The Alexander Apartments — Local services in Philadelphia

I moved to Philadelphia from the Bay Area and remotely signed the lease for this apartment. I was about to write a short review first but decided to give a detailed one since reviews were one of the most important factors in choosing an apartment.

Leasing Process: Everyone was very patient and communicative and happy to answer all my questions. Even the the silly and complicated ones related to application fees. Very transparent. Steve was very prompt in sending apartment videos and even measured the counters and other dimensions for us.

Accommodations: The unit we took needed a few reversible changes wrt placement of appliances and other additions. Rachel was prompt to get all that sorted in time for us going through a bunch of extra effort and cost as well.

Amenities: The amenities are top notch. I can even claim “the best” in Philly downtown, both by number and by quality. An indoor heated pool, well maintained gym, grills, Rooftop deck and a great common area. All very clean and well maintained.

Apartments: Cabinets, appliances, fixtures are all modern and good quality. Well made closets and lots of storage. No sounds from neighbours ever. Yes there are highway sounds but its a part of the package. You cant be located accessibly and also be away from the highways. 3 elevators and wait is never too long.

Concierge and Maintenance staff: All of them are very sweet and accommodating and help out promptly!

Overall, if this fits your budget, do not...

Apartments are decent but security is very lax for a property in center city where crime is at an all time high. Communication from management about serious issues like crime and major building repairs is almost non-existent, and tenants are charged fees to pay their rent. Regarding security, there is no coverage at the front desk for extended periods multiple times per day. Only one person is assigned to the desk per shift and they have to leave the desk to perform certain duties as part of their job. Need to hire a 2nd person - an armed security guard who can really offer protection. There have been several crimes in the building and management did not communicate anything to residents. They only acknowledged one incident, probably because it made the local news. Management takes their time resolving major building maintenance issues, like a month or more. And again, little or no communication to residents. When you ask the office staff questions about an issue, they're evasive and seem annoyed. If you send an email, you might not get a response or it may take more than one email to get a response. So customer service is lacking. Despite these issues with security, customer service and building maintenance, existing residents are being hit with huge rent increases of 10-15%! Also, residents pay a fee to pay their rent since management will not accept checks, even if you have an excellent payment history. My recommendation is to...

If you're able to get past the unqualified leasing office, the apartments are okay. However, the amenities compared to other apartment buildings do not justify the price tag. The rooftop "observation deck' is tiny and unfinished. The 'yoga studio' also unfinished is not set up as a studio at all. I question how any classes could be given in that space given its extremely poor layout. The gym is small and lacks any significant weights (benches/squat racks). The pool is fine, but its unclear if you can use it for laps, or simply wade around in its consistent 3'6" depth. Finally, the main lounge for residents is located on the second floor... basically on Vine Street, at that level you really need to be unbotherd by noise. Street noise will also be a problem if you are a light sleeper (the building is also across the street from a hospital emergency room). All in all, this building is a pass. For the price, the amenities should be much nicer. For amenity comparison, although the building has many issues (and I would also not live there) see the Franklin Residences closer to Center...