Congress Apartments

Prospective Resident 910161

Prospect • Visited 2009 - 2010

Good Complex

I visted a friend who rents a 1 bedroom. The apartment is huge... building was recently remodel.... very nice.... extremely quiet at night.... property well maintained... management staff very nice..... some of the apartment are remodel... they are are extremely nice. The rent is very reasonable considering the neighborhood... close to shopping, highway and transportation. I highly recommend the complex. O.. can't forget the band new pool...nice! Thinking of renting myself but I work in New York.... and the travel can be a bit much.

Current Resident 894593

Resident • 2009

The Best Apartment

The apartment location is very good, school, malls, shops and highways... almost everything is within 1-5 miles. The leasing office staff is very cooperative. Rent wise it is definitely cheaper than others , utility is included especially heat and hot water. Sufficient parking is available. I recommend this apartment. For a family people, this is the best choice in Allentown.

wandar3310

Resident • 2007 - 2010

I won't trade it for any other apartment.

I have been living here approximately 4 years now. I found out about this apartment via internet from the Dominican Republic. I have never had such courteous service. This place is clean, well decorated, and well attended. The Manager and Staff always are attentive to the tenants. They are polite, they get things done right and on time. The complex is always in tip-top shape. I plan to stay here to further notice. I feel protected here, and the price is right. If compared to other complexes with the same ammenities, you will not find another. My hat goes off to the Manager and Staff. They are always making sure that "there is no place like home".

Current Resident 426546

Resident • 2010

DONT MOVE HERE!

This is by far the WORST PLACE I have ever lived. YOU can actually hear the conversations of your neighbors!! the walls are soooo thin. if you whisper then you might be ok. SInce I moved in so many things have needed to be fixed or replaced. Within the first month i had to have the refrigerator replaced, the heat is terrible i have it all the way up and still so cold in here they have come here three times to fix it but it wont go up anymore, the maintenance guy told me because the north winds are hitting me and they cant turn up the boiler anymore, the water is so hot that it burns me but they cant turn it down other wise by the time it gets to the third floor the water would not be warm enough my gas stove wouldn't come on unless i lit it with a match, i could go on and on but i don't have time, i have to go put another layer of clothes on because I'm freezing.

peacebestill2

Prospect • Visited 2008 - 2009

Not a Bad Place and for the Price....Great

I do not live in Congress Apartments but have visited numerous times and stayed for 1 week with a friend who lives there. I must say I was very surprise to see the type(modern) and size apartment that they are getting for the price. I live in NJ in a studio and pay more rent then they pay for a 1-bedroom. It is a very spacious 1-bedroom. The apartment building that they live is well maintained, it was just remodeled, new carpeting and painted. The building is beautiful. It was very quiet at night. I slept through the night, which is something I do not do at my apartment. The management team is very professional, if a complaint or request is made they are right on it. Because my friend made a request and they were there the next day to make the repair. I would rent an apartment at Congress but it is not cost effective. I work in NY. I recommend Congress apartment to anyone who is looking to relocate. The area (eHigh Valley)is quiet and nice. The complex is convenient to stores, buses and the best Dollar store I have ever been in. I high recommend Congress Apartments.

Prospective Resident 95439

Prospect • Visited 2009

Considering Congress Apartments

I am prospective tenant moving in Congress Apartment in Allentown, PA. The last review on this site is from 2008. Are there any current residents who can tell about the property? I do not want to move in and then find out I made the worst mistake of my life. Please give details about apartments, grounds, maintenance, are there pest problems, etc.

