Moved in two years ago and it started out really good. Recently there has been a change in…read moremanagement and it has been problematic since. Dumpsters are constantly overloaded with garbage spilling out of them. Trash is all over the stairwells. Neighbors are grilling in the parking lot. It took two weeks for my maintenance requests to be completed as they stated they were not staffed. The complex is filthy. They stated that I changed my locks that were in fact never changed. Upon me calling the office Emily was very dismissive and rude.

I lived at Bella Ridge North for four years. Overall, I think property management did a great job…read moreat maintaining the apartments and buildings themselves clean and well-kept, including the common areas (pool, gym, walking areas, etc.) Any minor issues were resolved quickly and the ladies in the leasing office were polite and responsive. The apartments themselves were large and spacious. With that being said, over the past year there were definitely changes in who was coming and going/leasing the apartments. Noticeable differences in a higher police presence (I saw cop cars within the property gates four of five times in the six months up to leaving), random people walking around, being let in the gate who clearly did not live there, parking spots being taken by non-residents etc. Unfortunately my husband's car was stolen right from outside the apartment, on the top floor of the parking garage and several of our neighbors cars were broken into over an extended period of time. While, understandably not First Lake's fault directly, I feel like better measures could have been taken to provide a safer and more secure atmosphere, up to and including, cameras on every floor of the garage (not just where you enter) and better measures on securing the property for non-residents. When addressing the issue with corporate leadership the attitude was dismissive and very much "Not our problem" instead of "Hey, you've been a valued resident for x amount of years, we care about your business, these are the measures we are taking to improve". We had to follow-up several times not only with corporate but also with the "courtesy officer" on site, who I don't even know is a real person because he or she never reached out or contacted police. This is less about physical property and more about the attitude of the business/management and caring about resident safety. If people will steal in that close of proximity so brazenly it will probably escalate shortly into apartment break-ins. Overall, they have some major safety issues to work through.

When I was looking for an apartment, I wanted a place close enough to New Orleans's Central…read moreBusiness District (CBD) because that's where I work but far enough from the crime and drama of New Orleans. Citrus Creek Apartment West came up among many. I chose this apartment complex because of word of mouth reviews. I work for one of the biggest companies in the world and it turns out many of my colleagues have stayed here at one time or the other and they all gave Citrus Creek West five stars. I went with their recommendation and I have never regretted it. I have renewed my lease four times now because they just keep getting better. Let me list some specific things I love about this amazing place: 1. Proximity to New Orleans - French Quarters, CBD, City Park, Audobon Zoo etc are between 15 - 20 minutes away. Even on bad traffic days, which are rare, it's never taken me more than 30 minutes to get back from the CBD. 2. Walkability. You can survive without a car! There are restaurants, coffee shops, and many other stores within walking distance. The Post Office is within walking distance as well. I've not tried to walk it before but even Walmart isn't too far. It's walkable if you have the time. 3. Fitness. There is a 24-hr fitness center within the complex. Again, you don't have to drive to the gym. You can just walk there and it's open round the clock! The fitness center has the basics. Unless you are an Olympic athlete or an NFL player, the fitness center is OK. There's also a 1.6 mile walking trail that wraps around the apartment complex. I am lazy but seeing people on the walking trail motivates me to do a few laps a couple of times a week. I attribute my being in shape - I'm handsome and athletic - to staying here because the place kinda forces you to be physically active. Oh, the aesthetics of the lawn and general surrounding too has its own salubrious effects. (NOTE: "Fitness" alone should make you try out this place. Your health will receive a boost.) 4. Management. I have talked about the hardware - proximity to work, walkability, fitness center, beautiful lawns and buildings. Let me end my review by talking about the software - the management process that brings all these together. The manager, Tiffany, is great. Tiffany is the best of an impressive cast of managers I have seen come and go in the few years I have spent here. She and her two wonderful office staff are responsive, caring and the best housing professionals I have ever met. I recommend Citrus Creek West apartments without reservation.

Maintenance takes forever if ever. Put in a pest control service and to reseal the weatherstripping…read moreon the front door awhile ago. Still have never come out. So I appreciate all the lizards that quite literally slide through the front door. The wasps that I find INSIDE everyday and I don't know how they get in. I think it's through the ac vents so if you like wasps in your apartment then this is the place for you. I also have to spray them and run every time I go outside because every door on every level has a nest on it :). The AC units sucks, your apartment will not stay cool, pack a couple fans and superb blackout curtains. Last but not least the dumpsters, it sucks that the community can't seem to put their trash inside of the dump. Also the dump by the entrance gives any and every body the opportunity to dump their stuff in it. It would probably be less messy if it were behind the gated community. The only perk is that it has been a quiet complex so far. I can't wait until I never have to deal with this again. I can't deal with the lizards, wasps inside of the unit and lack of urgency when it comes to maintenance requests.

