Fw: 2nd Aspen Heights review-worth your time to read

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Joe Bruner

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Jun 18, 2013, 11:31:43 AM6/18/13
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LIVE LIFE WITH LOVE.
JOE BRUNER

Gary, Thank you for doing this research and sharing it with the City Council.  I think we need to do this more often--it is consistent with the recommendations that we made a year ago about student housing projects.    In a related issue...
 
  Last night at Planning a 555 bed student housing project on 15th street was proposed and approved (4-3) by the Planning Commission.  It's a rezoning request so it will go before the City Council.   Its impact on the neighborhoods north of it isn't clear.  The railroad tracks and 10th street separate it from nearby neighborhoods which could reduce the adverse impact of "student lifestyle" factors..  It's a 10 minute walk up 10th street to Campus from the site (it's adjacent to 15th street diner) which would seem to mitigate against traffic concerns.  However, I am concerned that we are overbuilding student housing and empty student-style complexes is going to by a blight in Tuscaloosa.  No one on the Commission asked questions about the developers (City Shopping Center Inc.)  intentions to  stay in town or even their past experience with managing these projects.  
 
I should mention that I greatly appreciated Easty's comments about the lack of notification and the need to meet with folks before the Planning Commission hearing.  Also Robert Reynolds took the time to visit the site and walk to campus to determine how long it would take students to do this.  He also mentioned the City's master plan includes student housing in this area.   Two other commissioner expressed concerns about the overbuilding of student housing.  So there is progress!
 
 
Joan Barth
joanm...@aol.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Limmroth <zap...@hotmail.com>
To: John Earl <jo...@photographybyearl.com>
Cc: Joan Barth <joanm...@aol.com>; Tom Fanning <tomg...@comcast.net>; Patricia Dotson <pdot...@bellsouth.net>; Jil Chambliss <dana...@comcast.net>; Debra Brown <dbrow...@aol.com>; Easty Lambert-Brown <borg...@bellsouth.net>; Gabriella Merriman <gmer...@bama.ua.edu>; Sharon Pate <shar...@juno.com>; Joe & Freddie Bruner <joebr...@yahoo.com>; Lib Davis <buckeye...@yahoo.com>; Robert Parsons <pars...@gmail.com>; Anne R. Gibbons <arg...@att.net>; Ted Miller <mille...@gmail.com>; Kelly Fitts <k2rf...@gmail.com>; Linda Parsons <lind...@gmail.com>; sharonparramore <sharonp...@yahoo.com>; Alison Wade <alim...@gmail.com>; cathydye <cath...@comcast.net>
Sent: Tue, Jun 18, 2013 8:18 am
Subject: RE: 2nd Aspen Heights review-worth your time to read

I am going to present them with a printed packet of information in the coming weeks.  
 
Gary
 
 




 
Subject: Re: 2nd Aspen Heights review-worth your time to read
From: jo...@photographybyearl.com
Date: Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:10:41 -0500
CC: joanm...@aol.com; tomg...@comcast.net; pdot...@bellsouth.net; dana...@comcast.net; dbrow...@aol.com; borg...@bellsouth.net; gmer...@bama.ua.edu; shar...@juno.com; joebr...@yahoo.com; buckeye...@yahoo.com; pars...@gmail.com; arg...@att.net; mille...@gmail.com; k2rf...@gmail.com; lind...@gmail.com; sharonp...@yahoo.com; alim...@gmail.com; cath...@comcast.net; gkos...@tuscaloosa.com
To: zap...@hotmail.com

I do hope you are sharing all of this with the City.

On Jun 18, 2013, at 8:05 AM, Gary Limmroth <zap...@hotmail.com> wrote:

 
This is another review from a student who has lived at an Aspen Heights complex in Texas for three years that seems to confirms many of our fears and suspicions about these type of gated projects and the management on a "long term" basis. Many of us have expressed concerns about the impact this type of development would have in causing traffic to back up on Hargrove Road.  Read the bottom of the third paragraph. 
 