Current Resident 949871

Resident • 2008

You can't judge a book by it's cover

When one of my best friends moved in this year I was there to help her and saw with my own eyes all of the trouble she went through, First the apartment wasn t ready she had to wait until they finally got it ready. Secondly, it was infested with roaches. She was so upset she complained to the office who did send the exterminator to spray which was useless. The exterminator suggested that my friend tell the offices that they need to bomb (with pesticide) the buildings due this being an on-going problem, so that is what she did. And while she was there another tenant came in crying and holding something in her hand. Crying, she showed the manager a huge black spider. The women told her that she was afraid for her baby and that after the exterminators came from her first complaint even more came out. My friend told me that really made her sick to her stomach. Anyway, the manager gave my friend a round about time when they would have the building exterminated. They even posted flyers, well it never happened. And when my friend went over to ask about the request, she was told that people complained about bombing to get ride of the bugs so they decided not to do it. Go figure. Well my friend was so distraught that she became literally sick behind this and had to call a lawyer. After going back and fourth between the office and the lawyer she was informed that by law she had to give the office a chance to solve the problem even if it meant putting her in a better apartment. All this happened within 2-3 weeks of my friend moving in there. Here she had moved into this place but couldn t unpack her stuff and had to live with her mother because of the aggravation. My friend then decided that she had to move out due to the infestation and all of the stress this caused her. Surprisingly though, when she got the last word from her lawyer that if she moves it should be at the complex's expense for putting her though so much or they were going to sue the owners, after the manager disputed this fact, they miraculously came up with a better apartment for her which she had to have inspected 3 times by her own people before she moved in. In the end not only did she have to move twice in 3 weeks but also she became sick behind it all. She would have moved completely out of the complex but the move cost her time and money and her health the first time so she took the other apartment because it wasn t a distance to travel so soon. Needless to say, I would not recommend this place to anyone. Oh, and they cannot keep people in this complex. People use it as a stop over to better things due to the price being right and the incentives they use to get people in.

musicqueen

Resident • 2006 - 2007

Management will try to suck money out of you

This is fairly a decent place to live, quiet, laundry facilities, pool, clean. My problem was the maintanence & moving out. I had leaky pipes, off & on problem when I lived there, they would fix them, then there would be a new leak. I lived in a basement apartment, I think the pipes were from above. The carpets would be damp, in the hallway closet, they had to rip up the carpet because it was so damp and probably damaged. Also there was a black powery mold on window seals and ledges, particularly in the kitchen, I would clean it off with bleach, but it would grow back. When I moved out, things were fine. A year later I found on my credit report that I owed these guys $600 for carpet damage. I was never summonsed to go to court, never aware of this issue. I had to fight with them about their faulty pipes, not to mention PA's mold law and that I was pretty sure the health department was unaware of their mold infestation; in addition to disputing a claim on my credit report! Beware if you rent from this community!

Current Resident 481658

Resident • 2004 - 2007

It is getting better

I have been here for 3 years now and when I first arrived it was not a nice place to be. I stuck it out cause prices for apartments around here are to high. Over the last 7 months I have seen some changes with the place. I have noticed the the office staff and the maintenance staff has changed over and it seems to me that it is a better staff. In the last 2 months I noticed that the maintenance staff is hard at work everyday and they actually get to emergency calls promptly and maintenance calls in a timely manner. I have seen things done that needed to be done for years that were neglected are now being fixed like new roofs, the new basketball hoops, potholes and general maintenance of the property. I also had a family member recently move here and I seen her apartment. Wow what a difference in the way it is maintained and the things they put in. it goes from the new lights to the new vanities and medicine cabinets and to just about everything. I feel that the office staff is more friendly and always willing to listen and fix whatever problems you have. If the complex can continue to build on the sucess and move forward on the same path I feel this place can become what I and many always felt it could be....A nice place to be.

unhappyrenter9910

Resident • 2003 - 2007

Anual rent increase over $30 in last 2 years.

Very noisy, cheap design. The new management is very rude compare to the last one.

Current Resident 988813

Resident • 2004 - 2007

Change isn't always good....

I have been a resident since 2004 and will be moving when my lease expires. All the commments about favoritism (towards black, --------- and minorities) is true. The new manager let Congress go to hell. Not sure why the former manager left, but the grounds were always clean, maintenance was at the apartment within 1-4 hours, background and employment was enforced. Even a Christmas party for residents was held in the Office... for any resident who wanted to come and socialize right before Dec. 25(cold cuts, drinks, etc).<br>Congress was a really nice place when I first arrived; I watched MANY good neighbors leave because of the new clientele / renters.<br>Why the ------ and rude / thug mentality is cool I will NEVER understand.

