RISE at Riverfront Crossings — Local services in Iowa City

I lived in Rise my sophomore year because, like many of you, I had a hard time finding a place to live and it seemed like a good and safe option. While I was there the rent raised for the new lease term so we decided the tiny unit we were given with no storage (the show room is nothing like actual rooms. You also cannot pick your unit), was not worth it. While I was there many things never worked such as the printer and the outdoor fire pit. The safety and convenience of the key fob and locked entrance ended up being an unjammed door and most doors being propped open the whole year. If you are living there, park in Harrison street parking garage because they also gouge the prices for parking. While I lived there my roommate and I came back to school together after break to find spilled coffee, our furniture moved and our AC turned back on after we bumped up the thermostat to keep it from kicking on while we were gone. The "coffee station" is usually not set out, out of order or doesn't have creamer or cups. During the weekends, there are huge parties on the fourth floor. It gets trashed and the elevators stop working because of the large traffic of people. The trash sits there for at least five days before anyone cleans it up. Towards the end of the semester, they hired someone to walk around the halls at night- like an RA. She would stand outside our door and if she heard anything, would knock and tell us we were too loud. We had this happen to us a few times because she could hear our TV and then watched her turn around and tell the same thing to our neighbors about their video games- even though neither of us (the actual residents) could hear anything. If you want to bring your mom to college, this is the place for you! I will say, the walls were so thin that I often heard my neighbor on the opposing wall sneeze at night and her Facetime calls. A different friend of mine who lives there has a room so small her desk chair cannot pull out without hitting her bed. Another friend in a three person unit was supposed to get an extra seating option in the living room and did not. When COVID hit, Rise made no effort to assist any of us (the building is primarily college students) even though we largely moved out after spring break. Due to COVID restrictions, the amenities of Rise had to all be closed. The issue, however, is that this is a large portion of what we pay for in living there. Some sort of reimbursement and kindness would have been appreciated. People were affected around the globe and most corporations and businesses offered some sort of forgiveness or break. In April, my family caught COVID leaving my parents out of work for a very long time. On top of that my father was not able to work as many hours and being the family's main provider meant that it got difficult during that time. When we reached out to Rise to tell them our situation we heard nothing back. They also released my personal information and my roommate's to a sublet. Overall, their main goal is money and I would not recommend living here to anyone - it is not worth the price in the slightest. There are many great living options in Iowa City who are half the price with bigger units. The University has several gyms, pools, printing stations, TVs, and study areas that the amenities do not make up...

When our daughter was looking for an off campus apartment, we chose RISE to give us some piece of mind. It is a secure building that you need a key fob to enter, it is close to campus and had some great amenities. I was disappointed from the day we signed the contract. She was unable to choose her unit. She was assigned an apartment, just like you are assigned a room at the dorm. The day we moved her in, my first scent was the marijuana right when we stepped off of the elevator. I am not a mom with my head in the sand, I know its the real world, but this was honestly an overwhelming odor and it was there every time we went to visit. The secure doors were a facade, as the door were simply propped open all day and night. The courtyard view from her apartment was great. You could watch all of the drinking games, and beer bongs right from her living room! I watched the kids party like a college student can, that's OK, but the mess left behind was incomprehensible. The worst part is, the mess was still there the next morning. The vomit near the elevator was there for a full day before it was cleaned up. This is all on move in day! Winter was difficult as this building sits at the bottom of a hill. The stairs and walkways were not promptly shoveled. The walks were not salted. She slid every time she walked out the door. On one visit, the steps were so icy we had to go around another way, and we had our arms full. We learned this year that higher price does not mean better, or safer. The biggest disappointment was how they conduct business. Covid-19 hit. It stunned the world. It is still affecting every person in the world in some way. Rise is business as usual. Tacking on late fees (after they said they wouldn't) to an apartment that students haven't lived in since spring break. They offered no help, even when it was requested. They continue to collect nearly $1000/month per occupant, even though it's not occupied. The amenities you pay for are closed, due to covid, but rent is being collected as usual. Every business I know, has been trying to do what they can to help in this global crisis. They could even say 1/2 rent? No late fees? No hassle sublets? I tried to communicate with the building manager and he put me off more than he helped. There are so many good apartments around campus, please don't pay this for your student to live here. Some are brand new, and still cheaper. If you want to just pay exorbitant fees because you can, go for it, but don't pay them because you think you are getting something better or safer because you simply are not getting what...

DO NOT SIGN HERE. Management is terrible, they give empty promises.

I have been told numerous times that I would have a cheaper rate than what they actually gave me. Both my friends and I (on different occasions) were told that rent would be $1000, by both employees and the property manager, yet we made a rookie mistake and forgot to get it in writing. Then they presented the $1119 a month, which was my roommate's and I last choice but everything else had been taken, so we signed. Boy, was that a mistake. I have been screwed over many times by the Rise. The renewal rate they gave me for next year is a joke: $5 cheaper a month.

PLEASE READ THIS PART!! WHEN THEY TELL YOU THAT THE LEASING STARTS ON AUGUST 15 DUE TO THE "FIRST TWO WEEKS IS A DEEP CLEAN OF APARTMENTS", DO NOT BELIEVE IT. I fell for this. I got into my apartment after those two "deep cleaning weeks" and there was pink paint (leftover from previous tenants), splotches on the couch, fridge, both bedrooms, bathrooms, and more. There is torn up carpet, patches in the walls, missing closet doors, and more. This so called "deep cleaning" is only so that they can scam you out of half of your rent for the month. Additionally, management will not take care of tenants that smoke or other disturbances that us renters have encountered.

And do not get fooled by events and amenities. I have not seen a single person swimming in the pool, the outdoor grills used, any movie play on that large outdoor movie screen, or anyone in the arcade. Their "coffee station" is only a single coffee machine that gets dirty easily and once in a millennia will they put out pastries just so they can post it on their social media to show what they "do for their renters". Do not be tempted by this empty promise as well.

I have contacted the Rise multiple times about my inquiries and frustrations and the outcome is either no response, or a general "we cannot do anything about 'X'".

Please consider this review and go to any other place than the Rise. I do not write reviews, yet this was bad enough that I have to warn other people. Look at the Nest, Banks, Hawks Ridge, etc. if you want to book with a big facility. But please please please stay away from the Rise.

EDIT: The renewal office just called a day after I got the renewal lease offer (which I had a couple of weeks to decide) and said that corporate said that I only have until the end of the day to decide if I want to renew or not. I got less than 48...