(NOTE: I have made the highlights and included the URL so you can check other reviews. Obviously there are some positive reviews as this type of party environment does appeal to some students.  However the overall recommendation rating is only 31%.) 
 
Gary
 
 Date posted: 6/11/2013 
Years at this apartment: 2010 - 2013
 
 -As searching for this complex, I'm sure you Google completed "Aspen Heights" for you with a few words such as "shooting" and "stabbing". If that does not scare you as a student nor parent enough, please keep reading my post. I have lived with Aspen Heights for 3 years now, the first year was golden (when "The Estates of San Antonio" was Aspen Heights before someone innocently got murdered): everyone wanted to live there, we had security every night, we knew the management closely and would stop by to just say hi...everyone loved Aspen Heights.

-History: Second year came by and the management team was transferred, and we adapted a new a team. They obviously tried increasing their bottom line by cutting budgets and trying to charge us for random charges such as $50 for cigarette buds. Did not know how that was possible since my roommates and I did not smoke? I'm not too sure how you like to spend your days, but I did not like having to stop by in the office for an hour of my time to explain why we all shouldn't be charged...once again.
By the end of that year, we all heard of the new phase being built across the street and were excited since we were promised a football field, lazy river pool, and most importantly: constant security.

-Lifestyle: August rolled around and they post-poned our move in, yet still charged us for a full month's rent. My dad wasn't too happy paying over half a grand for one week of the month. Since living at this new Aspen Heights, there is a day I do not regret signing my lease. I do enjoy going out, don't get me wrong, but I also do enjoy my safety and sanity. The way my friends post on Facebook about Aspen is that it is best described as the "Bourbon Street of UTSA"...they decided to add in Greek housing (and if you went to UTSA, you'd know what a joke it was) which all walk around at 3-4 AM until the cops are called and then they scatter since they are all underage; I love the flashing lights in my house, made me feel like I was in an European Discoteca. We have a cricket infestation, to the point where none of us relax and enjoy in our "luxury living room". Our feces flushes back into our tanks and for the first 2 months we had regurgitated toilet paper as landscaping. It's also embarrassing to the point when my boyfriend visit, he still doesn't believe that I flush. When you come for a tour, don't let them fool you, our pool is closed Monday-Thrusday and open on the weekend for frat parties...woo-hoo. I pay for a pool that I can't even use? Another thing is the parking. My own mother could not get in the gates after getting in late one night...sorry, she's 50, I'm pretty sure she's not here to party in a Infiniti. Many times I have not been able to get into the gate due to the massive amounts of cars in a line that compile just to enter into a party. During summer time it is not too bad, which is probably when the homes are being viewed...but during the school year, I prefer not to hear Lil' Jon blaring out a system and speeding in the neighborhood at 4 AM.

-Management: I came home from class one day and had an eviction notice on my door for $972...as reading this you probably don't understand, but when that happens it ruins YOUR and your GUARANTORS' credit. I never received a call, notice, email, Facebook message, Harry's magical owl to drop off any hint that I was going to receive an eviction note. I then had to spend another hour in the complex with new management, explaining to them why I should not be paying a $300 late fee when I was not even notified. I also told them to add in a few bucks and that'll be half a months rent...they didn't enjoy that comment too much. The neighborhood received a notice to pay their water bill (which was about $5-6) within the next day, and if we failed to do so, we would get a $50 late fee...mind you, they "hand deliver" these notes and clip them onto the outside of your homes. I feel sorry for those whom travel a lot.

-Safety: Well, I'm sure you can Google that. "Aspen Heights UTSA Shooting" "Aspen Heights UTSA Stabbing"...helicopters and all folks.

-I'm sorry for ranting on, but I just disagree with bad service. I know every business is not perfect, but I believe if they were trying their hardest to please residents like they used to 3 years ago, I would say go for it! But this place is all about their bottom line and how much they can fully make and get by with. If you're a parent, I'm sure you wouldn't want to be up through the night like mine was, worrying wether I was going to be next in a violet crime. My best advice is to find a normal house to rent in the area. Much cheaper too! Cheers! 

