221 Bergen — Local services in Harrison

We lived in this apartment building for nearly 5 years and were very impressed with the staff and the property. After our initial tour, we got the impression that the management company really understood how to provider a comfortable living space. We rented a 2BR, and there was ample storage space in the kitchen, both in cabinetry and the kitchen island. The stove was a gas range, which is easier to cook with than an electric appliance. There were tons of outlets (even on the island), so you didn't have to use extension cords. The appliances were all new when we moved in, so we only put in maintenance requests towards the end of our 5 year stay. There was no wasted space, from the foyer to the bedrooms, and pathways around the apartment were large enough to accommodate furniture. There are also a few individual parking garages that are temperature controlled, which are really nice and provide extra storage area. And, there is also a lot of street parking for visitors. Finally, the apartment had central AC/heat, which was easy to control and maintain.

As mentioned by others, there are not many amenities - only a small business center and a gym and yoga studio. But, the amenities were well-stocked (business center has Wifi and a printer and the gym had good equipment and wipes)and we made good use of them through the years.

In terms of management, we always felt that they were responsive to our questions or concerns. The first property manager, Jeff, was incredibly knowledgeable and approachable, while Ray, head of maintenance at the time, was patient and responsive. Andrew, the last property manager, was warm and personable and was always willing to work with us on rent and leasing questions, and Karl, the last head of maintenance, was super responsive to maintenance requests and kind.

The two main reasons we left were the long commute to NYC and the noise around the area. The apartment is about 7-8 mins walking distance of the Harrison PATH, but the trains were usually packed during rush hour, and there were frequent delays that could lengthen the commute. The apartment building was also situated near the 280W expressway and NJ transit train tracks, so depending on which side of the building you live, you could hear the trains or highway traffic at inconvenient times.

Overall, though, we had a great stay and felt the property had really good value...

As far as buildings go, there is no reason to complain about 221 Bergen. There's always pros and cons and for us, the pros definitely outweighed it all. We lived in the building for 2 years and the reason we are leaving is that due to a new promotion in another building, we are getting 200 sq ft apartment for about the same price (locked in for 2 years) that we are currently paying in 221 Bergen.

There's some things that can be faulted, let's start with those...

While this may not be relevant now (as Andrew is doing a great job as the property manager), we had a horrible experience with scheduling an appointment here and seeing the space. It was pure luck that there was availability in the building and my fiance booked an appointment that day with the leasing office. We were told other people were interested so we started the application that day. We signed the apartment sight unseen and basically had to "imagine" how the space would look like. Things have certainly changed for the better but I still have nightmares about this experience. Although there are no regrets that we signed spontaneously for this building, I do have to say it is a very stressful process.

Amenities are non-existent. There are nice lounge areas and a plus is that they are rarely occupied. However, the amenity "fee" that is paid per year upon lease renewal always makes me a bit bitter for the fact that we don't have any.

We certainly don't get to pick our neighbors so this is a mixed bag and not something that would apply to every unit in this building. However, Andrew had been very helpful with any issues and for that we are very grateful.

We love our unit and we have no issues with anything faulting (fridge, washing machines, etc, all works great). The space (we have a studio) is perfect for 2 people. We do have the best price and sq footage in Harrison based on our studio. You CANNOT find something like this. However, for us, we are looking to expand, but could easily have spent 2-3 years more in that space. Overall, for the price and the location, this place is amazing. We will definitely miss our time here and Andrew, who has been a breath of fresh air since he took over managing the property. I wholeheartedly recommend this building because every place has it pros and cons, but this building definitely have the pros...

My experience with 221 Bergen has been completely unacceptable, mostly stemming from leasing agent Haze's unprofessional and disrespectful behavior.

I scheduled a tour via their online scheduling tool for Sat 3/29 at 9AM, received a prompt confirmation from their AI leasing representative Emily, and later that day, my appointment was cancelled without a provided reason. I responded to the notification that my appointment was cancelled to inquire why, and when the AI representative responded that she couldnt answer my question and would forward my question along, I just called the leasing office.

I spoke to a wonderful woman named Khadijah (apologies if I misheard your name or if im spelling it incorrectly!) who kindly confirmed their office does not open until 10AM, rescheduled me for then, and let me know ill be touring with Haze.

Upon arrival to 221 Bergen, I stood outside for 20 mins calling the office and ringing the digital doorbell. Once I was let in by another guest who was moving in (I assumed another tour may have ran over/Haze was busy, etc), I found a sign on the leasing office door saying they were closed. I was irritated by the lack of communication, but was still interested in rescheduling as things/miscommuncations/life happen. I continued on to my other tours and called back to reschedule around 2PM.

Once Haze answered and I explained what happened this morning and inquired on where the disconnect was, Haze was rude, spoke over me, passive aggressively told me that my original appointment was cancelled and if "my email was correct" I would've known. He was clearly unaware of Khadijah & I's conversation, but the immediate disrespect, clear lack of professionalism, and no offer of an apology even AFTER I told him about my appointment being rescheduled/how I stood outside, I decided to become a resident at another building. This was interaction was a definite indication of how Haze treats residents and is not someone I would feel comfortable dealing with nts on a regular basis.

221 Bergen & Greystar, I believe a refresher or discussion with your leasing staff, Haze specifically, on how to engage with the public is the solve needed to avoid losing other future residents, revenue, and...