MAA Research Park

globalnomad

Resident • 2007

Expensive for what you get

The apartments are fine, but you can hear the neighbors all the time. There is dog litter everywhere, so the children cannot play outside. The gym is small. The staff is not very helpful in making repairs.

Current Resident 212466

Resident • 2003 - 2007

RUN...AND FAST!!!!!

FIND ANOTHER PROPERTY. YOU WILL HATE THIS PLACE. The apartments are nice, but you will go mad living in this community. It completely blows. Walls are made of rice paper. The people living here are of low quality. You will hear everything anyone makes in ANY units around you. Noise levels suck.

Current Resident 38934

Resident • 2006 - 2007

Can Somebody Say ------?

I live in Colonial Grand, and I hate it! I can't believe that this place has turned into a complete ------. There is trash everywhere, people park disabled vehicles in good spots. The residency has gone down the pits, where dirty naked babies and thugs are a lot more common than college-educated young professionals are. This is supposed to be a luxury complex, but management has disappointed all of the good residents' expectations. This will the projects in a couple of months.

Current Resident 475558

Resident • 2005 - 2007

NIGHTMARE!

I moved in when the apts were still Alta Trace. Colonial Grand took over soon after and it's been absolutely terrible since. I chose the property because it's convenient to my work. However, I now would rather drive 15 miles to work than live here. I'm counting the days until my lease is up this summer. Maintenance is horrible, people are parking in front of fire hydrants and all over the curbs so you can hardly get out in the morning. It's loud, and trash is all over the grounds. I don't even bother reporting broken things anymore because they never get fixed. I've complained to the corporate office and to the leasing office and I can't wait to get out. Don't move here!!!

Anderson80

Resident • 2007

New Management--Finally

New recent office staff and I have already seen major changes. Things are getting much better here. They are up-gradeing things and being very professional.

jazzy30

Resident • 2006

Beware of rent increases upon lease renewal

I have lived here for 9 months and had planned on renewing my lease for another year until I learned my rent would be increasing. The office staff is friendly but maintenance is not performed in a timely manner. I complained of an obviously used condom on the sidewalk over a month ago and I was told maintenance would pick it up. It was still there as of yesterday. I haven't had many problems here but I don't feel the rate increase is justified. The outside lighthing is very poor and often I do not feel safe to go out when it's late.

777kb

Resident • 2006

Very Very Happy

I moved in about a month ago and I am enjoying it very much. I have met some neighbors in my building and everyone is very friendly. Crystal was my leasing agent and while she was very professional, she was very friendly and met my needs. The apt is very spacious and nice crown molding, great bath and kitchen size and my deck is huge with a nice view. I noticed some people complaining about parking, but I've never had trouble finding a spot. I did want a garage and couldn't get one, but I feel very safe as a single female living here. I moved here because of other happy residents refering me to this complex.

Current Resident 875379

Resident • 2006

Horrible. Do not move here!

I moved here a while ago because I work across the street and all I have to say is it's horrible. The office staff never returns phone calls, they never answer the phone and if you go into the office for anything, you'll be waiting for eternity. They are unprofessional and it appears that the majority of them don't know exactly what they are doing. In the time that I have been here, I have also never seen pest control come by for their monthly preventative spray they told me they have. Also, I have had a few minor maintenance issues and it takes them forever to get here and it still never gets fixed properly; they also never leave notes to inform you they have been in your apartment. Parking is horrific as if you come home anytime after 8, you can forget it. I have also seen the Durham police called out here several times (for what, I'm not sure). The walls are also paper thin- literally. I hear everything the tenant above me does- including when he sits down on his bed! Please, save your money and rent elsewhere.