Last updated: 6/11/2013


Read more: http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/TX-College-Station-Aspen-Heights-1676157.html#ixzz2WZSbAXgz


 
Subject: Re: Aspen Heights review - College Station
From: jo...@photographybyearl.com
Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:47:14 -0500
CC: joanm...@aol.com; tomg...@comcast.net; pdot...@bellsouth.net; dana...@comcast.net; dbrow...@aol.com;borg...@bellsouth.net; gmer...@bama.ua.edu; shar...@juno.com; joebr...@yahoo.com;buckeye...@yahoo.com; pars...@gmail.com; arg...@att.net; mille...@gmail.com; k2rf...@gmail.com
To: zap...@hotmail.com

Shades of The Retreat at Lake Tamaha!

<Screen Shot 2013-06-17 at 3.45.50 PM.png> 


On Jun 17, 2013, at 3:04 PM, Gary Limmroth <zap...@hotmail.com> wrote:

Sometimes the internet is source of misinformation; other times it can be very helpful. Read the following review on an Aspen Heights at College Station. Note that the stabbing mentioned took place at an Aspen Heights complex at another college town location.  

Gary 
 
While I was very optimistic about signing a lease at a BRAND NEW complex, my expectations have not been met. There are MANY reasons I would not suggest a someone to sign a lease here. However I will start with several PROS:

1. The #1 BEST part of Aspen Heights is the Maintenance staff. There are about 4 guys that are extremely helpful and friendly. They ALWAYS pick up trash and litter around the complex, just to keep the grounds looking nice. They definitely do what they can with the resources they are given. They are more than courteous and kind to every resident, even though they get stuck picking up stupid kids beer bottles and broken glass. Several times I have asked them a maintenance question, and they came that same day to check it out for me. THIS IS TEN TIMES QUICKER THAN GOING THROUGH THE OFFICE! Half the time the office employee doesn't even make note that residents put in maintenance requests. 

2. The houses are large. My 4 bedroom house offers a great deal of space for my personal furniture. The 2 and 3 bedrooms are SIGNIFICANTLY smaller. 

3. HBO. Then again, we pay more than enough to have this included. 

CONS:
1. Google UTSA shooting, stabbing, hit and run, etc... In the year I have lived here there have been multiple stabbings, two people hit by a car, helicopter searches, domestic disputes, and countless acts of theft and break ins. People have been robbed at gun point on many occasions. ALL of these things continue with NO EXPLANATION from managers. They want to avoid negative press by keeping situations as hush hush as possible until the residents find out on their own. SO MUCH FOR, "RESIDENTS ARE OUR PRIORITY!" There was even a point where residents were randomly targeted to have their tires slashed. Another resident woke up to her car on bricks with her tires stolen off the night before. My personal experience involves two men jiggling my back door knob at 4:30 in the morning attempting to break in. "Security" is notorious for keeping harmless guests by car out, while gangs stream through the walking gates. 

2. My roommates and I have called the office and gone in person on multiple occasions to report an infestation of spiders, scorpions, and other insects. We are not talking tiny spiders, I mean the size of a quarter and up. And not just one or two, we find 4 or 5 spiders in our rooms and common living areas every day. Even after finding BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS in the door frame of our house, it took TWO WEEKS for Aspen to send pest control. We found that the number of spiders greatly increased AFTER pest control sprayed only our door frames and several windows down stairs. 

3. NONEXISTENT AMENITIES- When signing my lease at Aspen Heights, they advertised the large football and soccer fields that residents could use. After 10 months of living here, there is STILL neither a football OR soccer field. PICTURES OF OUR FOOTBALL AND SOCCER "FIELD" ARE ATTACHED... If you can't tell by this picture, the grass is mid-calf to knee length. In addition, a lazy river was promoted. Which, if you have ever been to Aspen, you know there is not a lazy river. Which brings me to my next point, that beautiful pool you see in their advertisements? Oh, well it is NEVER open. Metal chains are placed around the gates to enter the pool area. This is all done with ZERO explanation to residents. THIS IS TEXAS PEOPLE NEED POOLS IN THE SUMMER!!!!

