The Beacon — Attraction in Jersey City

Title/Summary: 4.5 Years Wasted - Incompetence, Ignored Requests, Threats from the office, and Shady Management Tactics

EDIT AS OF DECEMBER 23 2023: the situation has gotten much worse since I posted this original review. I have moved out and they hit me with many fees not mentioned to me before nor in my lease. One of the fees only came one day after I posted this review, and it was a 500 dollar legal fee even though I already settled the final legal fee bill of 40 dollars. They added it on in retaliation and even admitted this to me because they had to fire Bridget for it (read the entire review to learn who Bridget is) They threw away my internet modem which costs 300$ and are charging me legal fees for the many months they refused to answer my request for my lease so I can move out, bc that entire time they were waiting for my rent to be outdated to get a lawyer involved (this is going to court as I printed out all the proof showing I’m correct, on everything 😄).

Below is the original review. Also ignore the beacons response, that is for show. Rose (resident manager) and others told me not to call and only to speak to their lawyer because they know they messed up.

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To provide some context, I've been a resident here for approximately 4.5 years. During my stay, there have been several changes in management, and regrettably, each transition seemed to lead to a decrease in the quality of service.

In November 2022, I requested to review my lease to understand the conditions for moving out. Despite multiple requests, my pleas were consistently disregarded. There was even an instance when I was mistakenly given the lease of another tenant, laden with their personal details, which was deeply concerning.

Throughout the entirety of 2023 - January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, and September - my attempts to communicate via emails or phone calls were met with silence. I had no choice but to visit the leasing office in person, something I hadn’t done in years, only to be met with delays and excuses. After standing my ground and demanding immediate attention, they reluctantly provided a revised lease that terminated earlier than my original term.

However, the most alarming part was when, after hinting at involving law enforcement, they confessed to having lost my original lease. This admission came directly from the resident services manager, Rose. I was rightfully wary about agreeing to a new lease they'd drafted, especially given they were unaware of the contents of my original agreement.

I later found out that the key employee communicating with me from the leasing office (Zeshaan), had been terminated. I firmly believe that tenants deserve to be informed of such internal issues, especially when it has direct repercussions on us. Because that employee had hundreds of complaints, literally.

(EDIT AS OF NOV 7 - the employee who replaced this one, Bridget, that was my direct communication and also only came up with excuses/lies, was fired as of last week. So that’s two employees who were ‘helping’ me that were fired. I was told that the 500 dollar hefty legal fee put on my account was done by her, the night before she was fired, and they’re currently “trying to remove it” despite police already being involved)

Sadly, my intent to share my experience publicly, especially mentioning specific personnel involved, led to threats of legal action against me. (threats from lawyers, horrible leasing office staff that just said one word, 'sorry', when I asked why they don't answer their phones. And refused to devise a plan to fix it. i even called the office in front of them as proof, they continued ignoring). I don't see the review i posted on the account I used to communicate with them, so this is my other account. Weird how there was no problem with this being posted.

I am in the process of moving out and will certainly provide an update on how that unfolds, given that every other review here says they did not get their deposit back or had to yell at the leasing office to...

Disclaimer: I am not a fake review. I moved into Orpheum beginning of Dec 2023 and waited to write a fair review so consider at your own discretion.

I relocated to Jersey City and the Beacon from central NJ two months ago. I am currently occupying a two bedroom apartment and I enjoy it to be honest.

I had some mishaps and concerns in the beginning. For example, my original leasing agent was a bit disorganized and didn't really give me a proper tour of the property when I went, like the amenities for example. They also didn't show me the correct building until I pointed it out.

However, halfway through the application process, I found out they no longer worked here. My lease processing was then handed over to Mansi who was thorough and very helpful in getting the process organized. The old leasing agent had double booked us for a tour and wasn't even there to show us on the day of, but Mansi quickly showed my parents and I around since we had come from an hour away. She handled all my paperwork well and was receptive via email about next steps.

Then on the day of move-in, my movers were two hours late so I arrived at the Beacon with a truck full of stuff 2 hours after permitted move-in time. It was a super stressful situation but Leroy from security contacted the right people and they gratefully made an exception for me considering the situation was out of my control.

The next day, I left my key in a Lyft (because I'm scatter brained), and was locked out at 12:30am. I went to the security center and the night guard--whose name I didn't catch--called on-call maintenance repeatedly to make sure I got into my apartment that night. Conveniently the maintenance guy, Damien, lived on the property and let me in until I got my key back the next day. He also came by to quickly fix a broken button on my oven only a day after I put in the request.

Third day, there was a fire alarm malfunction. I will admit this was a bit of a scare because I didn't know how often it happened, but it was sorted within an hour or two when the fire department got here. It's a very loud alarm and can be jarring, but there was an email notifying us there was a problem and so I painfully waited it out. It hasn't happened since thankfully.