Current Resident 298289

Resident • 2005 - 2006

Apathetic management from Colonial Grand

NOTE: this complex is now called Colonial Grand @ RTP and bears little resemblance to the Alta Trace that it once was...<br>When I moved to Alta Trace in July 2005, it was under the management of Steven D. Bell properties. I have been here one year and had not expected to have to move - but the rent is getting raised, the amenities have disappeared, and the management could not possibly care less! Ever since Colonial Grand took over, the theater has not worked, the "office" area for rentals has been destroyed - the cupboard doors hang off their hinges, the computers do not allow one to access and print off forms (although the guys can access porno!) The grounds are not kept up - there is now an extra $6.00 charge per month for trash removal regardless if there is one person or 10 in an apartment. Parking is absolutely useless!! Anyone can park in handicapped spaces without fear of retribution. While "worker ants" - the ones who have shown apts/write leases/try to keep positive attitudes have done their best to maintain positive attitudes and wear happy faces, one can sense desperation in the depths. Dogs are defecating all over the woods area behind my apartment, and nothing is done (notice was sent out, but obviously not followed up on). Cars are parked anywhere and clog up the road; notice was sent out that they would be towed - HA HA!!! Actions speak louder than words, people - and the actions are mighty poor - but the rents are high!

Current Resident 897490

Resident • 2006

Come back Alta Trace

I've been living in my apartment for about 9 months. When I first moved in Alta Trace was the owner. Since then CG has taken over. I'm extremely unhappy. My boyfriend's car has been broken into. The staff has always been friendly to me personally, but the "services" are disappearing. The movie theatre hasn't worked for most of my time here. The grounds appearances seem to be declining as well. The newsletters and social gatherings have stopped and instead we receive nasty letters about making sure we pay our rent on time. Not recommended!

aba1660

Resident • 2006

Perfectly acceptable

It is a spacious and open-plan apartment. The sound insulation is fairly good, and we haven't encountered any problems with noise in the area. The location is outstanding for us. The office staff are efficient and reasonable. Finally, we have never had a problem finding a parking space near our apartment. Overall, we haven't found any negatives in our first month living here.

Current Resident 130087

Resident • 2003 - 2005

Don't Move Here!

It looks ok from the street and the office but looks can be deceiving. I moved out because I did not feel safe living there. They request you take your dogs to an area that is wooded, has no lighting and backs up to the freeway. I had my puppy on a leash in the area where you are supposed to take your dogs and a Rottweiler that was not leashed attacked it. The office manager and staff knew exactly who the owner of the dog was when I went in to report it. They told me they had other issues with the tenant and their lease was not going to be renewed and to be careful for the next 2 months before they moved out. People that live there do not pick up after their dogs. Feces can be found on the sidewalks and in the bushes.<br><br>I am still waiting for my pet deposit and security deposit back. I moved 2 months ago. The office is unresponsive to messages. I called 3 times before someone returned my call to tell me somebody else would have to call me back. Some of the tenants they have living there are questionable. I could not wait to get out of there.<br><br>My bedroom faced the garden area and at all hours of the night you could hear people talking out by the grill, on their cell phones or fighting out on their deck.<br><br>The apartment across from me was broken into shortly after I renewed my lease. After that incident as well as my concern for my safety I got out.

Current Resident 941762

Resident • 2004 - 2005

I don't miss this place - AT ALL

It has been a few months since property management has been taken over by CG. The residents have expressed concern for the declining appearance and service of the community. Alta Trace made it a point to ensure that breezeways, tenant doors and stairs were regularly cleaned (they are full of garbage, dead insects,...). Filters in apts have gone for months and months not being changed (we had to always request one). The carpets need to be replaced; if you have allergies, persistent cough...this is why. The calibre of tenants being approved in the property have since declined - there used to be young professionals living in the complex. Now, it's just families with super-bad, super-undisciplined kids. Loud music during the early hours has once again returned. I and a few others living in CG at the Park no longer feel safe walking around the grounds - one cannot do a morning jog/walk without being heckled by a fellow tenant. Several programs for the community - movies, coffee machines, events have been discontinued. It was a great way for residents to become acquainted with one another. Newsletters were regularly distributed to the residents to inform them of community issues - this has since been a rarity. It was the peace and cleanliness of the community that attracted us to the property in the beginning. Like many others, we used to refer the community to many who are moving to Durham from abroad to work. I have since ceased to do so. It would be dishonest of me to send professionals to this community. No matter how great the maintenance staff is, and no matter how much work they put into making the grounds clean and presentable, the residents that live there will trash it. So disappointing...