Pros: The management staff are nice, and maintenance comes…read moreusually within 2 days and does their best to fix the issue. There are people who tend to the greenery and maintain the greenery to look nice. Cons: All equipment in the apartment is old, this includes AC, washing machine, dryer and kitchen stove. When it gets to 90F and above the AC cannot keep up and your room temp will be in the high 80s.They recommend your thermostat be set between 75 to 78, which is just ridiculous in Louisiana. Your AC bill gets extremely high during the summer as the AC is old and inefficient. Every month you have to go to management to get a filter for your AC. There is a gate, but it works 3 months out of the year. Finally, there is a problem with crows cawing right outside your window between 5am-7am. It is LOUD enough to wake you up every morning. To quote their response "Unfortunately, we do not have bird deterrents, and we do not offer such measures as part of our building management services. That said, we encourage you to explore temporary, non-invasive solutions that may help minimize the noise within your unit." Therefore, if you don't enjoy having your sleep disrupted in the early hours of 5am-7am I do not recommend staying here. Apart from the 2 treadmills, the equipment in the gym is all extremely old or broken. There is no AC in the gym. When you walk in you can immediately feel the air is stagnant there is NO air circulation. Extremely disappointing as we are paying more because of their gym but the gym is awful.

We love living at Citrus Creek East. The office staff is nice and maintenance is very effective.read more

One of my good friends lives at the Crescent Club Apartments, so I've had an opportunity to spend a…read moregood bit of time here (not to mention a few nights on the couch...) As far as these sort of apartment buildings go, it's pretty nice -- the hallways are large and carpeted, the garage is convenient if you're bringing in groceries in the pouring rain (and, well, I'm sure it's great to have parking in general), and the pool in the center of the complex is gorgeous and probably underutilized by the people who live there. (That seems to be the case with most apartment complex pools, in my experience.) Not sure how this development compares price-wise to similar buildings (American Can, Cotton Mill, and The Esplanade come to mind), but the apartments themselves are quite nice and well laid out for roommates. They're carpeted, have great kitchens, a tiny balcony, and the two bedroom/two bathroom unit that I've seen is definitely somewhere I'd live if not for all the old, funky, charming houses in New Orleans that have prevented me from ever bothering to look at an apartment/condo lifestyle. (I love hardwood floors, huge, heavy windows that are painted shut, porches, balconies and the random old fashioned things you'll find like the laundry closets, transoms, and terrifying gas heaters that actually work but look dangerous and have to be lit with a match.) The only reason I'm giving this place three stars instead of four is because of the location. I'm sorry, but I really don't think I'd want to live THAT close to OPP. Case in point: last time I was visiting my friends, we (gasp!) ran out of beer and so two of us set out in search of a convenience store for more drinks. There were plenty of options within walking distance, but the one to the right had a crowd of people kind of loitering outside it (this is midnight-ish, by the way), and neither of us really wanted to brave the crowd to get inside so we did a 180 and headed toward the gas station to the left. On our way, we passed a few people walking their dogs or whatever, and there was a guy speedwalking in our direction who actually freaked me out a little because he seemed really fidgety, anxious, just gave off a weird vibe. For the record, I've lived in some seriously questionable neighborhoods (at one house, on Louisiana Avenue Parkway, we couldn't even get pizza delivered; no one would do it b/c the street had such a bad reputation), and am not easily freaked out by people on the street. Generally, I find people to be pretty awesome, no matter what part of town you're in. The fact that this guy made me nervous was kind of a big deal, because this rarely, rarely happens. (I'm tempted to stop here and see if anyone notices, because I'm getting tired of writing this unnecessarily long review, but it's actually kind of a funny story.) [gives in to temptation] ....To Be Continued...

I've lived here for more than three years, since a few months after the building opened, and it's…read moregenerally a pretty nice place to live. Despite what you hear on the voicemail greeting, these apartments are in lower Mid-City near Tulane and Broad, not "in the heart of downtown New Orleans." (That's for you, students from out of town looking for a place close to Tulane or LSU med schools.) Some things that drew me to this building were the beautiful pool area and outside grounds, which are kept up pretty well. Most maintenance issues are resolved quickly, although the building is beginning to show some wear and tear, especially in common areas. The parking gates are rarely all in working order, which can be frustrating, but the free covered parking is a great amenity. On the other hand, management has been taking visible steps to keep the outside areas cleaner and better maintained, so that's a plus. I should also add that the ladies who work in the office are very friendly and will go to lengths to ensure that residents are happy here. The building employs a security guard on the premises, which has been helpful more than once thanks to inconsiderate neighbors I've had over time. Most of the people who live here are very friendly and polite, although there's a sizable population of students and families with little kids who are less concerned with keeping the peace and keeping hallways and elevators clean. It's also not openly advertised, but this building is mixed-income (it was built with funding from tax credits), which seems to upset commenters on other websites who are unhappy paying market rate for an apartment while a neighbor might pay a reduced rate. Personally, I don't really care, since an overwhelming majority of my neighbors and former neighbors have been friendly and respectful of common areas. The apartments themselves are nice and modern, although they fall short of the "luxury" category (mostly carpeted, basic counter tops, basic appliances). I have my own washer and dryer in my unit, as well as a walk-in closet, which is fantastic. Best of all, my electricity bill is very low (under $50/mo year-round) thanks to the construction of the building (can't say the same about the walls keeping sounds out, though!). If you're looking for an apartment that's a short commute to the CBD and is VERY pet-friendly, I'd recommend looking here. Although a 1-bedroom can be a little steep (over $1,000/mo), a 2-bedroom would be a deal for roommates. I believe the prices are comparable to similar places in Mid-City like American Can.

