The Flin — Local services in Tucson

At first glance, the building sells you an image: a fancy lobby and a rooftop terrace. But once you actually live here, the reality is very different. Apartments are poorly designed and finished with cheap materials — they even used the same pressed wood for both kitchen and bathroom cabinets, which looks low-quality and tacky. Floors are uneven (one of our dining chairs couldn’t even slide under the table), and there’s no proper threshold between carpet and tile in the bedrooms, so you end up tripping every time you walk in or out. Our kitchen countertop was already chipped, the faucets scratched, and during the so-called “move-in tour” they have you point out flaws, but nothing is ever officially documented. There’s no signed delivery report, which seems intentional: at move-out, they charge you for whatever they want.

On top of that, most appliances were outdated and energy-hungry, which meant higher electricity bills for tenants. The only exception was the washer and dryer, which actually worked well — everything else looked old and out of place for a so-called “luxury” property.

When we moved in, the central AC didn’t work for several weeks! The only solution offered was a portable unit for one bedroom, while the rest of the apartment was unbearable. There was no apology, no rent adjustment. The “concierge” was unhelpful — often asleep in the lobby or simply unaware of how things worked. Management was dismissive and even arrogant. In one case, their billing system failed to process our rent payment even though the bank confirmed the funds were available. Instead of acknowledging the error, they charged us a penalty fee and insisted it was our fault.

Shared spaces were equally disappointing. The rooftop grill almost never had gas and was consistently dirty. Hallways smelled like trash, the parking garage was dusty and unpleasant, and rules weren’t enforced — students from the nearby university often held loud parties late into the night.

The move-out process was another low point. We hired the same professional carpet cleaning company that the building itself uses (we even ran into them in the lobby that day). Despite having a receipt and the carpet looking spotless, management still deducted a chunck of our deposit claiming “replacement of both bedroom carpets.” It felt completely unfair and predetermined. I’ll be posting photos of how we returned the apartment so people can see for themselves.

Another issue is how apartments are assigned. New tenants are usually placed in the worst units — the ones with existing problems or the worst views. Only after renewing for a second year are you offered the chance to move into something “better.” In our case, the unit faced an office building, so people could see straight into our kitchen from the elevator across the street. The only alternative was keeping the blinds closed at all times, which made the space dark and depressing.

And while some might think this review sounds harsh, what surprises us most is how many overly positive reviews exist online. Based on our experience — and similar stories from neighbors — it’s hard not to wonder if there’s a marketing team behind the scenes pushing good reviews and minimizing bad ones.

To be fair, the maintenance crew was always polite and patient, and some of the front desk staff were nice. But the administrators consistently treated residents poorly, and one in particular — who actually lives in the building — behaved as if she owned the place, not even greeting tenants in the elevator.

Overall, this building is expensive, poorly managed, and does not deliver what it promises. We lived here long enough to say this isn’t just “bad luck” — it’s how things are run. There are many more negative details I could share, but this review is enough. Writing it already brings back too much of the frustration, and I wouldn’t want anyone else to go...

We’ve now been in our apartment for three months and can do a fair review. Our unit is directly above the front lobby and two floors below the fitness center. There are only two units with this floor plan. It has three bedrooms and two baths, one shower and one tub/shower. It is on the northwest corner of the building and is closest to the Church/Broadway intersection. The Flin is advertised as a luxury residence and meets this standard in some respects but not in all. We are an elderly couple with high standards and this influences our judgments.

Good features: -The lobby is impressive and creates a good first impression. -There are many seating areas in the common areas inside and outside. -The location is excellent for walking to dining and entertainment. -The shared amenities are impressive: club room with kitchen, digital theater with stadium seating, game room, rooftop patio with barbeque, dog run and a terrace with several seating groups. -The parking garage is a great convenience. -Front desk staff are very helpful and friendly. -Maintenance folks are very responsive and the building is kept tidy inside and out. -The value is good for the location and unit size. -Building security is reassuring.

Not so luxurious: -The appliances are builder grade, functional but not first rate. -The cabinets are presentable but of poor quality. ---The lower kitchen cabinets have only one half-depth shelf. The material is laminate over MDF. -The off-brand toilets are poorly designed which leads to frequent use of a toilet brush and occasional stoppage. The seat height is low, not chair height. -The balcony sliding door latch is poorly aligned and requires an effort to lock properly. -Finish detail is rough in some places. -Noise from the fitness center is a factor for the two apartments below it.

Taking all of the factors into account we are satisfied with our choice of our apartment. We can deal with the less attractive features and enjoy the positives. We are settled in with the unit furnished to our taste. We expect to remain for a few years.

1/1/24 update: -While soundproofing is good between side to side units, sound of impacts on the floor above can be annoying. -If you are bothered by street noises (sirens, motorcycles, etc) you may want to consider units on the south or west side. We like to see the downtown action so are still happy with our choice at the northeast corner.

The Flin has worked...

I'll be upfront, I don't think the apartment is really luxury. It's just new. The lobby & community spaces are definitely beautiful, but the apartments are not up to that same standard. I will break down my impressions since I've moved here. I did move from out of town, and I was not able to view the unit in person. If you are in a similar situation, I want to share my impressions with you.

PROS

non-smoking!!!!

ceiling fans throughout.

solid floor in main living area.

solid counter tops.

good quality washed/dryer.

trash pickup.

private assigned parking.

location.

community spaces are 10/10.

easy to request services through the online portal.

CONS

chintzy particle board cabinet materials.

the carpeting in bedrooms in a pet-friendly apartment.

very lightweight interior doors which open w a slight push if not seated perfectly.

very lightweight exterior door to the balcony.

no real cooking ventilation, just blows air out the top of the microwave.

windows only open a few small inches & only in the bedrooms. the appliances are technically stainless steel but they still aren't high quality. I particularly hate the dishwasher which is plastic inside and feels very flimsy when I try to open or close it.

the electrical outlets have some problems. some are very tight. I have to force the plug in, and when I pull it out it feels like I could rip it out of the wall.

many of the wall plates are also literally crooked which is annoying to look at.

the unit was kind of dirty when we moved in.

sloppy caulking in some areas.

paint flecks.

some dings in the wall, not noticeable at first because the wall is slightly textured.

the hallways if you're above the first floor of apartments are open to the outside air.

some silly goose keeps driving into the parking gate.

had some problems with the application process.

preinstalled 1980s style vertical blinds.

Overall because of the materials used and lack of attention to detail within the unit, I've landed on 3/5 stars. It's still nice to be somewhere that's downtown and new, but I am a bit...