Current Resident 940460

Resident • 2004 - 2005

Alta Trace --> Colonial Garbage

Colonial Properties now own this property, renamed it Colonial Grand,and took away a lot of features: vending in the gym/business ctr/rec area, coffee service, weekly movies/events and seemingly maintenance (whatever breaks is left broken--tread mill, Internet, change machine). <br><br>The screening process is none existent merely an excuse to take your $30; 50% of the residents are questionable, 30% of the residents are either illiterate or just ignorant (ignoring signs that prohibit glass at the pool area thereby leading to 3 pool closures this summer as the result of "broken glass"). Since CP took over, three cars got broken into and neighbors began knocking on doors asking for $. <br><br>Parking is obscene--don't believe the claim that there are 2 spots/apartment. <br><br>Maintenance is not responsive.

Current Resident 399140

Resident • 2003 - 2005

it's okay

With every apartment there will be positive and negative aspects. I've lived at five apartment complexes in my day (and I'm currently 24).<br><br>Management is not organized as whole because of the high turnover rate in leasing officers. The actual place is very nice and well kept. The lawncare people come about once a week to keep the community beautiful.<br><br>The gym is small, but you'll get enough of a workout with the two treadmills, one ellip and bike. The weights are nice.<br><br>The pool is absolutely gorgeous and I've spent a lot of time there this past summer. <br><br>The apartment has good insulation and blocks out a lot of noise and I can hardly hear my neighbors unless they are stomping around with shoes or play music with extremely high bass. Other than that, I have never heard conversations or the TV. When I have been bothered by extraneous noise, I've asked neighbors to calm it down and they've all been friendly. I did have neighbors on my left who engaged in domestic violence disputes and had to call the police. They were an anomoly though.<br><br>What I don't like about the place is some of the people they rent to. Sometimes people can be real ------ and loud when they play at the pool or ride up in their cars. <br><br>The only reason NCCU students lived there one year was because every dorm on campus was infested with some bacteria and they had to find housing them in the surrounding area.<br><br>One maintenance guy creeped me out but he left. All the maintenance guys are pretty helpful and I've gotten my stuff taken care of within 48 hours.<br><br>Yes, Cynthia is a space cadet and isn't the most personable person and the pricing could bend a little bit for the current residents. <br><br>The most sucky part about living there is you seriously have to drive ten minutes to get to civilization or to the grocery store. I don't mind the drive anymore because highway 147 is never crowded and it's nice to breeze through and listen to music before getting to the store.

Current Resident 233197

Resident • 2004 - 2005

:(

Its a beautiful apt however, I work in leasing and even though we the residnets are responsible for putting in our notice it is the rental offices responsiblity to send you renewal info. Thankfully we were waiting for our lease to end so we didnt get stuck with ridiculous month to month fees. I had called the rental office several times and spoke to Cynthia who told me "it is my responsiblity to remember when my 13 month lease is up". 100% unprofessional. They are very nice apts but not nice enough to be woken up to their neighbor peeing in the morning. My only suggestion is to rent something close to the office. It seems that is the only area that is taken care of bc thats where the new prospects have to walk by. As far as maintenance is concerned I have not had any problems but keep in mind that these apts are new so things shouldnt be breaking which they werent. Parking can be a problem though!<br>

dukie

Resident • 2002 - 2004

WARNING! Don't move here!!!!

The office staff truly DOESN'T care once they get you to sign the lease. When you show up at the office, even when you are standing in front of them, they rather help the ones who are looking to live there first and give you nasty looks. Remember to read the fine lines stated in the contract...like they want a 3 month or so notice if you're not going to extend your lease OR MOVING OUT. BUT they are suppose to notify you via US Mail of any rent changes 3 months before your lease is up which they DON'T. It's okay if they don't stick to their words on the leasing contract. They could care LESS. The staff sucks, never returns phone calls. The machines at the fitness center is always broken and takes them years to fix. Too many irresponsible undergrad students living there which causes lots of noise and pollution, damages to the property. Barking dogs that are left on the deck during the day. This does not include if your apt faces the highway, forget about talking on the phone, you can't hear it!!! Young kids are always using the computers in the business center, let alone the fax machine doesn't work and you have to provide your own paper. Overall, bad management (please get rid of CYNTHIA! she's horrible, no customer service at all), horrible rude neighbors. I don't know why they let so many irresponsible undergrad students rent here. Far from civilization, including driving at least 10 minutes to get to a supermarket. Don't live here!

