Domain Heights — Local services in Houston

I have been a resident of Domain Heights for 6 months now and I’m able to draw a conclusion that I made the best decision when I signed a lease with this complex! I based my decision off several factors such as culture, location, amenities, staff, & neighbors.

Culture: I’m a native Heights resident and Domain has does an excellent job resembling the Heights culture that is so unique to the area. They promote art & artists throughout the building and show their pride for Houston & the Heights which is very important to me! They have created a welcoming and fun atmosphere by hosting several parties & events for residents too. So far in my 6 months they’ve organized pool parties, an Oktoberfest, a Christmas party, a NYE champagne toast, & have many more scheduled events on the way! They understood the assignment of the Heights culture and delivered!

Location: They are nested in an ideal spot for the Heights. The popular Nicholson Heights Hike & Bike Trail that can connect you to the city is at the doorstep of Domain. (Yes you can reach downtown Houston biking this trail.) As for freeways, 610 is 3 blocks away & i10 is an easy 5 minute drive south. There are a plethora of restaurants, bars, & shops nearby that are both walking & driving distance. Overall there are a lot of positives for Domain’s location!

Amenities: Domain does a fantastic job of providing some of the best amenities any complex could offer! My personal favorite is their 9,000 sq ft pool oasis that has been recognized as the largest private residential pool in Houston! It comes equipped with cabanas, pool lounge chairs/tables, outdoor grills, & several plunge pools. There is also a state of the art gym that is two-stories which includes a cycle room, pilates/yoga studios, free weights, rock wall simulator, & multiple workout out equipment. An added bonus is a sauna room for both men & women located conveniently next door to the gym! They also have several conference rooms & lounge areas that can be utilized by residents. My favorite lounge area is the “Sky Lounge” located on the top floor that provides an incredible view of the Houston skyline! There are also grills & TVs in this Sky Lounge area too where you can witness breathtaking sunrises/sets. Domain even has an arcade room & a BAR in the 1st floor clubhouse which leads to pool! And the list goes on such as outdoor fire pits, bike storage, hammocks, dog wash, etc. They really have raised the standard and bar when it comes to amenities!

Staff: What truly separates facilities from others are the people. I’m grateful to live in a complex with such an incredible staff that go above & beyond making you feel right at home! Would like to give special mention to everyone in the front office property management such as Alison, Caitlyn, Kayleigh, & Taylor who are all extraordinary & amazing people! I would also like to extend my gratitude to the remarkable maintenance team, valet trash personnel, & the groundskeeping crew that really makes this place come together & so special! And last but not least, OTIS, who has been unanimously elected everyone’s favorite bartender in Houston! He has domain (pun intended) over the bar area inside the clubhouse and provides the highest standards of customer service & hospitality! Safe to say everyone who works here is someone you can befriend & get along with!

Neighbors: Lastly, everyone I’ve met has been approachable and friendly! I’m definitely impressed/happy with the diversity, inclusiveness, & representation of all people/demographics that live here because that is what makes Houston so unique as being the most diverse city in the US! I have become close friends with so many of my neighbors to the point where we go out for food/drinks or cook for each other, have game nights, etc! It has been a pleasure meeting so many wonderful people here altogether!

So overall I am beyond satisfied with the experience I’ve had while living here and I know you will too if you’re looking to live somewhere that is fun, safe, unique, and a place you’d be proud...

