Avalon Maplewood — Local services in Maplewood

I've been living here over a year and can properly review this apartment. Overall, the apartment is beautiful but the price to reside here may be a bit high for what you're getting.

The four biggest drawbacks in my opinion are the fact that we continuously experience power outages; residents tend to litter in main common areas; packages getting stolen; and loud noises from the Wawa across the street. Through out the duration of my residence, I've experienced a total four power outages and most of them were during the summer. At times it's the entire apartment while others it's portion of it. What can be frustrating is if your power goes out in the kitchen which result in you losing whatever that's in your fridge as it's no longer safe to consume.

The second drawback is the littering issue. There's been many times where I had to personally pick up after people as they don't care enough to clean after themselves. There's been many occasions where I saw trash in the elevator and full garbage bags being left on the floor of the garbage room instead of being properly thrown out. This is beyond frustrating as it's not my responsibility to pick up after anyone.

The third drawback in depth is risking losing your packages. There are times when carriers claim to deliver but never did or even worst someone takes your packages. In total, I had five packages stolen but thankfully, I was able to get refund from the retailer. To be honest, it's ridiculous to have to experience this on a regular especially when packages should be exactly where it should be. Recently, to resolve this issue I've utilized the package concierge to secure my packages being there and it's been helpful so far.

The final drawback would have to be the loud noises from the Wawa across the street especially on Fridays and Saturday nights. The biggest advice I can give you is to avoid renting out at any of the apartments facing Springfield Ave as you'll be beyond frustrated dealing with the noise especially during the summer months.

Now that I had that out of the way let's talk about the positives. First, the amenities are always kept clean and lifesavers especially the gym during the cold months. It's so convenient to go downstairs for a quick work out. As for the others, they have multiple outdoor areas which is great for bbqs or hanging out with friends. The game room area is decent but do wish there were more game options. The rooftop is a nice feature to have but the furniture needs a lot of updating. My favorite feature is the garage as it's easily accessible and you'll always find a spot even if you're not paying for the designated spots. Along with this, I will say that the residents are nice and the hallways tend to be on the quiet side so no noise complaints here.

Overall, it's an okay apartment complex with a few areas for improvements but it's not enough for me to stay once my lease is...

My time at Avalon Maplewood has been nothing short of a nightmare, primarily due to the severe lack of responsibility from the management and an alarming disregard for tenant safety and well-being. I feel compelled to share my experience so others can make an informed decision.

Maintenance is Non-Existent: The most glaring issue is the abysmal state of maintenance. Simple repairs are either ignored entirely or take an unacceptably long time to address, if they ever are. Common areas are often dirty and neglected, and even critical issues within individual units are met with indifference. It's clear that there is no proactive approach to maintaining the property, leading to a constant state of disrepair. Irresponsible and Unresponsive Management: The management team consistently demonstrates a profound lack of responsibility. Attempts to communicate issues, whether through phone calls, emails, or in-person visits, are frequently met with unreturned messages or vague promises that never materialize. There's a palpable sense that tenant concerns are a burden rather than a priority, leaving residents feeling unheard and frustrated. This irresponsibility extends to every aspect of their duties, making daily living unnecessarily stressful. Serious Safety Concerns and Burglaries: Perhaps the most terrifying aspect of living here has been the significant safety concerns. There have been multiple instances of burglaries within the complex, creating an environment of fear and insecurity. Despite these alarming incidents, management has done little to enhance security measures or even adequately communicate with residents about these threats. The feeling of vulnerability is constant, and it's clear that the safety of tenants is not a priority.

No Hot Water in Winter: As if the other issues weren't enough, the lack of reliable hot water during the winter months is utterly unacceptable. Imagine enduring freezing temperatures outside only to return home to cold showers. This is not just an inconvenience; it's a basic necessity that this complex consistently fails to provide, making living here during colder seasons truly miserable.

Overall Impression: In summary, I strongly advise against renting at Avalon Maplewood .The combination of extremely poor maintenance, an irresponsible and unresponsive management team, serious safety concerns including burglaries, and the basic failure to provide hot water in winter makes this a truly undesirable place to live. The management's lack of accountability creates a hostile living environment where tenants' peace of mind and safety are constantly compromised. Look elsewhere for an apartment that values...

When terminating my lease early, the attorney Jennifer Alexander from Griffith Alexander forced me to sign a document where I forfeited my rights to leave a review. According to the release, any negative statement, honest or otherwise, would be considered defamatory. This is not the only time that this individual attempted to rewrite a legal definition (the attorney did this previously in an email where they said that my complaints were “monopolizing” their time; they lost a package and I contacted them about a tailgating incident; I reported both to the police). There is a law against signing away one’s rights to a leave a review which I informed them of (anyone can review the Consumer Review Fairness Act of 2016). The water heater in my first apartment broke and there was water damage. The maintenance guy James came in and said to my face that there was mold. He sprayed paint primer over the area to cover it up, leaving my apartment smelling like paint fumes. The manager Daniela later said that because no mold tests were done, they were unable to document the mold. They left metal nails in the garbage disposal in a new move in. There were nails all over the balcony on the 4th floor. They left metal signs in the parking garage that the attorney denied and then threatened eviction (email attached). They denied algal growth in the garage after cleaning it up (proof is inside the pipes, image attached). They also tried to accuse me of making up a noise complaint. They even lost a package of mine, which I reported to the police. The mail room has zero security. There are cameras but packages cannot be tracked. They are just left in the mail room for anyone to take. After a heavy rain storm, the maintenance guy James came up to my apartment with a bucket of water asking if it came from my balcony. This was during the covid pandemic and lockdown. Very unsanitary. Even with the elderly residents and the ban on rooftop usage, young residents were still partying and using common areas. James would just walk by and laugh. The landscaping has substantial amounts of dog feces and was a factor in deciding to move. The garbage room also smells really bad and is not cleaned regularly. Although they are LEED silver certified, they would skip weekly carpet cleaning. You can't be energy efficient by cheating the system. Reminding management of these things appeared to bother them to the point where they harassed me via email. Stay away. There are luxury apartments in the area with sanitary garbage rooms as well as...