Thalia Gardens Apartments and Townhomes

M-G2

Resident • 2010 - 2013

This area recently had 8 to 10 inches of snow. For the first time since I have lived here they hired people to plow. That made it so much easier to get out of the complex for me to get to work. Whoever made the executive decision to do so, kudos to you. Also shoveling most of the sidewalks and all entrances to the buildings was extremely helpful. I just wanted to say thank you!

brimgorn21

Resident • 2013

I have been living here for awhile now and I must say I love this place. The staff have always been there to help me with anything, they are very understanding and do a lot for their residents. The apartments are really nice, spacious and have a nice home feel to them, overall these apartments are perfect.

Current Resident 620667

Resident • 2013

I went to the rental office the other day to drop off my rent and lease renewal, and while I was there, I asked about the new fitness center. One of the girls took me over to look at all of the great new equipment and set up and she also showed me the beginnings of the new exercise classroom they are preparing, and I am so excited. I had been thinking of taking up Zumba, so this is perfect for me! She also mentioned the new business center they are adding as well, and I am overall just really happy to hear about all the new things going on in my neighborhood. The square footage (I am ina huge 2 bedroom!) and location alone, were enough to call Thalia home, but with everything they are adding, I am anticipating another great year here!

happy.content

Resident • 2012 - 2013

I moved into my apartment four months ago and I love it. The amount of space is wonderful and the layout, even better. Lovely though some of the new luxury apartments are, they tend to be all about granite and stainless steel appliances! Thalia Gardens is about space, loads of windows, large balconies, beautifully kept grounds (picture perfect!) and convenience to absolutely everything in Virginia Beach: it is like the hub of a wheel. One feature of the complex that I cannot praise highly enough is the Maintenance team. There have been a number of issues that required repair or replacement and fast is not the word! For example, I called one evening to report no hot water. Jim was knocking at my door in virtually turn around time. Within 15 minutes of having placed my call, the problem was repaired. That is appropriate attention and conscientiousness. I had similar experiences with my washer/dryer (replace with brand new appliances), a huge problem with the furnace which Jim devoted the whole of one-and-a-half days to repair. Any problem that I have had besides these, the two largest, have been handled the same day. About the team itself. Bill, the Maintenance Director, is as great as he is fortunate to have a strong gtoup to work with and among them, Jim is exceptional. He is professional, absolutely task-oriented and goal-driven, gives new meaning to the words conscientious, efficient, and effective. Further, he is very polite but not overly familiar (earns high marks in my book). Jim also is expert. In all that he does, he does it thoroughly and well, and with great care and in a timely manner. I am sincerely pleased to have found Thalia Gardens after looking at 20 apartments. It is the only one that had enough square footage and wall surfaces to accommodate the furnishings of what had been a 2300 square foot home. It is my sincere intention to live here for the next 20 years. Debra

Current Resident 273653

Resident • 2012 - 2013

First, I would like to say I LOVE the layout of my apartment. It is a great space. We have a renovated unit, so we have new appliances in the kitchen, which are great. However, it's not all sunshine. Our washer and dryer are horrible. It takes about 3 hours for 1 cycle on my washer, and I have to run everything through my dryer twice. When the dryer is running, you have to have the fan on and the bathroom and laundry doors open or else the walls sweat and the paint drips. We had to have our shower head replaced twice because air kept getting trapped in it and it made an AWFUL sound. We had 2 incidents where our toilet backed up and flooded the bathroom...we called emergency maintenance (our lease says when you have 1 bathroom, when it becomes unusable that is an emergency)one night at about 11, and the maintenance man said "can it wait"...our bathroom was completely flooded and the toilet was not working, but sure. Also, we had new carpet in our living room, which was starting to come up where it met the linoleum...it took 6 months for maintenance to repair it. We do have a dog, but every time we contacted maintenance we told them we would sit with the dog for them to repair it. It took me taking my dog out of the apartment for a full day for them to do anything...again, 6 months and several attempts later. As for noise, we really only hear our upstairs neighbor walking around, and when people are in the stairwell it echoes pretty bad...but it's really not bad for an apartment. My last complaint is that we were given a form saying our lease it almost up and if we decided to stay our rent would increase to $985, plus $35 pet rent...which brings our 1 bedroom, 1 bath, APARTMENT rent to $1015 a month, which is ridiculous. How they even think they can up the rent is beyond me...the 2 tennis courts are out of commission, the "fitness" room closes at 5, so anyone with a 9-5 job can't use it, and the park is kind of dinky. The pool is nice and seems to be well kept though. I wish there was a dog park, or at least a functional tennis court where i could take my dog to run around, but there isn't. All in all, I LOVE my apartment, but I'm not satisfied with the staff/area. OH AND PARKING SUCKS!