If I could leave ZERO stars, I would!! If you're thinking about moving here, I would highly implore you not to. You will more than likely experience no power, access to your building sometimes not working, residents walking their dogs with no proper leash or leads, & a horrible smell outside your doors. I moved in back in September of 2023, back when Kayleigh Smith & Alison were working as leasing agents. They no longer work there, as the staff turnover rate is ridiculous. I had issues with management from the very beginning. The property manager - Nichol Gibson* was almost always out with a "family emergency", hardly ever showed her face. The first incident is when there was a random power outage while I was away for the weekend & when I returned back 2 days later, all of my groceries that I had just gotten WERE ROTTEN. My fridge was off & power in half of my unit was not working. When I called the front office, I was told by Kayleigh, that there was a "glitch" & b/c it only effected select few units, a mass email was not sent out. I tried to speak to Nichol about a possible reimbursement since those who were affected were not even given a notice about this "glitch." I was told she would call me, but each time I called the front office she was never there. I didn't hear from her for over a month, but when she did finally reach out, it was by email & only to state that it was basically my fault for being out of town when the glitch happened. LOL The second thing that happened was that Nichol claimed that she had seen me on camera, & that I had run into the garage gate. She was very accusatory & had zero actual evidence that it was me, but she threatened that I would be evicted if I did not pay for the damages. I had to tell her to watch the cameras again, that it was NOT me. I guess all colored people looked the same to her? IDK. Eventually we got this squared away, but the fact that she didn't even watch the cameras & was ready to evict me over something I did not do was a huge red flag.The third & final straw was when my car was broken into. It was not just my car, a few cars down, another vehicle had been broken into. My steering column was torn out & my back window was broken. It had been reported to the leasing agents. Do you think they even notified me? No. I had to find out from the cleaning crew that my car had been broken into earlier that morning. After filing a police report, I made multiple attempts to get the camera footage of the break in. They refused to send that file over to the police. I had to keep calling the front office, my insurance adjuster attempted to call the front office as well. I sent email after email with no response & no help. I kept trying to call, and the phone would ring busy. I figured out that they had blocked my calls, b/c I had my mother contact the front office from her work number & what do ya know? Someone answered. I let my mother do the talking and then intervened when I heard Kyara Webb lie to my mother about not being open on Saturday's. What a joke!!! After I pretty much threatened to sue them for not releasing the footage to the officer or to my insurance adjuster, I had finally received an email stating that I had to provide the leasing office with a USB drive in order for them to send the file over to the police. I'm sorry, but why should I provide you that when my car was vandalized on YOUR property? Furthermore, WHY did it take 2 weeks to get this information out of you?!?! Reader, if you're reading this far and still think you should move here, WAIT IT GETS WORSE! WE HAD NO POWER FOR 12 DAYS!!!! Tenants were sleeping in the lobby, sleeping in the lounge areas, sleeping outside near the pool, sleeping IN THE YOGA ROOM. Yes, the YOGA ROOM. I went to try to work out, & there were blankets, pillows & personal items in there.

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Introduction: Having lived at Domain Heights for two years, I must express my disappointment. While the apartments have a luxurious look, the reality falls far short of the standards one would expect from a so-called luxury community.

Positive Aspects: The complex has attractive features, including well-maintained courtyards, a large resort-style pool, and a sky lounge. I initially enjoyed a friendly community, and the convenient location to my workplace was a significant factor in my decision to stay. However, these positives have been overshadowed by numerous issues.

Areas for Improvement: The departure of the beloved bar manager, Otis, left a void in the community, and since then, customer service has been abysmal. Management seems fixated on enforcing rules rather than genuinely supporting residents. Organized community events are practically nonexistent, and when they are planned, we often receive only a day’s notice, making participation nearly impossible.

The requirement to swab pets for DNA to keep the property clean is laughable, as the hallways are frequently littered with dog waste. Broken glass has been left unattended, risking the safety of pets. Additionally, the malfunctioning alarm system caused distress to my dog during my first months here. Power outages in Building Two occurred regularly, particularly at night, with no advance notice. These outages were unrelated to weather events like the Derecho or Hurricane Beryl. To make matters worse, the complex failed to pay the water bill, leaving residents without water—something I only learned through a maintenance worker. During the Derecho, our building lost power longer than the surrounding area, and unauthorized individuals were seen trying to access apartments at 3 AM. Management's lack of communication regarding these safety issues is inexcusable.

What’s more, the lack of support for residents facing theft is alarming. Friends of mine had their cars stolen multiple times from the garage, and the management did little to assist them. One friend had their vehicle vandalized by a maintenance employee on several occasions, and instead of addressing this serious issue, management tried to cover it up.

The handling of my move-out was the final straw. I was not allowed a walk-through with staff, and after two months of silence, I was sent to collections without any prior notification. When I sought clarification, I was met with dismissive comments, including, “I don’t have time to send you what you are requesting right now.” It took involving the regional manager to resolve the situation, yet Danielle Delaney, the assistant manager, continued to display a bad attitude throughout the process.

Advice for Future Residents: If you are considering moving into Domain Heights or are preparing to move out, I strongly advise documenting everything and maintaining a paper trail. Ensure you schedule a move-out walk-through with a staff member so they can point out any perceived damages, giving you adequate time to address them before your departure. Additionally, do not hesitate to speak up about any issues you encounter; it is crucial for the community to hold management accountable for their shortcomings.

Conclusion: Domain Heights has the potential to be a great place to live, but it needs a complete overhaul in management and resident services to match its luxury claims. I advise anyone considering this complex to prioritize location but to brace themselves for a frustrating experience regarding safety and...