Riverfront Towers — Local services in Detroit

I've lived here for about one year and three months now. I would not recommend anybody consider living here. I have had multiple grievances with this facility - I will address each of them.

1. Walls and neighbours: I live in tower 200. I have had multiple issues with neighbours playing absurdly loud music and showing absolutely zero consideration for others. I first tried to ignore it, but finally brought it to the attention of the grossly incompetent/impotent management [Peggy, and Andy]. Peggy reached out first, and recommended that I call security every time I have an issue, so that security may document the issue. If it occurs enough times, they may take action. So, on a nearly daily basis for two and a half months, I called security about the noise. Every time security arrived, they did explain to me that this is an unreasonable amount of noise, and this should not be tolerated. Whats worse, every time security requested one of the individuals turn down the noise, he would increase the volume further to aggravate the situation. Security was absolutely ineffective. I tried to reach Peggy for several weeks who failed to return Emails, voicemails, or in office requests to see her. I was then directed to Andy (the assistant manager). He encouraged I continue to have documentation by security of the event (and each time having to tolerate this individual increasing the volume when security came). Finally I spoke to him and asked what the purpose of all of this was, if management would not take action - basically Andy's excuse was "Well, suppose there was construction next door - as long as its during certain hours, theres nothing we can do. Sorry!". I just find it pathetic that not he, or Peggy could answer me directly, and honestly when this issue first arised, rather than wasting mine, the security guards time, as well as aggravating an already frustrating situation. If you work nights, or have work that requires you to work quietly and not like you're living next to a nightclub, you will be taking a risk with how the walls are constructed here. You might luck out and get reasonable/considerate neighbours, but I wouldn't count on it

2. Parking: Im living in the city temporarily, and share two vehicles with my fiance who lives across the border. I only keep ONE vehicle here at any given time. Given mine or her day to day needs, it would be convenient to swap vehicles occasionally. Note that you can't use the transponder to go "in" twice. You need to have one "out" for every "in" When I requested with management that two plates be registered to my single transponder, they refused. They insisted I pay the 60-80$ monthly fee, just to have a plate registered, and not actually using a spot. .

Additionally, visitors needing to pay to visit you. Are you kidding me? We pay on average close to two thousand dollars a month for these old, dated facilities, and this company still has the audacity to charge your guests for parking.

3. The facilities: Old, dated, and worn out. There is an option to have newly renovated apartments (Granite counter tops and some other updated ammenities) for a few hundred dollars above the already grossly overpriced rooms. Multiple electrical outlets, as well as light switches have absolutely zero function. To add to insult, the closets do not even come with racks to hang your clothing on. There are shelves, but again, a very basic thing overlooked at a "luxury" facility

4. Elevators: The creaky and wobbly ride will have you making your peace with god every single time. I've been stuck three times in one year - fortunately after sitting stationary for about 5 minutes, the elevator spontaneously started working again.

They are now sending me letters to renew my lease. Needless to say, I wouldn't stay at this facility a day longer than I need to, even at half the cost of current rent. Management will give you the run around and attempt to insult your intelligence in the process for any issues you may have. Strongly recommend you...

Update 09/2/2022: They wanted to be a luxury community but focused more on no maintenance and killed luxury. The original builders spared no expense and highest quality.

The riverfront used to be designed as a park.

GONE: ... is the beautiful aggregate riverwalk that glistened at night. The stones were natural along the waterfront. Replaced with black concrete. ...are the bricked walkways and entrances to towers. Replaced with black concrete. ...are our coal BBQs. Replaced with only 2 in the courtyard that we now have to call and reserve in 1 hour increments in the sun. Our BBQs were on the ends in the shade with picnic tables. ..are the traditional wood park benches..replaced with steel.They are small. ...are the stone covered walkways and 250 roofs..replaced with puddles and stains ...are the green foliage bushes in the walkways which took out the toxins and gave oxygen- replaced with emptiness . (see pic) ...is the garage rooftop running track with 4 corner workout stations ...fall colors with the burning bush fire hedges.These also used to be the privacy bushes in the courtyard.Roses gone. ...is the restaurant. Once full of music, food and cocktails and the lights of Windsor, kareoke night that was a motown musical.Patrons chased out by paid parking $10, no access by people mover. Towers ripped out what was there, raised the rent so no one can afford to set up nor maintain a business. ...are the shade trees we used to sit under ...are the lounge chairs in the courtyard we used to sunbathe and read. Wicker cushioned chairs. ...are the lighted fence along the river. Just a steel one instead of the brown lit. ...is the heated pool. Ice cold everytime we have been to it. Update 9/22: still freezing so pool is unusable ...is the therapeutic hot tub. Its just a bath tub with weak jets that kids can stay in for hours and breeding ground for bacteria. Not beneficial after a workout. Needs a higher horsepower and MIN 104 degrees for sore muscles! Update 9/22: Still a bathtub..use as a pool. ...are the poolside lounge chair with tropical cushions replaced with uncomfortable mesh. ...is the poolside dockbox that held our water workout weights,kickboards,fins and noodles.