Current Resident 342072

Resident • 2004 - 2012

I recently renewed my lease at Thalia Garden, which will be my 9th year there. The only real 'con' I can think of is I can hear the upstairs neighbors walking, talking doing chores, etc. but you get that in just about any apartment building. What sets Thalia apart from the others is their terrific maintenance personnel and very friendly office management. The maintenance makes it well worth hearing the folks living above me. For example, one Sunday afternoon my garbage disposal backed up, I placed a maintenance call and not only did I get a call within 5 minutes but he was at the apartment within the hour and had it up and running in no time! I challenge you to find that kind of dedication!! Oh, I can't close without mentioning the location . . . within walking distance of Town Center, the public library and much more!

Current Resident 286830

Resident • 2011 - 2012

Don't live on the bottom floor, u can hear the whales that live above you. They over charge you for damaged blinds, which u can just buy at Walmart. Cheap appliances. Parking is a hassle. Maintenance was quick for emergencies. I had 2 emergencies and they sent the carpet care people also very quickly. Very close to all shops. And 7/11 is right across the road. No rodent problems. Only people not picking up their dogs crap. Walls are thin but u get your privacy. Floods when it rains. Cable guy is nice. Watch out for crack heads that don't know how to buy their own cigs. Cops everywhere so u can feel safe. And very spacious. Water incl. gas is split.

nancyl0325

Resident • 2004 - 2012

We have lived here for 8 years almost 9 years. We love it here. The staff in the office is friendly, and the maintenance staff is great. Any time we have an issue they come out and fix the problem. They have even helped out with changing the light bulbs at times when I was injured and could not do them myself!

Current Resident 120019

Resident • 2012

My review of Thalia Garden April 2012 thru April 2013: I find the community to be very culturally diverse which is a plus for me. A very large community that is relatively safe for its size and diversity. I find that management is professional and curteous, maintenance request are answered promptly. Move in was smooth, community functions although I did not attend any, it was nice to know that activities took place. My overall stay at Thalia Gardens have been pleasant.

Current Resident 43077

Resident • 2012 - 2013

The people that lived here for a year probly work here. I wouldnt trust those reviews the only good thing abou these apartments is the area i love va beach. But everything else is a nightmare. They make it real nice on the outaide just wait till you sign that lease. Then you find out that maintnance doesnt care about any emergency on your part, cause they will " get to it when they" and the proprty manager is a -----. Yeah you Lori. Her priorty is pointing out how your problem is not her problem instead of fixing it. Which for the amount of rent they charge a month in rent any problem you have should be a priority. You are better off renting a home youd be paying the same amount, probly less. And the peace of mind youd be getting is priceless.

dlightfoot

Resident • 2002 - 2012

I have lived here for 10 years. I love it here. The apartments are an older building but it is very spacious and the rent is very affordable. I am very content here. The maintenance folks are wonderful.Whenever I have a problem, they are very timely in taking care of the problem. Even on an emergency call when heat or AC goes out, they come and try to fix the problem right away. They are all very friendly, even when they are riding by on their go cart, everybody waves.The ground keepers keep the grounds looking very nice; grass cut and hedges trimmed. it really looks and feel very peaceful here. Lori and the office staff are awesome. They try to make this community a wonderful place to live. They plan bingo nights supplied with food, Easter egg hunts for the kids and an annual pool party supplied with games, food and a DJ.What a nice place to live. I don't plan on moving.

