The Westmont and Key West (Archstone Building)

My advice: Don't do it.

Those buildings are a mixed bag. They are NOT worth the price. My major issue is with Archstone, the landlord. They are robots. After you move in, a corporate Archstone employee's response will always start with "No because our policy is ......." Antje, the manager for both buildings, has actual authority to change the rules but 99% of the time hides behind "policy". Jananie, the current manager for Key West, is a useless robot. Jananie will never return phone calls in a timely fashion, will never give you real information, and will default to policy rather than listening to your complaint.

A few months back, a gas leak took out all of the cooking gas in the building. Instead of crediting tenants for unuseable apartments (some of us need to cook for our families, right?) Archstone said it was doing enough by getting pizza and donuts every day. On a biweekly basis, Archstone hangs up a sign in the lobby insisting that you perform some task for them within the next 24 hours. Last time, this was telling me to clean out all of my closets so that they could install verizon fios. Yes, that's right, I had 24 hours to clean out a 8x6 closet containing all of my clothes, all of my luggage, etc. And with no warning. This happens about once every two weeks. Archstone threatens you if you don't comply. (Would be nice for them to, say, provide two weeks warning.)

Archstone will nickle and dime you. For example, doormen are not allowed to hold your keys while you go jogging. Instead you can rent a "box" for $15/month to put your key in while you jog.

Some parts of the building are not bad. Many members of the staff are really sweet. Maintenance is not bad (especially Louis, the handyman, who is really nice), but ask any employee and they will tell you how cheap the management is.

And every year they will raise your rent to ridiculous amounts. Don't even think you're bargaining with a human being: Archstone swears by its computer program to set your rent.

Oh, and I have heard from many people that they will refuse to refund part of your deposit if you leave so much as a fingerprint on a lightswitch. (Somebody showed me a moveout instruction sheet and it really said this.)

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I agree- it's definitely a mixed bag. The people who work in the building and have been here prior to Archstone are of a different era. This used to be a community, but Archstone came in and changed the whole feel. There is no longer any loyalty to those that have lived in the buildings for years. It's all about what will bring in the most money. There are fees imposed for that which was always part of the rent and once you live some place for years, picking up and moving out is also a timely and costly venture. The people I know in the building are very unhappy and know it's just a matter of time before they leave. I wonder if there's a move out fee. If there is, it will be $500 like all the other arbitrary fees.

WAIT, stop the fucking press, you mean renting from one of these huge NO FEE landlords isn't the nirvana some say it is (jason2006 are you around)? bet you felt like an absolute STUD finding this place on your own. how doyou feel now?

Sounds like a true nightmare to live there.

Jim_hones10. You are such a loser and seriously need to get a life! Why are you getting so excited over a blog on Streeteasy?

lance1, you felt the need to create a log in, just to post THAT? talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

interesting, the other poster around streeteasy who uses the pot/kettle/black is somewhereelse/nyc10022/EddieWilson

you're right. im him/them. and also riversider. in my spare time.

I'm beginning to think that there are only 2 posters on streeteasy, aboutready/columbiacounty and their names, and riversider/penthouselady/Matt and all of their names.