4. One of my favorite Aspen horror stories happened just today. My roommates and I received 4 different bills with various amounts that stated we must pay the balance in 3 days or our contract will be terminated and we will be evicted. Keep in mind that all of my roommates, including myself, have NEVER been late paying our rent in 10 months of living here. The balances were for the water bills that are sometimes given to residents on random days on random months. When approaching the office, we were told that the bills were, "Just a friendly reminder". A FRIENDLY REMINDER that if we don't pay a bill that was given to us for the first time 3 days ago, you will evict us?

5. To be honest, it wouldn't be fair to place ALL of the blame on Aspen Heights managerial staff... the residents here are a nightmare to live with. Our neighbors had parties Tuesday through Sunday nights. They also thought it was REALLY COOL to throw glass bottles and watch them shatter!!!!! After asking them several times to knock it off, we took action and went to the office. They assured us they would speak with our neighbors. I can assure you that never happened. 


BOTTOM LINE: If you are a sophomore and above looking for a place to enjoy yourself, but have the peace and quiet you need to study and rest, you are better off living ANYWHERE else. 

Last updated: 6/14/2013

 

 





Joe Bruner

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Jun 19, 2013, 7:37:24 AM6/19/13
to Neighhborhood
 
LIVE LIFE WITH LOVE.
JOE BRUNER
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: buckeyebabeisme <buckeye...@yahoo.com>
To: Joan Barth <joanm...@aol.com>; "zap...@hotmail.com" <zap...@hotmail.com>
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Sent: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 5:22 AM
Subject: Re: Multi-family/unit housing task force

Well done :-)

From: Joan Barth <joanm...@aol.com>
To: zap...@hotmail.com

I was at the Council meeting.  I spoke at the public hearing--I said that we really appreciated that that the developer took the time to consult with TNT before he finalized the plans. I mentioned that the landscaping on Hilliard was a positive change that we had requested. 
 
I was the only one to speak.  I think that the Mayor thought I was going to oppose it!  The developer shook my hand afterwards and thanked me! 
 
I talked with Robin and  Brandon afterwards and I think that they are really convinced that we have to have a mechanism in place for developers to meet with concerned citizens ahead of time.   Stay tuned!
Joan Barth
joanm...@aol.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Gary Limmroth <zap...@hotmail.com>
To: Joan Barth <joanm...@aol.com>
Cc: tomgail64 <tomg...@comcast.net>; pdotson63 <pdot...@bellsouth.net>; danandjil <dana...@comcast.net>; dbrown3125 <dbrow...@aol.com>; borgogirl <borg...@bellsouth.net>; gmerriman <gmer...@bama.ua.edu>; sharon121 <shar...@juno.com>; joebruner62 <joebr...@yahoo.com>; buckeyebabeisme <buckeye...@yahoo.com>; Robert Parsons <pars...@gmail.com>; argedit <arg...@att.net>; miller.tedh <mille...@gmail.com>; k2rfitts <k2rf...@gmail.com>; Linda Parsons <lind...@gmail.com>; sharonparramore <sharonp...@yahoo.com>; Alison Wade <alim...@gmail.com>; cathydye <cath...@comcast.net>; John Earl <jo...@photographybyearl.com>
Sent: Tue, Jun 18, 2013 3:12 pm
Subject: Multi-family/unit housing task force

 
Unfortunately, I will be unable to attend the meeting tonight's council meeting due to a church trustee meeting. 

Cedar Crest:

 I can tell you that the Cedar Crest group will make a power point presentation to the council tonight regarding the new shopping center.

 I have seen the preliminary site plans and am happy to report the list of variance requests has been reduced from twelve to only nine and by Monday's ZBA meeting it may be down to eight.  Joan and I had originally supported all twelve, but welcome the developer continuing to work to reduce the number.  Robin Edgeworth and I are both waiting on drawings showing the side and back facades of the buildings. Those drawings should be available in the next few days.   

 

 New housing task force:

In addition I have heard through the “grapevine” that Walt will announce formation of a task force to research multi-family/unit housing in Tuscaloosa. In my opinion this is very welcome news.

 
 
 

 




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