and stained, but clean) and it wasn't any worse when I left. They wanted to charge me for mold abatement as well, which was foolish since it was their lack of upkeep and improper repairs that created the problem. Anyway, I would strongly recommend living there unless you're desperate for a cheap place to stay. The building is crumbling, the neighborhood is terrible (I had my bike stolen right of my porch, lock and all), and no one likes living with roaches and mice.

DAHBUG

Resident • 2001 - 2011

MANAGER & FRIENDS COMMENTARY

The manager her little gophers strike again. It has gotten bad reviews because it is a dressed up SLUM. I lived there for 10 years- because I had to have an apartment. The 1st 5 yrs were great, when there was decent management. But after the changes, it went down hill. And then I could not afford to move. If I had had the money, I would have been gone - BIG TIME ! Many times the MANAGER Laurie would call me and ask if Kelly could use my car, to go get them their special coffee. AND ALSO ASKED ME TO ALLOW THE CARETAKER, KELLY to use my auto to go visit her kids up north. Why did she not talk to her partner and let her use the brand new truck they have. MAKES A PERSON GO HMMMMMM ! The mice issue is terrible. If it were not for the feral cats, the place would then be Managed by MAMA & PAPA MOUSE. They have a BUG COMPANY that comes to the place, on a schedule. The manager is also always looking for a new management job. She even has had me do an online search for Resident Management Position Openings. I know of a few now....but would not wish that SO-CALLED LADY...on my worst enemy! When you move out, they keep part of your money and say they have pictures to prove that you did not do as requested with final cleaning. EVEN though I had a PCA from the state of Minnesota do the cleaning of said items. BUT, when I talked with the CHEAP owner, she would not send copies to me as proof nor was she able to provide serial #'s that could prove that the appliances were actually the ones in my unit at the time of my moving into the apartment. ANYONE CAN TAKE A PICTURE OF ANY STOVE OR FRIDGE ! IF YOU DECIDE TO RENT THERE...DOCUMENT EVERYTHING !

Current Resident 256461

Resident • 2007 - 2010

i lived there

I was checking out the site and i really loved the manager at Amberwood place- she was always happy and willing to help me when needed- i guess you can't please everybody. I was fortunate to save and get my own place but i miss some of the people at amberwood place, i just don't like to see a happy friendly lady be talked about!! The staff has alot to do but they do get things fixed. I just recieved a letter stating that Laurie is so bad- I really think we are talking about another Laurie- I feel she was very friendly and did a great job considering all the people she had to deal with- i think the person that is writting bad reviews has a big problem- My apt. was always lovely and i never had bugs or seen mice(cleanliness helps) whoever is writting bad about Laurie and the staff must have a serious revenge- I think you are harrasing Laurie and Amberwood Place and you could get harrasment charges if you keep it up! I would live at Amberwood again-:)

Current Resident 257174

Resident • 2005 - 2011

DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ

AMBERWOOD PLACE APARTMENTS HAS BEEN GETTING SOME REALLY BAD WRITE UPS AS OF JUST LATLY I HOPE YOU WOULD CHECK OUT THE PLACE BEFORE YOU BELIEVE ANY OF THIS WE HAVE LIVED HERE A LONG TIME AND I HAVE A FEW FRIENDS THAT HAVE LIVED HERE EVEN LONGER. I HAVE TALKED TO MY FRIENDS TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY THINK OF ALL THIS NEGATIVE GOSSIP AND THEY THINK LIKE I DO.(WOULD WE BE HERE FOR ALL THESE YEARS IF IT WAS ANYWHERE AS BAD AS THIS PERSON IS SAYING?) CHECK FOR YOURSELF BEFORE YOU STICK YOUR NOSE UP ON A PLACE LIKE THIS. I'M SURE YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID, FOR THE PRICE YOU CAN'T BEAT IT. I'M JUST WONDERING WHY THESE PEOPLE STAYED AS LONG AS THEY DID.(IT'S SOOOO BAD) THAT GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

Current Resident 258817

Resident • 2005 - 2011

DON'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ

AMBERWOOD PLACE APARTMENTS HAS BEEN GETTING SOME REALLY BAD WRITE UPS AS OF JUST LATLY I HOPE YOU WOULD CHECK OUT THE PLACE BEFORE YOU BELIEVE ANY OF THIS WE HAVE LIVED HERE A LONG TIME AND I HAVE A FEW FRIENDS THAT HAVE LIVED HERE EVEN LONGER. I HAVE TALKED TO MY FRIENDS TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY THINK OF ALL THIS NEGATIVE GOSSIP AND THEY THINK LIKE I DO.(WOULD WE BE HERE FOR ALL THESE YEARS IF IT WAS ANYWHERE AS BAD AS THIS PERSON IS SAYING?) CHECK FOR YOURSELF BEFORE YOU STICK YOUR NOSE UP ON A PLACE LIKE THIS. I'M SURE YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID, FOR THE PRICE YOU CAN'T BEAT IT. I'M JUST WONDERING WHY THESE PEOPLE STAYED AS LONG AS THEY DID.(IT'S SOOOO BAD) THAT GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

Current Resident 265265

Resident • 2008 - 2011

EAST SIDE ------

I agree with the review. I did live there too and would never recommend it to anyone! The mice are terrible, if you do not have a cat/cats. The bugs run rampant and you will endup buying RIDDEX just to keep the little critters out. BLACK MOLD in bldg, minor cover ups done, so Fire Marshall will pass it yearly. They Charge Tenants for a backed up toilet...$75.00 per time.