After that, things have been smooth sailing. My packages have all arrived as planned. I know an elevator was out in my building at some point. I live on a low floor so it didn't bother me but I can see how it's inconvenient and frustrating for a higher apartment.

I like the Beacon Deli being within the community. Not anything other than a bodega really but they stock necessities and some groceries so it's quick to run downstairs and grab stuff in a pinch. There's an ATM on site by the deli and if you live in Mercury or Orpheum, you get access to the indoor 4ft pool, whirlpools, sauna, etc. which are open until 10 pm. There's multiple gyms on site and a big courtyard with a good view of the skyline and some grills.

I enjoy having the shuttle service as an option. I understand that if there's a line to catch one during rush hour that it can suck if it's cold or rainy, but it's a sweet amenity even if the shuttles have issues some days. It's free, it's quick, and there's multiple running during the busiest times of day. Plus there's an app to track them. I've used it to get to Path stations or just downtown in general. You do need a (free) resident ID to use it and visitor passes if you have people over (same for pool).

My main confusion is visitor parking. There's a numbered lot but I've had separate visitors be told different things like it isn't visitor parking, it's paid visitor parking, it's free visitor parking as long as it's a numbered spot. I have to clarify with the office but it can be a deterrent to having friends or family stay overnight if they're driving over.

Besides that, my apartment is spacious and I love the high ceilings. My cats seem to love it too. I know no place is perfect and my experiences are subjective, but I'm honestly happy in Orpheum. I can't speak for other...

A Warning to Potential Residents - The Beacon Jersey City is not Luxury Living, fake 5 star reviews

I have been a resident at The Beacon Jersey City since 2020, and I feel compelled to share my experience with potential tenants who may be considering this property. Despite its promises of luxury living, my time here has been marred by consistent issues that have made me seriously question the value of living in this community.

The most pressing issue I have encountered at The Beacon Jersey City is the heating problem during the winters. For two consecutive years, our building has suffered from heating failures. Most recently, we endured a two-day period without any heat from December 9, 2024, to December 11, 2024. This is simply unacceptable for a place that advertises itself as offering luxurious living conditions.

Furthermore, our summers have not fared any better, with air conditioning problems plaguing us for extended periods. During the height of summer, lasting for over a month without adequate cooling has been a recurring issue, making our living spaces incredibly uncomfortable.

Aside from climate control issues, there are frequent leaks and floods, along with mold infestations in apartments, have become all too common. Problems with rodents and roaches add to the list of unpleasant surprises that residents have to contend with on a regular basis.

The elevator situation at The Beacon Jersey City is nothing short of a nightmare. In the Paramount building, one of the elevators has been out of service for approximately one year, causing immense inconvenience and difficulty for residents, especially those residences like myself with mobility issues.

There also seems to be a revolving door of staff members, which has led to inconsistent service and a lack of accountability. The main front door of one of the buildings doesn't even lock, compromising the security of the so-called "gated community." There have been instances of theft and security breaches, highlighting the inadequacy of their security measures.

When attempting to address these issues with the management, residents are met with frustration and disappointment. The office staff gives evasive answers and the infamous "run-around" without providing real solutions or meaningful assistance.

Adding insult to injury, the rent prices at The Beacon Jersey City are exorbitantly high, and it is clear that you do not get your money's worth living here. Despite the promises of luxury living, the recurring issues and lack of quality in the living conditions simply do not justify the steep cost.

Also, if you come across 5-star reviews of The Beacon Jersey City, they are more than likely fake. As a resident who has experienced these ongoing issues, I can confidently say that living here is far from a 5-star experience. Authentic residents who have firsthand knowledge of the problems would never give such a glowing rating.

The most concerning aspect of this situation is that The Beacon Jersey City continues to advertise itself as a luxury living destination, despite the myriad problems residents face on a daily basis. If these buildings are indeed old and unable to provide quality living conditions, then it is only fair that the rent be adjusted accordingly, or perhaps this property should reconsider marketing itself as a luxury residence altogether.

I implore anyone seeking true luxury living, value for their money, and honest reviews to look elsewhere. Downtown Jersey City offers a variety of buildings that provide a significantly better living experience than what The Beacon Jersey City has to offer. Save yourself the frustration, discomfort, and financial burden by exploring other options that truly deliver on the promise of both luxury living and authenticity. Here are pictures from Jan 14,2024 of the elevator sitting on the 17th floor broken. This is extreme dangerous. So Like I said this is not luxury living

Update on 1/19/24 the temp in my apartment was 58 degrees. I emailed management and as of today 1/23/24 no one has...