My experience with 1st Lake Properties @ White water creek has been deeply disturbing, & disgusting…read moreand it stems from a complete failure of leadership & accountability--specifically by Brittney Roberts, the Vice President and Trash boy Mike, he maintenance. Don't rent your home here‼ I reported a serious issue involving Mike who made me feel unsafe, uncomfortable, and threatened. Instead of taking immediate and appropriate action from the initial encounter of Mike cussing me out in my house where I pay rent. Brittney Roberts vice president failed to handle the situation properly the first time. I gave a clear warning that this person made me feel unsafe, yet no protective measures were taken, and no accountability was enforced. It shows the lack of adequate leadership. Reconsider else where to rent‼ As a result of this neglect, the same employee was allowed to provoke and intimidate me again, creating a hostile and dangerous living environment! When I followed up, Roberts told me I wasn't even allowed in the front office, (but pay rent) yet the person I had concerns about could still allowed to enter my unit if emergency. Like that wouldn't be one, alright. Don't rent your home here‼ This is unacceptable. A Vice President should be responsible for ensuring residents feel safe and heard--not ignored. While having the knowledge to take care of basic situations. Brittney Roberts had the opportunity and authority to resolve this before it escalated further, and she failed terribly‼ Don't rent your home here‼ If you're considering renting from 1st Lake Properties, think carefully about how seriously they treat your safety--because in my case, it was disregarded completely by Roberts! Resign Roberts and Mike you can kick rocks trash boy

Ask to leave Identification Card at front desk to see unit. Told by representative that ID could be…read moreput in a drawer. Suggested they take a photo, was told that was not an option.

I've lived here almost 10yrs and to be honest, overall, I was completely shocked at how this is…read moretruly a hidden gem in the middle of everything! Of course there's always pros and cons to living in the city, i.e. lack of parking, interstate noise, and things of that nature. However, for the most part, the property's staff does an amazing job keeping the grounds looking amazing, quickly replying to maintenance requests, and making you feel genuinely cared about. I also enjoy the fact that most neighbors are respectful of each other in regards to noise and doing their part to ensure the property stays looking good. Sincerely, K M H

Scummy business practices, Deplorable application process; completely mismanaged experience. Leslie…read moreKimble, the overly bubbly clueless leasing agent is scattered brained and lacking the appropriate information to give serious prospective tenants transparency and ease of process. Bellawood has dozens of apartments vacant listed online for weeks. I was initially rushed to apply under the soft threat of "they may be gone if you wait!You should apply ASAP" Standard sales tactic. I watched the price plummet $50+ dollars in the weeks each unit stay unrented. Then when I went to apply for 9/2 move in date it was arbitrarily changed to 10/3 move in. When I asked Leslie why it was moved I got a bright shiny "Well, I don't know!" she deals in syrupy faux polite "I don't know"s. When I spoke to the manager Sydney about this, she explained it calmly and logically offering a closing comment of "there's no way Leslie would have known why" So, leasing agents don't have proper information to give to prospective tenants? WHY? Ridiculously juvenile antics and word salads from half baked brains. Total Confusion, chaos and mismanagement when there are tons of other properties in the area. All of the women there are surface southern "nice" but social politeness doesn't supersede intelligence and professionalism. I contacted Tonti Properties and filed a complaint against Bella Wood. To add more confusion, Tonti Properties is different than the corporate entity Tonti, which owns a large amount of SE Louisiana apartment complexes. Additionally, there is another business name that appears when applying after being debited for app fee: Creekwood Elmwood, LLC. So it's a bunch of scam companies triangulating their schemes with haphazard, sloppy tactics. Seems like a scam. Happy to be looking elsewhere and away from this nightmare of stupidity. I can't imagine having to deal with these type of people on a regular basis in a place you want to call home! These apartments will stay unrented. Enjoy Hurricane Season!

Living here we have been treated with great assistance as they care deeply about the needs of their…read moretenant. front Office assistant always helps to the best of her abilities as quick as possible. I would highly recommend these apartments to other residents in different areas

staff is always helpful at getting any request taken care of in a timely manner. happy to renew my…read morelease again!