Art Plaza Tower — Local services in Miami

Update: I had originally posted a complaint related to our needing to break the lease early due to COVID-19 and financial difficulties. While at first we were unable to achieve an optimal resolution with the office, they did reach back out to us to reconsider their position. I am very pleased that they were willing to come back to the table to discuss the situation more in-depth and come to an agreed consensus that is fair. Therefore, I do amend my previous statements and say that in a dire situation, the front office staff were amenable to a better resolution regarding our early lease-break. I give it 4 out of 5 stars because there are a mix of both positive and negative experiences that go beyond just administrative operations. The views are amazing; we have spent almost a year in our corner unit and I love having my breakfast on our wrap-around balcony; watching cruise ships come and go, watching sunsets, etc. The interior and appliances are also very nice and updated. If you get a corner unit, you will get awesome window views and natural light. I also like the on-site store on the 9th floor, and, while I might not have used the pool or gym, they look amazing. The apartment does a great job having a person routinely (every day?) sweep and mop the hallways on each floor, and routinely cleans the parking garage. I have felt very secure living in our building, especially with the supervised guard station at the bottom of the garage. My old apartment had a terrible issue with vehicle break-in and theft. I have yet to see or hear about this at Art Plaza. On the less positive side are the following: noise is a MAJOR issue; this building is across from several bars/clubs (something we didn't know when we toured during the DAY); thus, your Friday and weekends will be noisy as hell until 3-4AM. Also, a lot of younger/college folks that treat the apartment like it's a frat house. Many people have no respect for their neighbors, or simply don't care. I have on multiple occasions banged on my bedroom wall at 3AM to indicate to my neighbor that their TV is turned up too loud (which they are good about turning it down, but I shouldn't have to do that in the first place). At least in Texas, there is an ordinance where noises cannot extend beyond a certain square feet past 9PM or before 7AM. I guess people don't care about that here. Another big thing is illicit drug use (i.e., pot). We love our double sliding glass doors the go to our balcony; we love to have the ocean breeze swoosh in, but our neighbor loves to smoke A LOT of pot when they get home, so basically, our entire living room and kitchen smells horrible, which prompts us to close our doors. Again, their illicit drug use infringes on our ability to enjoy the small things like having our balcony door open. On a more personal note, I am not a fan of having to park on the 5th floor and then take an elevator to my floor, especially around 5PM when people are getting home, you can stay waiting for the elevators for 10-15 minutes if not more. Another thing I don't care for is that the office staff will not allow you to exit nor enter through the main lobby door with your dog, you must do so...

This place is a complete disappointment. Do yourself a favor and don’t rent here, especially if you have kids. Management shows zero accountability: people openly smoke pot in common areas like the pool, elevators have been broken for months, and the pool deck is always littered with cigarette butts and trash. The building is overrun with parties and random people, making it feel very unsafe.

A quick search will show you there have even been murders, stabbings, and robberies in and around the property. I lived here for five years, and it’s nothing like when it first opened. Standards have plummeted, and it feels like they’ll rent to anyone without concern for safety or community. Amenities are poorly maintained, there’s no proper third-party management, and the overall environment is dangerous. In my time here, our car was broken into, we saw bullet holes in nearby vehicles after a domestic dispute, a neighbor woke up to a stranger sitting in her car, and we witnessed a woman stumble out of the elevator covered in blood after being stabbed. On top of that, dog waste regularly fell onto our balcony from neighbors above, and another resident was told they would “just scrape off and paint over” the mold in their apartment. Completely unacceptable.

To make matters worse, some building staff ignore the rules themselves. While a few are helpful, others set a terrible example. I have Ring footage of one worker vaping directly outside my apartment door, despite the lease explicitly banning vaping. That same staff member once dismissed my complaint about someone smoking pot next to my child at the pool, saying they couldn’t stop it.

On top of everything else, the building does not comply with landlord statutes and laws. Instead of following due process, management shifts blame onto tenants, tries to squeeze money out of them, and leaves families in unsafe, unlivable conditions. Experiencing this firsthand with a child was absolutely disgraceful.

We were forced to move out a month ago because our apartment became uninhabitable, and honestly, it was a blessing in disguise. You can find a much cleaner, safer, and better-managed place for the same rent....

"A PLACE CALLED HOME" Since you enter those glass doors that lead you to a majestic lobby, full of art, design, warmed with plants, and welcoming smiles, you know you arrived to the right place that lives up to the name it bears! The managing office with all their exquisitely dressed, pristine, ready and prepared managers who are set to solve whatever issue might arise, promise you a sensational experience... Walking through the lighted, well-kept and preserved corridors thanks to the staff members, that lead to the units generates a feeling of tranquility and neatness. Details like the "well-dressed in black (bag) for the occasion" trashcan that awaits when you exit your car with all the junk of the day, and walk towards the elevator, make the difference. I am fortunate to occupy one of the corner apartments, whose view of the MacArthur Causeway and the Port of Miami is simply breathtaking. Waking up and seeing the sunrise, or coming home after a long and exhausting day of work and having the possibility to see the sunset, simply recharges you with energy and fills you with gratitude! In the 9th floor we have a mini-market with a great coffee and the best croissants, "pan de bono", "tequeños" or "croquetas", that works PERFECTLY, specially when we are ON THE RUN!!! Or just need an Avocado that you forgot to buy for your salad or a bottle of wine... The social center with a pool table and racquetball serves as a "Hang-Out" area that works as catalyst in the implementation of good social cohesion in the community. On the other side you will find a fully equipped gym, a large pool and a big Jacuzzi with conveniently situated sun chairs and tables. Is near all the work, party, shop, live, experience, areas of Miami at a walking distance and across a Metromover station. In summary, I have been living here for 3 years, and just renewed my lease, and I could tell you that it is the staff, small details, good vibes and ideal location that makes this property and living in it an EXTRASENSORY experience! That like the carnival of my hometown: WHO LIVES IT, IS WHO ENJOYS IT! (QUIEN LO VIVE, ES...