pat1487

Resident • 2004

MOVE FAR FAR AWAY

MOVE FAR FAR AWAY, IN FACT DONT EVEN COME TAKE A LOOK! I STARTED LOOKING AT APARTMENTS THREE MONTHS AGO AND FINALLY CHOSE THIS ONE- I MADE THE ULTIMATE MISTAKE!!! I WAS SO EXCITED, THEY LOOKED SO NICE I COULDNT WAIT TO MOVE IN. WELL, AT LEAST I THOUGHT I COULDNT. I HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND MY APARTMENT WAS BROKEN INTO A FEW DAYS AGO. I WAS ONLY GONE FOR ONE HOUR (IF THAT). I HAD DRIVED TO THE GROCERY STORE SO I COULD MAKE DINNER (WHICH IS 15 MINS AWAY) AND CAME BACK. I CAME UP THE STAIRS AND UNLOCKED MY DOOR TO ONLY FIND THAT MY TV, DVD, RADIO, AND MICROWAVE WERE MISSING. I CALLED THE POLICE AND MADE A REPORT AND WENT TO THE RENTAL OFFICE THE NEXT DAY TO TALK TO SHARON ABOUT THE STUATION. SEEING HOW I HAD LOCKED MY DOOR WHEN I LEFT, AND RETURNED TO A LOCKED DOOR, I KNEW IT HAD TO BE SOMEONE FROM THE COMPLEX WHO HAD A KEY. THE OFFICE STAFF SAID THEY WOULD CHECK IT OUT AND SENT A MAINTENACE GUY TO MY APARTMENT, WHO LATER SAID THAT MY PRIVACY LOCK HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH AND I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. SINCE THEN I HAVE CONTACTED A LAWYER, HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE STORAGE FOR ALL MY STUFF, AND AM NOW STAYING IN A HOTEL. I WAS TOLD BY SHARON (LEASING AGENT)THAT THERE WAS NOTHING SHE COULD OR WOULD DO. SHE SAID THEY WERE GOING TO INSPECT MY APARTMENT AND SHE WOULD NOTIFY ME OF ALL THE DAMAGES THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. LIKE I SAID, SOMEONE BROKE INTO MY LOCKED APARTMENT AND WAS ABLE TO LOCK IT BACK. SO FAR, THEY HAVE REPORTED NO DAMAGE TO THE KEY LOCK, ONLY TO THE PRIVACY LOCK AND HAVE SAID THAT I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT AND FOR THE HOLES AND SCRATCHES ON THE WALLS FROM WHERE THE STUFF WAS TAKEN. AS I WAS MOVING MY STUFF OUT, I WAS CONFRONTED BY ANOTHER NEIGHJBOR WHO SAID THAT SHE CAME HOME TO FIND ALL OF HER JEWELRY MISSING. SO I RECOMMEND YOU FIND A BETTER PLACE TO STAY AND LIVE! MOVE FAR FAR FAR FAR FAR AWAY!

Current Resident 73239

Resident • 2004

You have got to be kidding if you want to live here!

So I moved in here about 2 months ago- what a BIG mistake. First of all there is too much noise; between hearing your neighbors converse in their living room below you or from the sirens of the police cars that come by each night. When I moved in, this seemed like a quite and beautiful place to live. Now it seems like they threaten the residents to be on their best behavior during a certain period of time so they can show people apartments so that it looks like a nice place to live and then after a certain time they can go back to being the animals that they are. Make sure to lock all doors and windows while AT home or away from home. Maintenance doesn't knock before entering and neither do those who are trying to steal from you. Also, make sure that you take ALL valuables with you if you know when maintenance is coming. They feel as if they dont get paid enough so they feel they can take what belongs to you. I know that stuff happens everywhere and that safety is not a guarantee, but, I am from New York City and I felt safer and more comfortable living there in the city than I do here. This complex looks nice, but that's it and looks can and ARE deceiving.

reigndown2000

Resident • 2002 - 2004

Terrible, I'm not just being bitter. They need to know that people care.