Positive: STORE: Wonderful. Should be in the leasing area. Offices barely open. AMP prevents them from giving us ice machines. -Pool area and spa has been totally redone. .

-Marina done. I called and they want $3700 for the smallest slip. Overpriced for non full service? -The new security team is friendlier. permanent stainless round picnic tables but only sit 4 and small.

CONS: RESTAURANT: I met and saw plans for a superb restaurant. AMP refused to work with them. It remains empty. Put ANYTHING in there!

PARKING-You pay an so do your friends and family..its $65/mo/car. Friends: $2/hr to $10 max. No visitors for you! If your significant other stays the weekend..$40. Relationship killer. The garage is owned by the tower. I paid in town because they didnt.

CRIME: There are car breakins.Jeep was just stolen.A shooting murder in 100, a garage stabbing.Refusal to put cameras in the garage. Bottom level floods.

PET? $35 Monthly Pet Rent $25/mo for the second •$300 per pet initially...um..

.COMMON AREAS: Wish list: -Negotiate a bus stop on Jefferson. Covered "transit center" by gate for Uber and Lyft. Charging stations for scooters. Many of us use these for work and soon the riverwalk -Retail in leasing office or switch space with store. -Call box to guard house from people mover so friends can visit when open. -Purchase pool furniture that is tropical. -Boat storage. -Cameras on each parking deck. -Security guards at the front door of each tower as a doorman would be luxury. -lounge chairs back in courtyard -heat the pool, bring back the attendent that used to hand out towels and the trainer in the fitness center. The pool is the focal point and the oil in the water from people that dont cover your heads..gross. add another horsepower for jets and timer next to hot tub. Bring back what you took away...

The positives are the location, layout of the units, the view. Mgt. leaves much to be desired. Elevators are a problem, in general.

1/8/18 Update: On 1/6/18, I was stuck in line at the gate because the guests could not exit, and neither could the residents. I am aware of other apartment complexes that charge for parking. My main complaint is the way Riverfront went about the change--with little thought, as usual. Why not have one lane for guests to exit, just as we have one lane for guests to enter? Elevators are still an issue. So, where did the money go for renovations? Because the leasing center and dusty blue hallways truly look like $2,000+ apartments are rented here. I have nothing negative to say about maintenance. This building is old with cheap construction and they're expected to turn water into wine.

We made the news today because a pipe burst, flooding the first 6 floors of Tower 100. Per email from mgt, "water also penetrated the elevator pit which rendered the elevators inoperable." Two of the elevators were already out of order, so the email should read, "rendered the last working elevator inoperable." The weather can cause pipes to burst, but it's how you respond to the issue that makes a difference. The alarm went off around 6 am, and sounded for at least 40 minutes. Why did it take until after 9 am to get an official update on what happened? Unacceptable, considering some staff live here.

7/5/18 Update: The only working passenger elevator was down and the freight elevator had to be manually operated by staff. I'm not understanding how we supposedly had upgrades to the elevators and are still having the same issues. Also, the floors are still under construction following the flood in January 2018.

7/27/18 Update: I have finally left the building. Of course, my move out was with incident. I reserved the elevator in advance. My move out begins with two contractors parked in the dock. Security tells me I have to call the office. Patrick in the office told me he had to call the contractors. Of course, it took well over the 10 minutes promised for the contractors to move out of the dock. Later, my movers tell me there's a furniture delivery truck rushing them out of the dock. Meanwhile, I'm still upstairs with loose and bulky items that need to come down. Staff and mgt. claim my movers told them they were finished loading; my movers state they were told they had to move. Since I know the level of incompetence Riverfront is capable of, I'm inclined to believe my movers. Anyway, I did use the public elevator to bring some things down, because the clock was still running with my movers. It took at least 30 min to return the elevator that I reserved back to me. And they acted like they were doing me a favor to send it back. The corporate furniture delivery should not have been scheduled until the next available slot. So, lets really look at what this is saying--despite the fact that I have been a resident in good standing for 14 years, my needs don't matter. The right thing to do was for staff to call me, explain what happened with the elevator reservation, and ask me if I still needed to use the elevator. The furniture delivery should have waited, not the other way around. So, I'm wasting time trying to use both the passenger and freight elevator to move my remaining items. Meanwhile, my clock is ticking with the movers. Every time I have reserved the elevator, there's an issue. Either they didn't lock it correctly and people have been able to take it. And does staff care about anything that is actually their fault? Of course not, they offer some vague apology that assumes no fault at all.

I'm happy to be gone. No place is without it's problems. What I would say to prospective tenants is carefully read the negative reviews, on all of the platforms. The reviews are not exaggerations. If you feel it's worth it, great. If not, there are options...