MSJM0003

Resident • 2008 - 2012

I've lived here for almost 5 years and overall, have had a positive experience. Yes, the apartments are old but are more spacious than any others in the area for the price. My apartment is at the front of the complex which is surprisingly quiet. Besides a few bad neighbors, I've had no noise disturbances. My complaints: 1. Not enough visitor parking. Good luck if you have more than one car. 2. When I moved in, they were in the process of upgrading kitchen cabinets, countertops and bi-fold doors. I missed the cut (maybe by only a week or two) and was told that my rent would be an additional $100/month if I wanted the upgrades, so needless to say, I am stuck with very ugly kitchen cabinets and metal bi-fold doors. 3. I usually get stains & mildew on the ceilings when it rains hard. The Up-side: 1. The cost of rent is manageable. 2. The maintenance staff is excellent. Bill and Bruce run a great crew and all work is done in a timely manner. Recently, Alan replaced the bi-fold door in the bathroom/laundry area. Jim was working on the heater at the same time. I left a note asking that they make sure my cat did not get locked into either area when they were finished. When I returned home, I found a note from Alan stating that the paint on the door should be dry by 2PM and that he made sure the litter box was not in the bathroom and that my cat would not get into the wet paint. They both did a great job and looked out for my pet while they were working. Very considerate and professional.

MzBaker07

Resident • 2011 - 2012

Some of the complaints about this apartment complex are valid. Yes the hours of the gym/pool/clubhouse are concurrent with the office hours. Yes the townhouses/apts are early 1970's. Yes they have security, I believe the company is Garddus that are merely anything more than delivery drivers for notices from the front office. However i moved here while on terminal leave last year, At that time There was Mrs. Lori the Manager, Cindy, Aisha, and Megan. Since then I have seen three other people and now there is Mrs. Lori, Thom, Diane the Assistant Mgr, and Ruth, with Thom leaving soon. No Mrs. Lori isnt going to to win for most congeniality, she gives it too you straight, with no buffer. Some people cant handle that. However if you sit down and talk to her, and come at her straight shooting, she will help you out the best she can. Anytime I have had a maintenance issue, it was fixed accordingly. After hurricane Irene, my ceiling leaked and it was repaired within the week. When my son slipped in the shower and went thru the tile, it was repaired and even though it was extensive it was no problem at all. Anything I need Mr. Bill over at maintenance hooks it up. Also Alan over there is awesome, he is really professional and he takes the time to explain what he is reparing. The apartment complex isnt perfect, but for living in somebody else's property I dont expect it to be. If i wanted perfection Id get the hell out of Mr. Nausbaum's property, and buy my own.

