The Bradford — Local services in Belmont

In a situation where the national economy's in the dumps, Bradford's just itching to squeeze more money out of every nook and cranny. You'd think they'd have the decency to hold off on hiking up fees, especially when the basic communal facilities in these apartments are non-existent. I mean, seriously, if you moved in, you'd notice it all – either the doorknobs are busted with no one bothering to fix or replace them, or the lights on Pomona's third floor flicker like something out of a horror flick. And don't even get me started on the residents up there. Some couples are constantly squabbling over a measly hundred bucks, others are having their nightly rendezvous at full volume, no regard for anyone else around, and then there's the ones who treat the shared property like it's their personal playground, scratching up the doors like there's no tomorrow. I don't even know how the property manager screens these folks before letting them in; it's like they're just desperate to fill up units without a care in the world for who they're letting in. And talk about management being blind as a bat – they're jacking up the rent left and right while failing to keep things in check.

Naturally, with more and more folks peacing out, their pockets are bound to feel the pinch. So what's Bradford's solution? Slap a storage room in the parking lot and pretend it's for our benefit, offering it up for monthly rent to stash our stuff. Like, come on, unless I'm a total sucker, why would I fork over cash for that? And don't even get me started on the rise of electric cars. Sure, there are more of 'em on the road, but the same old lack of manners prevails. Even though most of these hybrids are running on gas, these tenants just refuse to budge from the charging spots. Can't tell if they can't read English or if they're just pretending not to, but either way, management couldn't care less.

And here's the kicker – the folks living in the affordable housing units are letting all sorts of riff-raff in when they're not even home themselves. Picture this: these randoms show up in the dead of night, begging my hubby to let 'em in, claiming they're friends of so-and-so. For safety's sake, we don't let 'em in, but get this – one of the affordable housing tenants actually comes down and lets these complete strangers in! Gives me the heebie-jeebies just thinking about it. If these people started causing trouble, or, God forbid, started a fire with their smoking and boozing, the whole building and everyone in it would be up in flames. And what's the apartment manager doing? Absolutely squat. I swear, I have no clue how she even earns her paycheck.

The only one in this whole place who seems to give a damn is the janitor. Every week, they're out there busting their butt, cleaning up each floor spotless. But no sooner do they finish than some new tenants move in or out and trample the lobby to bits. Zero respect, I tell ya. Don't they know how to clean up after themselves when...

I wrote the following one paragraph review while i was living at the Bradford, and the remaining paragraphs after i returned (see below).

I can't recommend Lorraine Wu, the manager of the Bradford, enough. She is always available and has all the answers. Also, she is kind - and always smiling! I don't know what I would have done without her.

I wrote the following review after i returned.

I left the Bradford last February for personal reasons, then returned 3-4 months later - into another unit that is right next to the roof deck. Unfortunately, loud parties have taken place that last until after midnight, and i have learned that there are no "roof deck rules." The new manager, Jamie (a wonderful person) is trying to do something about this, which i appreciate, but if the roof deck is open house for anyone and for all hours, i will have to move into another unit or another rental complex. I also wish there was an exercise room, which i gather is being considered, but nothing as yet. I also hope the Bradford will organize more gatherings, like it did when Lorraine Wu was manager, to help people get to know one another. Otherwise, living at the Bradford is isolating. I hope the above suggestions and comments will be taken seriously, and that the higher management helps Jamie "fix" some of the above problems, most importantly, use of...

The location is great for my purposes of getting into Cambridge/Boston on nearby public transport. But the management quality has massively deteriorated. The property manager left, but was not replaced, so there is limited on site management or communication, even on pressing issues. In the past two months, there were three extraordinarily disruptive false fire alarms, always at midnight or very early morning. The alarms are so loud they could easily cause hearing damage. No one in management acknowledged them. The last property manager had disregarded a series of similar alarms until they began forcing residents to flee their apartments in the middle of the night and report it. This is unacceptable and will result in formal complaints if they recur. The complex has effectively no amenities to speak of, no exercise room, swimming pool, only a "deck" that you have to rent for money and a spare entrance area describe as a "lounge" or "library." Wifi is spotty and drops regularly. Rent is exorbitant even by local standards, resulting in many units...