Apartment Review for The Gallery

First the good:
These new apartments are very nice. They're right in the heart of the downtown life and culture. Coming home from a night out is a short walk from many popular bars, clubs, and entertainment venues. The staff is usually quick to respond to tenant needs and most of them are very friendly and pleasant. The apartments themselves are very nice looking with the stainless appliances, granite countertops, and tile flooring. The pre-painted themed walls are a bit ugly, but do provide a nice contrast from the dull grey walls everywhere else.

Now the bad:
The walls appear thin. I can hear my neighbors through the walls and even through the heat pump (furnace) very clearly. The parking structure is nice, but is city controlled and either requires an expensive parking card or even more expensive daily rates. Parking is not included. The parking structure is also open to the public, and as such, I have seen some shady characters out there and had to call parking security a couple times. The on-site fitness center is small and lacks a lot of stuff a traditional gym provides. This does provide a convenient workout spot when I m crunched for time, but I haven't ditched my gym membership. The free wireless internet is nice, but is ridiculously slow and unsecure from other residents or people with access. Being in the area it is, be careful on a walk at night or early in the morning. I ve been hit up for cash almost right outside the front door, and walked by a couple guys (non-residents) fighting outside on the way home one night. Storage space is extra and limited to smaller household items. As far as utilities being included, the included gas is misleading, as there is no gas running into the units. Everything in the apartment is electric!

Overall:
It's very pricy for what you get. The building was constructed quickly and cheaply as evident by the crooked cupboard doors and large gaps surrounding the inner apartment doors. Oh, and if you dry your laundry with the closet doors closed, the laminate doors can buckle and get jammed to prevent you from easily opening it. More amenities would be nice, such as included parking or even limited basic cable TV. A greater sense of community would be nice, such as gatherings or rooftop parties to socialize with the other residents. I don't know many of my neighbors. Most people just come and go without interacting with one another. Overall, very nice apartments, but overpriced. I can t say I would recommend it to anyone I know, or that I'll consider renewing my lease.