Current Resident 487807

Resident • 2012

So I wanted to wait a few months before writing this review so that I could be sure that these are legitimate issues and not just situational. I moved in earlier this year and it has been a nightmare. We have had a large amount of issues come up that are never resolved properly. Here are some of the major ones. The cost of living here is astronomical and they don't tell you about all of it in the beginning. We are paying close to $1000/month for a 1 bedroom. That is ridiculous, even by Virginia Beach standards. They tell you about all of the great amenities they provide their tenants. Its all crap. -The pool closes by 7, so if you have a normal job/life, you won't be able to go except on the weekends when everyone has their obnoxious children in the pool. -The weight room looks like they went to the dump and picked up any equipment they could find. Plus it is about the size of a bedroom, so when you have 590 units in the complex there is no chance of getting a genuine workout. -The appliances barely function. We've been through 2 dryers, a washer, and a stove in the past 6 months. The dishwasher hardly cleans the dishes, even on the heavy cycle. The dryer has no external vent. so all of the lint and hot, humid air stays in the apartment when you dry your clothes. Worse yet, the dryer is in a closet in the bathroom in the 1BR model so it gets the room very moldy and dank within a few weeks. The shower pipes have a problem where the bib seat vibrates. It has woken the entire unit up before. Then on top of the bathroom issue, the pipes are so old that the water hardly drains, which brings me to my next point. The build quality is atrocious. The pipes are old and laid incorrectly, so when maintenance turns off the water for any period of time the water turns brownish-red and murky for the next 2 or so hours. We have stopped using the tap water for drinking entirely. Also, when you tour the complex, look at how the walls are maintained. They had lead paint in the apartments, but just painted over it. The repairs on the walls look like they were done by a 5 year-old. Everything breaks here. The counters, the doors, the locks, the outlets, everything. Next is security, my largest concern. There have been multiple cars broken into this year and security has done nothing about it. Guardus "patrols" the grounds, but they're completely worthless. All they can do is call the cops. We had a large man come pond on our door in the middle of the night. I REFUSE to let my girlfriend go outside alone after sunset. The doors only have a single, weak deadbolt and they will not allow you to beef up your security. There have also been gunshots on a few occasions. I have also had numerous tenants' dogs run up to me because they are off of their leash. I normally don't mind as I have worked with animal rescues in the past, but when there is an 80 lb. pit bull running up to you there isn't a whole lot that you can do. The walls are paper thin, but our neighbors are also terrible but have gotten better. We have filed numerous noise complaints, but to no end. They just don't care. Maintenance is horrible. They are all a bunch of creepy guys. We are red-tagged so that they can't come in whenever they want, but give me crap when I say that they can't come in. When they do come to repair something, it takes twice as long as needed and they try to blame us on breaking stuff rather than just admitting that they down know what they are doing. They track mud and debris all throughout the apartment and never clean up behind themselves. The supervisor was cool, but at the end of the day he is just like the rest of them as you will read. My last grievance is a story about an event from last month. At about 10PM, we were laying in bed and heard a fire alarm go off. Immediately, I jump out of bed, tell my girlfriend to get the go-bag ready just in case. I throw some clothes on and pound of everyone's doors. During that time, my girlfriend called 911 and they were on their way. Once we were all outside, I phoned the office/maintenance to let them know of the situation. I had to leave a message. Then I called Gaurdus and they sent someone up to us. He got to the building where he walked inside to try to open the door of the apartment that had the alarm going off in it (as if I hadn't already tried) then just walked away, got in his car, and drove off like we didn't exist, and never came back. The fire department sent 2 engines, 2 EMS vehicles, and an ambulance. The firefighters asked us to call maintenance again as they needed to get inside the apartment without busting in since there were no visible signs of fire. We called again and again and the maintenance supervisor refused to answer. He picked up the phone and hung up and at one time was yelling at us for waking him up. It took him 2 hours to get to us and when he got here, he brought the wrong key. 30 minutes go by and he has the right key. He opens the apartment to find the source of the issue; a dying alarm battery.... Please do not rent here. I know that it may seem like a good option on paper and through the ads, but you WILL regret it. I will not be renewing my lease nor recommending Thalia Gardens to anyone.