Current Resident 207311

Resident • 2004 - 2007

It's turning ------!

I moved here 3 years ago and it was a blessing compared to my old neighborhood. It was quiet, people were friendly-I felt safe. Since then the neighborhood has gone downhill dramatically. When I moved in they did criminal background checks, employment verification, credit checks, etc. They cared who came in here. Now, it's like the ------ got shut down and everyone is moving here. All 3 of my neighbors on the same floor think this is a sound war-the guy accross the hall must be hard of hearing b/c I can hear his tv word for word. The woman next door thinks this is a nightclub, and she's the dj (also sounds like a porno on the weekends) Or, you get to hear them fight like they are going to kill each other. Who wants to hear that? They also used to clean up the grounds now there are soda cups in bushes, trash on the ground b/c people are ignorant. They used to clean and vaccumme the hallways every wk, now they never do it unless someone complains. It used to be so peaceful and safe here. My apt was attempted to be broken into, and my storage was broken into(all my stuff stolen) the complex had zero reaction, the police said it happens all the time and I should move if I get the opportunity. (I am taking the police officers word) However I should have been out last yr, but the office screwed me on my lease b/c of their mistake. I should have fought it but at that point didn't have anywhere to go. I do not reccommend this to anyone who wants to live like a normal person. THe office does play favorites, and they pick and choose who to be nice to. I have heard the rumor that one of the leasing girls (slips thru)shady people, which explains the type of people that have been moving in here.

worryfree99

Resident • 2006

Good Experiences Always Aren't Shared....

I have lived in many apartments and have had good and bad expereinces but never thought about sharing the good experiences on a site like this. If I had to go on the fourteen (14) perceptions that I just read on this site, I would also discourage people from renting at Congress as well.<br>I believe EVERY apartment has positives and negatives. I THINK people should keep in mind that usually bad expereinces are shared in anger and frustration. Positive expereinces people don't think to share on a site like apt. ratings.com. All can't be that bad in a complex this size or could it? Hopefully, one person who reads this will ponder on that fact!

froggiegrl1488

Resident • 2005 - 2006

dont ever come here!! consider this your warning!!

I have lived here a year and a half I am in the process of breaking my lease now!! I hate it here,, the Niger that runs the offfice is just that a niger is you arent balck or spanish they dont care about you my shower hasnt worked in two days and they say its on the list?! what kinds of B.s is that!!! while living here do to the poor up keep on the uildings i have has several squarils come thru the roof into the walls of my apartment, which they refuse to fix do to cost?!! yet my rent just went up $75 a month this pass year!! they suck dont come here i cant wait to get out !!

Current Resident 184534

Resident • 2001 - 2006

A satisfied resident

I have lived at Congress for 5 years. I have nothing negative to say. Maintenance responds when called, management is available when I have had leasing concerns and I get along well with my neigbors. We did have a noisy bunch a almost a year ago but they have since moved and things are going well. I just hope the rent won't go up much more.

Current Resident 566303

Resident • 2002 - 2006

Not a good place to live!

In the past 4 years we have lived here, each year has gone down hill. Our car stereo was stolen, our storage locker was broken into twice. There is a tennis court but no net, there is a basketball court but no rim on the one backboard. Neighbors blast their music no matter what time of the day or night. The paint in the bathroom is bubbling due to the water leaking from the upstairs apartment. The rental office does not care about you or your issues. They are just there to collect their rent, which goes up as the neighborhood goes down.

Current Resident 528080

Resident • 2006

HORRIBLE

I was robbed twice while living at Congress. My car was stolen and the rental office didn't care. When I filed a police report they said it was happens all the time and there's nothing they can do about it. The staff in the rental office is very rude and also treated this as an everyday occurance. They refused to let me out of my lease, even after proper procedures were followed. I cannot discourage this complex enough to anyone who is concerned for their safety and belongings. PLEASE BEWARE!!

