Apartment Review for Scrapyard Lofts

The Scrapyard Lofts are beautiful lofts built in an old renovated furniture factory in downtown Holland, MI. They're named after the Louis Padnos scrapyard visible from the building, with a view of Lake Macatawa beyond that. The location is perfect, within walking distance to everything downtown. With so much activity especially during the summer in downtown Holland, it really is an ideal location for things like the Tulip Time Festival, the Street Performer Series, and the sidewalk sales.

However, The Scrapyard Lofts certainly has its share of problems. Really making living here especially difficult is the management. I've personally found them to be extremely misleading; for instance, upon asking about the draftiness of the building and what it would cost to heat it, I was told "we pay your gas bill." It was mid-January when I learned I have electric heat, not gas. In another instance, I was told that in the event of losing my job, a lease break would cost me my security deposit. A later conversation, this one in writing, revealed that I would have to find a sublet to get out. Additionally, I was once locked out of my apartment, and called the management. I was told "I live in Grand Rapids, I'm not driving out there."

My recommendation to anyone looking to live in the Scrapyard is to get anything and everything in writing, as anything verbal stands the chance of being completely revoked.

Some other inconveniences:
The apartments are very, very loud. You can hear any conversation through the wall one room over. There is no buzzer system. When a guest or a delivery man comes over, you either must be expecting them such that you're waiting for them, or must be able to be reached via cell phone. In apartments on the west side of the building, when the windows are open, the floor becomes black with soot and dust from the scrapyard. Just keep your windows closed and run the air conditioning. If something breaks in the apartment, or as in my case, a leak in the ceiling, there is no maintenance staff on hand to help. You'll be at the mercy of the management's schedule.

Again, the apartments are gorgeous inside. The original wood beams and floors give a character that few apartments can match. However, I simply find the management to be so unaccommodating that I will not be renewing my lease next year. For what I pay per month, I expect more consideration from the leasing company.

I hope this helps anyone looking into living in the Scrapyard Lofts.