Prospective Resident 366876

Prospect • Visited 2012

My boyfriend has been a tenant here since January. We picked Thalia Gardens together because he wanted a cheaper monthly rent payment than what he was paying at Midtown up the street. I am a prospective tenant because I had planned to move in when he returned from deployment. (He left for deployment a few months ago) We really liked the apartment complex look and the space and set up in the apartment. We enjoyed it for only a small period of time before our problems started occurring. Three days before my boyfriends deployment my car was damaged while parked in the Thalia Gardens apartment complex. When I consulted the apartment manager and asked for the landscaping company information she proceeded to tell me that I would not be able to prove it was them. She also came to look at my car and asked if she could keep the piece that hit my car to show the landscaping manager when he came back through. I currently reside in North Carolina so I was reluctant to give my only evidence to her other than the actual damage. I gave it to her and let her know that I would need it back to give to my insurance in the case that the landscaping company refused to pay the damages. The piece was thrown away. She apologized for throwing the piece away but that never should have happened. And I personally feel that the apartment management should be more concerned about their tenant's cars as well as the guests' cars and whether or not the landscaping company that they choose to use will cover damages that they cause. One day before my boyfriend's deployment we were doing laundry and we found water all in his floor in the laundry area and his bathroom. We cleaned it up and notified maintenance and upon my return to the apartment a week later (on mothers day May 13th) I found a receipt where the maintenance finally snaked the drain 5 days after being informed even though it was designated as a 1 day priority. I returned to the apartment again on May 29th and walked into water. My boyfriend lost several furniture items and linens. There was debri all over the apartment that looked like leaves and bark. How that occurred I do not know, but it took the maintenance a week to re dry wall and salvage the nasty carpet in the unit and they never called a plumbing company to find out what the issue was. I was told at a later date when I questioned the decision not to call a plumbing company that the complex does not have to call a plumbing company. I could not understand this because if no one was living in the residence and this occurred and snaking the drain did not work the first time then I would think that there is something greater that needs to be looked into here. But then again, I am not a plumber or a maintenance worker. I paid for a place to stay that night since the apartment was unusable. When I returned to the apartment on June 26th i found the apartment in much worse shape than the previous time. It was devastating, there was red, brown, and black muck and gunk all over the apartment and mold growing a foot up his wall. I paid for a place to stay that night because the apartment was unsafe to stay in. The next morning the apartment regional manager declared it an emergency and offered to put him in a new apartment. They paid for the hotel room and helped me and his mother transfer electricity. They also gave us two house warming gifts for new tenants and expired Quiznos coupons and sent us on our way. My boyfriend has paid out $1000 in deductibles and will have to pay out of pocket to finish replacing his lost items because of continuos drain backups due to grease accumulation in the apartment drains because the apartment and plumbing is so old. I emailed the management last week to ask that the complex help somehow with what was happening be it giving him his deductibles or taking away some kind of rent for the empty and unlivable apartment that he has had for more than two months now. I was told that Thalia Gardens had done all that it could do and looked forward to seeing my boyfriend when he returned from deployment. Upon my response to the managements last email (Friday the 10th) I received a vacation auto reply at 4:40 in the afternoon for the 13th - 20th. I guess she left work a little early for vacation and I cannot fault her for that but that added to the frustration and complexity of everything for me. I arrived at the complex to pick up 2 pieces of mail yesterday that the manager was holding for my boyfriend during his apartment tranfer and no one had any knowledge of it or where it could be and no one wanted to call her to find out because she was on vacation. Someone finally contacted her today and I learned that it was only one piece now and she mailed it to his new apartment; how was I supposed to know that??? After the meeting today with the regional manager it is my understanding that it is mine and my boyfriends fault that all of this has occurred because of the way he worded his deployment notice. I was told that had they known he was being deployed they would have routinely checked his apartment for him. When i showed them the written and signed and dated deployment notice in his file I was told that it could easily be misconstrewed as I was the one who should be checking on the apartment. Well Duh I'm gonna check on the apartment as much as possible.... So I am guessing it is our fault for leaving the apartment for too long of periods of time. I feel that a tenant in this complex should not fear that if they leave their apartment for a week or two for vacation or deployment that they will come back to what we found in my boyfriend's apartment. It only took three weeks on the 2nd and 3rd incidents. At the very least I feel that the complex should have done what they did to help so far and I am thankful for that. But I still do not feel he is responsible for his deductibles, even though they believe otherwise. This will absolutely cost us money out of our pocket to replace lost items plus the $1000 in deductibles that it already cost. The icing on the cake is that the complex charged him a $15 transfer fee for moving him to a new apartment in that emergency third incident, then when his automatic transfers did not cover it they posted collection notices on his new apartment door. There are many service men and women in this complex and I would never want this to happen to any of them or anyone else for that matter. Everyone should know that this could happen, and I was made to feel like an "ungrateful non tenant" because I want to make sure that my boyfriend is not taken advantage of in his absence. I do not want to live here when my boyfriend returns from deployment but the complex will not allow him to break his lease. I am dreading the next 6 months until the lease is up.

dontletthemfoolya

Resident • 2002 - 2007

Hey, seriously? The staff has been ALL OVER this page creating reviews. (see lots of 5s?) The security, the maintenance, and the office staff at this apt complex totally stink. Waterbugs abound, and natural light? no. They took a humdrum apt complex and jacked the rates because town center moved in. How do I know? I lived there for a few years, and when town center moved in, they raised the rates by $200 plus a month. I was there. The place hasn't changed...it's quite ------. Good luck, I don't wish it on my worst enemy...btw, a year after I moved out, 2 kids were held at gunpoint IN MY OLD APT!!! True story. Glad I left!

