Disclaimer: Never lived at this complex. Review is based on a tour of the property and a dream.
During recent apartment search, wondered if it is that terrible to live in the "War Zone". Rents at complexes near the Lido are considerably less expensive than a half mile away. Almost all have utilities included and amenities not offered in the University and Highland Heights areas. I saw that reviews weren't horrible for the nearby Villa apartments. Indoor, outdoor pool, clubhouse with two pool tables, decent workout room. 100% occupied unfortunately so I considered other options in the vicinity.
The apartment I saw advertised was actually The Portal. The landscaping there was well-maintained and I dug the vintage 70's architecture/color scheme. The one bedroom unit I looked at downstairs was close to 700 feet, had high ceilings, two closets, and laminate wood flooring. I loved it! I asked to see the game room with the pool table/lounge area, but the property representative said they only use that room for storage now. She took me up the elevator and showed me another unit upstairs. She pointed at some exposed wire and said they are trying to get the place "up to code."
When I told her my husband would be disappointed about the pool table, she asked if I might be interested in the Lido, where they have a game room and an indoor pool for the same price. The monthly rent is $509 and she said if I put down a deposit within 24 hours, I could get a $200 discount for the first three months of my lease. Hell yeah!
There was a game room/pool table but it was strictly BYO for cues/balls at the Lido. The indoor pool looked nice. Saw a door to the sauna, got pretty excited but learned they do not run it on account of the energy output. It had a similar aesthetic; it was also 670 square feet and had an enormous balcony facing the lush courtyard.. Really liked it in spite of it being carpeted; learned there are also units with vinyl flooring. Saw quite a few dead roaches of various sizes in an open kitchen drawer. Leasing agent explained the apartment had been vacant a while. Told myself at least they're dead.
Ran home to tell my husband about this wonderful apartment where for three months we would only pay $309. Told the leasing agent I'd send him to look at it; seemed okay if the lease was signed within 24 hours.
Not sure if it would have been a horrible decision. Never found out because nobody ever answered the phone or returned my calls. Tried calling from three different numbers.
The Lido gets five stars for potential in my fantasy about calling Bryan Cranston, Bob Odenkirk and Vince Gilligan and asking if they or anyone they know from AMC who is making a shit ton of money from Albuquerque if they'd like to invest. They'd buy the block, build community gardens, put art studios in these weird 70's apartment complexes, keep rent cheap, rehabilitate all of the felons, offer subsidized Russian Math School for low income children. Teach ex-prostitutes how to design beautiful websites. Keep kids and their moms and dads off meth and heroin with Tai Chi, Brazilian capoeira, and yoga classes. There'd be free cooking classes to help the people avoid the diabetes. Eventually there would be a farmers market, food trucks, block parties, and bicycle co-op.
If you call the Lido or The Portal, maybe they'll pick up the phone and you can make that happen. But before you do, here's other things to consider:
1. The pool at Portal once became so disgusting residents contacted local news sources to publicly complain. They said it was like a swamp and management didn't care. As a result, they cleaned the pool. I learned this while trying to figure out if they didn't call me back because the property had been condemned
2. The Portal, The Lido, and The Conquistador are felon friendly. See "Offender Re-Entry. Resource Manual For Bernalillo County. State of New Mexico Department of Corrections Re-Entry Division"; I believe with the stipulation convictions are seven or more years older. Did some research to see if any horrible crimes had occurred there recently; just found a registered sex-offender listed at the property. read more