Here are my impressions!
Promontory Pointe:
Promontory pointe is located on Medical Drive, quite a ways from the health science center (its on the other side of fredericksburg (spelling?). This apartment complex is HUGE and hilly!! THere were like 25 buildings that must have totaled to about 800 units or so. You drive up a very curvy hill to get up to the main entrance (it reminded me of that hill with the most turns in the world in San Francisco). This apartment complex has a jogging trail, fitness facility, 2 swimming pools, an aerobics room (the lady said they offer free yoga classes, aerobics classes, etc.), and they even have an onsite masseuse--dunno what to make of that! I was able to look at a 747 sq ft 1/1 and a 855 sq ft 1/1. They are running some very temporary specials (she said it would not last long) on these apartments. THe 747 which normally goes for 699 is going for $650/mo. (14 month lease) and the 855 which normally goes for 799 is going for $715/mo. for a 14 month lease. The 855 I looked at had hardwood floors in the kitchen and bathroom, but this was not the case with most of the apartments, she said. I should mention that the closet in the 855 is the same size as the one in the 747, narrow and long. I stopped by this apartment complex at night to see how loud it was and if I would be able to study at night. Well, like people have said, it is pretty loud--it seems like alot of undergraduate or otherwise partying type of people live here. Also, I guess since its so big, there were constantly people going in and out. Coincidentally, I met a 2nd year student on my SWA flight back to Dallas! I asked if she was a med student because I saw her with a HUMUNGOUS pathology book lol
. Anyway, she lived at Promontory Pointe her 1st year and she hated it! Like a poster on SDN said, the management is terrible. She said a good way to tell if an apartment complex is good, is if 2nd years and beyond live there. She currently lives at Whispering Creek (if this isnt the name, then its Whipsering SOMEthing) and she likes it--so this is another option to consider. Like Carlyle, Whispering Creek is a smaller complex, so perhaps you get more personal attention with the management--they probably know everyone on a first name basis. So Promontory Pointe is a nice apartment complex, but I'm not sure its worth it because of the millions of tenants, poor management, and its even a little farther away from campus than the other 2 apartment complexes I looked at.
Here is the link to Promontory Pointe on apartmentguide.com:
http://www.apartmentguide.com/Prope...cedSearch=&wsv_qsNoAreas=&wsv_qsSFlg=&lk=dtTb
The Vintage:
The Vintage is located on Louis Pasteur, literally right next to the health science center. This is a very nice apartment complex and it is not very large. Its in the shape of a U. It is gated, with a security officer at the gate (they are there from 5pm-1am). When I drove in, I immediately felt safe and secure. There is a big circle driveway that leads to the leasing office and both parking garages (there isn't much space to "drive around" in, like at most other apartment compexes--its just a big circle driveway) This complex looks like an outdoor hotel--all of the entrances to the apartments face the inside of the "U" and the balconies face the outside, to the general public. Everyone parks in 1 of the 2 parking garages, which go up 4 or 5 levels--there are elevators too! (I peeked into the garages and I saw alot of Lexuses, Acuras, and BMWs
) You probably always get pretty close parking to your apartment due to the extra vertical real estate of the garage. The lady I talked to said these apartments are "high yield," which means they don't really run any specials, promotions, etc. Right now, there are no vacancies, so the prices are very steep. The 748 sq ft 1/1 is currently running at $850! She said the prices might go back down to about $800 in the summer, when people tend to move out. The deposit on this complex is $200 (!). Unlike the other apartments, you have to pay extra to get valet trash pickup. Also, from what I remember, they don't include W/D units in the apartments--you have to pay extra for this. However, they do have public W/D units that everyone can use--I didn't get to see them. I was not able to get into this apartment complex at night to check out the noise level--this probably speaks to the security of the complex!
Here is the apartmentguide.com link for The Vintage:
http://www.apartmentguide.com/Prope...cedSearch=&wsv_qsNoAreas=&wsv_qsSFlg=&lk=dtTb
Here is a secret "Virtual Tour" website that they gave me to look at:
http://www.circlepix.com/site/tour/skin.htm?id=214987&skin=86&room=&page=
Carlyle place:
Carlyle is located on Babcock, about 2-4 minutes from school (you COULD walk if you really wanted to, but I would just drive the short distance in your car). I loved these apartments the best! It is a very small complex--only about 100 units or so. There is a swimming pool with a heated spa, 24 hr fitness center, and business center (where you can make copies and fax stuff) All apartments come with Whirlpool fridges and microwaves. And all apartments come with actual Washer/Dryer units instead of just the connections (The Vintage didn't come with W/D I dont think). Unlike Promontory pointe, they will re-wire the cable for you, if you want your TV in a different part of the living room than it is when you move in. Again, with these smaller compelexes, it seems like you get more personal attention from management. The staff was warm and welcoming--just like on the phone when you call in (Santina is a sweetheart). They even opened the office early for me so I could come in and look at 9am on a Saturday (I knew it was going to rain in the afternoon, so I wanted to get all my apt shopping done in the morning). They have all sorts of events for their tenants and cookies everyday! The specials and pricing on the 758 and 827 sq. ft 1/1's are posted above in my other post. The deposit is $50 to secure an apartment and price. I drove around Carlyle at night and it was very quiet. Like lane said, you can probably study at home if you don't feel like going to the library.
Here is the link to Carlyle on apartmentguide.com:
http://www.apartmentguide.com/Prope...cedSearch=&wsv_qsNoAreas=&wsv_qsSFlg=&lk=dtTb
In summary, all 3 apartment complexes were nice, so I really think it boils down to management, pricing, and location. Someone should check out Whispering Creek and post their impressions. Good luck!
-tx