Current Resident 274651

Resident • 2010 - 2012

I lived here almost 2 years in a townhouse. I really don't have any complaints about the complex. The maintaince team responds fast most of the time and the office staff and friendly and helpful. This place is a bit more expensive than other places I looked at, but you get what you pay for. I am happy here in this community, I am just thinking of downsizing to an apartment here.

renters_kc

Resident • 2008 - 2012

We moved to Thalia Gardens over four years ago. It's in a great location, within walking distance of some local shops and near Pembroke Mall which is currently being expanded right in the down-town area. The buildings are brick facade, and well maintained. The grounds are pleasant, landscaped and trimmed. The maintenance and grounds personnel are professional and helpful. Work requests are handled efficiently and the work is done correctly the first time. We have three vehicles and always have a parking space. The neighborhood is friendly and relatively quiet -we've enjoyed living here.

pjkiumarsi

Resident • 2012

I ve been living at Thalia Garden for the past 3 months. The staff is very friendly and nice, excellent customer service. The swimming pool is very clean and they keep up with the landscape. Overall appearance of the entire community is wonderful. The maintenance personal are very professional and top-notch. All and all I am very happy with this apt complex and recommend it to everyone.

lrsalice

Resident • 2011 - 2013

We just renewed our lease for a second year. I love Thalia Gardens. The apartments are spacious. The office staff is professional and friendly. They are willing to help and go out of their way to be helpful. The maintenance staff is knowledgeable, professional and friendly. When I have a maintenance problem, they come in a timely manner. The grounds are kept nice and the parking is assigned. Lots of families with children and military. Thalia Gardens is a great place to live.

elmjr

Resident • 2011 - 2012

Decent,Safe,Clean.

I just moved out after a little less than a year.Every maintenance issue I had was taken care of promptly. The apartment manager was always nothing but helpful. She was concerned with every issue or siuation that I had while there. She would make it her job to make sure all issues were resolved no matter if they were office or maintenace. She was never rude, Strong professional woman yes. Some people may confuse that professionalism with being rude.

Current Resident 624025

Resident • 2011 - 2012

be careful

I've been living here for almost a year. I moved from one apartment to other. they overcharged me for little things such as not taking few nails off the wall. when i moved to the new apartment my bill was almost $350, only for minor things. When you move out make sure everything looks clean and perfect otherwise you will be charge like $100 dollars for cleaning, even though i clean the entire apartments and it was spotless. Also it seems like the workers are always in your business, they want to know everything. they are pretty ridiculous. Just be mindful that this place is not the best. the rent is decent and i like the oversized apartments but that's it.

Current Resident 445713

Resident • 2012

Great Community / Great Neighbors

I love the community here. I have daughters and am going through a separation and I feel totally safe here. Lori is a great manager. She may come accross to some people as a bit abrupt, but she is courteous and will handle any issue very quickly. Maintenance is prompt and great, very friendly. The only issue that I've encountered is there are a lot of rude teenagers that like to stand on the sidewalk corners in the evening and yell profanities at cars going by, but trust me, I will be reporting that. My kids love the playground and will love the pool this summer also. I never feel unsafe walking my dog in the evening. My shower sometimes runs hot/cold, but the buildings share a water heater b/c they're older. The price is fair for the size of the apartment & the community amenities and the utility bills for gas and water are next to nothing. I plan to stay here, maybe upgrade to the 3 bedroom townhome. I think it's an excellent place to raise your children!!! And super convenient to all locations of Virginia Beach being located so close to the interstate.

jfc127

Resident • 2005 - 2012

Spacious Rooms, Quite Area

The rooms and closets are good sized. Good construction all the way around. The maintenance department responds to calls quickly and the office staff is always very helpful. Parking is adequate

Current Resident 351597

Resident • 2011 - 2012

TOO MANY ISSUES!

I have been living here for over a year now and I must say that at first it was cool but the manager Lori is so freaking RUDE and has a NASTY ATTITUDE!!! The apartment is rather spacious and the cost is good but I will not recommend these apartments because they are so outdated and everything keeps breaking. My shower makes some crazy nosie when you turn it on and I;ve had maintenance come there to fix it numerous times but they seem to make it worse and also I'm starting to have a spider problem which is completely unacceptable. And they have mold growing behind the washr and dryer and REFUSE to do anything about it. I'm so over this place and can't wait to move.