Im stuck or I would be gone! The rules that the other posters said are all true. Cynthia Peppe is the (fill in the blanks) manager that wont talk to you or tell you herself that she doesn't care what your issues are "just pay" the crazy fees you have to pay to get out of here. If you are not waiting for a call back, or waiting for maintenance, or waiting for someone to respond to you standing in their office doorway, you might accually have time to realize that the locked doors to the clubhouse are to keep you from getting to what you are paying for. It seems like they want to control everything (like getting to the fitness center through the office)Their rules to transfer, even to another of their apartments are too expensive and dont seem to care about the reason I want to leave to begin with. I have neighbors who dont have to make the same money I did to get in and who had the office look the otherway at their poor credit scores. The office staff told me. Now I have to pay for their need to rent more apartments.

Current Resident 624704

Resident • 2004

Gastapo

The rules at Alta Trace change month to month and you are informed of them by news letters that are rude and portray the attitude of a parent repremanding a child. They like to yell in the news letters (TYPEING IN ALL CAPS) to get the point across. The staff encourages residents to spy on neighbors to turn them in if they are breaking the rules (like if their dog pees on the grass, we´re supposed to follow the owner to find out which apt their from and turn them in). Complaints fall on deaf ears, noboday in the office is around long enough to realy a complaint to upper management. Don´t move here!

Current Resident 405255

Resident • 2003 - 2004

DON´T DO IT!!!

IF YOU ARE THINKING OF MOVING TO ALTA TRACE, PLEASE, PLEASE THINK AGAIN. THE STAFF OVER HERE IS SO RUDE THAT IT MAKES YOU RUE THE DAY THAT YOU EVER SIGNED YOUR NAME ON THE DOTTED LINE. I REALLY MEAN IT!! IT´S ALMOST LIKE THEY DO ANYTHING TO INCONVIENCE YOU. THEY ARE THE RUDIES PEOPLE THAT I HAVE EVER DEALT DID BUSINESS WITH. THEY ARE SO NASTY. THEY CANNOT KEEP A STAFF. I MEAN , JUST FROM THE DAY THAT I MOVED IN, THERE IS A COMPLETELY NEW STAFF. NOT ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WAS HERE IS STILL IS. THAT IS EXCEPTION OF THE "HARD TO GET ALONG WITH" MANAGER. THEY REALLY SUCK. THEY MAKE IT SO HARD FOR YOU HERE. THEY REALLY DON´T MIND REMINDING YOU THAT YOU DO NOT OWN THESE APARTMENTS. WHO WANTS TO HEAR THAT EVERYTIME YOU TURN AROUND? THE BUSINESS CENTER SUCKS, YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE YOUR OWN PAPER AND CAN´T EVEN FAX ANYTHING. FITNESS CENTER IS BOOTLEG. MACHINERY IS ALWAYS BROKE. RENT IS TOO HIGH FOR THE SERVICE THAT YOU GET HERE!!! BAD DECISION!!

Current Resident 405658

Resident • 2003 - 2004

Staff Very Very Rude!!

Staff is very rude and the community is too far away from civilization!!! We pay to much money to be treated so bad!!!

Current Resident 845860

Resident • 2004

Mixed bag!

Like any aprtment if you have nieghbors above you will here them, right now I have GODZILLA living above me!! <br>Staff here is alright. They could not get my renewal right but they have a social director and have a monthly newsletter and TRY to keep us informed. However the renters here are young unresponsible NCCU students (nobody from Duke, UNC or Durham tech is as stupid as NCCU students) who smoke pot on their patio and in the parking lot others are professionals and some families. Yes there is dog poop but not usually on the sidewalks - the fact is that the property managers should get poop and scoop stations throughout the property this would reduce the poop visibility. <br>Overall nice interior in fact very nice but location can be a problem if you do have a problem driving 15 minutes to a store this place is not for you. The previous poster sounded so jaded the fact is this is place is a B- heading towards a C- really fast if the management here does not do something. Also they have had car two <br>

hfranklinj

Resident • 2003

Outstanding!

Currently we have an employee living in one of the third floor apartments. She has had nothing but positive things to say about this property. Residents are informed of changes, concerns and improvements in a timely manner. She felt very safe and would jog late at night and in the early morning. The staff is very professional and courteous. If I were a renter this is the type of property I would want to live in. I give them two thumbs up and would refer anyone to this property.