1DABUG

Resident • 2001 - 2011

IF YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC by: K.J.MANAGEMENT

DURING APPLICATION SIGNING OF LEASE... THEY MAKE IT SEEM THAT THE SKY IS PINK WITH GLOSSY LAVENDER BUBBLES FLOATING ABOVE. ONCE YOU SIGN ON THE DREADED DOTTED LINE ~ ALL BETS ARE OFF ! THAT's WHEN THE BLACK CLOUDS APPEAR ! THE OWNERS LIVE IN THE NORTH OAKS AREA AND YOU WILL BE LIVING IN A GLORIFIED SLUM. THE ON-SITE MANAGER WILL SMILE IN YOUR FACE AND TALK TRASH ABOUT YOU TO EVERYONE. THEY DO NOT RESPECT 'PERSONAL INFORMATION' AS BEING PRIVATE !!! THE PLACE IS FALLING APART FROM THE FOUNDATION UP TO THE ROOF. YOUR NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO DO ANY CAR/TRUCK WORK ON SITE. BUT THE MANAGER WILL OVERLOOK THAT CLAUSE, IF YOU ARE 1 OF THE COMPLEX's LITTLE GOSSIP PETS! THE PARKING IS HORRIBLE - 1 SPOT PER APARTMENT! THE LAUNDRY IS $2.25 PER LOAD- IF THE MACHINES ARE IN WORKING ORDER. IF YOU GET A PLUGGED TOILET, IT WILL COST $75.00 EACH TIME, TO HAVE IT PLUNGED OR SNAKED OUT! THEY CHARGE $35.00 APP FEE - AND CLAIM THEY DO A BACKGROUND CHECK! THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF DRUNKS AND DRUG USERS RESIDING THERE. GO AHEAD ~ SIGN THAT DOTTED LINE and WHEN REALITY SETS IN, YOU WILL SAY, 'DAMN, I WISH I HAD BELIEVED WHAT I READ AND RAN FAR AWAY !!!

Prospective Resident 689622

Prospect • Visited 2011

Horrible Service

I called in to ask if there was any apartments avaiable and the person that worked during the hour I called was just really rude. She was giving me an attitude in an angry tone. She even demanded, "Don't come at all!". We will never rent from Amberwood and have suggested many people not to because the service we received from them were very unprofessional. I have never seen anything like that before. I don't know if all the staffs are like her but she just flat out made us 100% sure never to rent from there. We called on Tuesday July 12, 2011 during the afternoon. It was such a horrible experience.

LAUREL100

Resident • 1999 - 2011

very happy

i have lived at amberwood place apartments and i find it a very nice place to live you can call the office manager with any complaint or a maintenance problem and they're right there to help. for awhile we were going through managers like crazy but we have had the same manager now for years. i don't know what this other person is talking about there has been alot of upkeep and changes for the better here. come by and see for yourself.

nobodys.angel

Resident • 2007 - 2009

Not the best place to live - you get what you pay for.

The apartments themselves look average. There have been issues with roaches and mice the entire time I was in residence ( a couple of years). Bathrooms are the usual small size. The heat for the apartment is hot water going through pipes. The wall air conditioning unit is only in the living/kitchen area and not in the bedroom. Their listings online mention microwave, you have to bring your own. There is an individual thermostat in each apartment. The windows and sliding glass doors are not the best. Heat leaks out every winter so that you have to use space heaters to stay warm. There is no elevator at all. Laundry room on each floor, 1 per floor with 3 floors per building. The cost to do laundry is $1.25 to wash and $1.00 to dry, the prices went up this year. Laundry is coin operated. Laundry room hours are from 8a-10p and the doors are locked at 10pm, sometimes little bit early. I have had my car broken into once per year I lived there. The main reason for the break ins are the car stereos so I stopped replacing them and the break ins stopped. There are no security cameras or security on site at all. If someones car was broken into they just tell you to call the police and do nothing else. During the winter the parking is terrible. Rent is only payable by check, money order. They do not accept cash or credit cards. The management office does NOT hold any packages that you are not there to personally get from the delivery services. Sound carries. Floors and walls are thin. Hallways on 2nd and 3rd floor have weak areas that are not as sturdy, you can tell by walking on them as they sink with your weight. There are studio, 1 bed style a and 1 bedroom style b and 2 bedrooms. The manager office is in style 1 bedroom style b.