Current Resident 909229

Resident • 2004 - 2006

Worst apt complex ever

huge rent increase, horrible maintance, apt manager has favortism towards family and friends, lets shady people into complex

fastlogic

Resident • 1993

1976 best place I ever lived

Best Place I ever Lived as a kid 1967 <br>was friends with the managers kids c was a very safe and quiet place to live<br>My dad managed Kings dept store back then and it was just a really clean place to live unfortunatly we had to move and I never returned as an adult or saw any of the kids i knew. Will always remember that place and time as the best with its new basketball court and built in swimming pool , I wonder if they even have any of that still.

Current Resident 752063

Resident • 2003 - 2005

Don't Waste your Time

Upon moving in to Congress, I found that all the phone jacks were carelessly painted over. It took 2 calls to maintenance to have this cleared up. I had absolutely no control over my heat, which is turned on in october and turned off (suppodedly) in mid May (I found it to be turned off closer to end of May). It was so hot in the apartment I lived in for 2 years that I often had to run the ac even in the winter time to counter balance the blasting dry heat. Nice treat for my electric bill. Thin walls allowed me to hear quite clearly everytime the people around me had sex or the people above me walked or moved furniture (or played with their pet elephant as it sounded from below) at ALL hours of the night. <br>There was a man who occasionally felt the need to sleep in the laundry room, even though he lived a building over. Not so safe. Very unaccomidating office staff- hear one thing from one person and something else from another. Frequent water shut offs with less than 12 hours notice...oh by the way, sorry its 11 pm but from 8am -????? all your water will be shut off. <br>The office also frequently passed out childish, unprofessional fliers "scolding" tennants with no shortage of exclimation marks about things that the small percentage of low life's living in the complex did. I am so glad to be done with this apartment complex and I will NEVER recommend them to ANYONE.

WhymeLord

Resident • 2003 - 2005

NO Good

This complex use to be nice. Now they have ROACHES!!! Its so nasty. I cant stand it here. The walls are really thin. You can hear the people over u having sex and arguing. I dont even have company.. to much drama. <br>Young people smoke weed in the basketball court, play loud music, and break into cars. Its very unsafe. <br>I cant wait until my lease is up.. im out of here.<br>Hope this helps!!!

HoneyBunny26

Resident • 1984 - 2003

Nice Apartments and ready maintenance

Congress was a great place to live. I hope one day to get to move back there.

Current Resident 748479

Resident • 2002 - 2003

VERY UNSAFE

Congress has reasonable rent and a convenient location but that is the only good I can say about it. My car was robbed and then stolen with in 6 month period. The rental office could not care less and the police laughed it off because they have so many calls to that area it is a weekly occurence for them.Not to mention kids hanging outside all night drinking,smoking, and fighting.They have absolutely NO security. <br>When I filled out the paperwork to terminate my lease,the main office convenietly "lost" it to get a few more months rent. <br>I cannot discourage this complex enough.It is soon to be the next projects in Allentown. <br>

copeless

Resident • 2001 - 2002

I plan on coming back

I lived at Congress Apartments for 1 year and would like to move back. The only problem I ever had while living there was my downstairs neighbor who liked to vibrate my floor with the bass on his home enterainment center. I lived in the front of the complex I worked nights and got home around 10 most of my neighbors had lived there for years, and would be in bed. Very quiet other than my neighbors below.

hsh1217

Resident • 1989

bad experience

Lived there some years ago, just as the neighborhood started going downhill. One night I was in bed and heard someone trying to open my front door. On another night there was a person outside my bedroom window. A week later my aprtment was broken into while I was at work. <br><br>Maintenance secured the windows with some kind of stopping device that prevented the windows from being opened all the way. I felt very unsafe and broke my lease. My credit suffered as a result, but I´m glad I got out, as I discovered later, there was a serial rapist/murderer prowling the area at the time I lived there. If not for the lack of safety it wouldn´t have been a bad experience.