Stoneridge @ Vinings Apartments: Metro Atlanta's Most Unlikely Slum?

The neighborhood is lush and green. Nestled amongst the hills, the eggshell white buildings look stark and clean against the blue sky. The development is called Stoneridge at Vinings-an upscale apartment complex situated in a popular suburb of metro Atlanta. The name in itself sounds like luxury. And judging from the apartment complex's surroundings, one might be inclined to believe so. Flanking the neighborhood are several half million dollar homes and condos. Just down the street you'll find a quaint village of boutiques, eateries, and other businesses that literally scream "money."

Hook, Line, and Stinker...

An ad in the housing section on Craigslist advertises studio apartments at Stoneridge for approximately $449. Curious about how much $449 can "buy", I ventured over and had someone from the leasing office to show me one of the studio apartments. The woman drove me through a labyrinth of buildings. I would certainly get lost in my first, second, or third try if left to navigate the route alone. This is because (according to the friendly leasing agent) there are approximately 50 buildings at Stoneridge - of various shapes and sizes. Nonetheless, the building numbers are also a bit perplexing. In building 27, the apartment numbers are in the 3200's (Something that I would imagine confuses visitors beyond belief.)

We arrived at what I thought was going to be the model apartment, but was actually an empty unit, that according to her, was still being worked on by maintenance. Evidence of this was strewn throughout the walkway and in front of the door; splashes of paint, debris, and dust welcomed us. The square footage itself wasn't too shabby. Someone on a budget would most definitely find the space itself quite agreeable. However what was shabby was the paint job that appeared to be splashed upon almost every surface, including areas on the floors. She showed me the kitchen and I was shocked at how small and cheap-looking the appliances were. The storage space, two ample closets, wasn't too bad for a studio apartment. But it was when I was shown the bathroom that several red flags were raised. Outside of any "work" that maintenance was still scheduled to perform, and despite the enthusiastic paint job, the fixtures looked at least 30 years old.

In Cobb County (especially in Vinings) one would expect only top-notch craftmanship. Marble counters, stainless steel fixtures, and quality ceramics have become standard in many apartment developments regardless of whether or not they are labeled "luxury." Nonetheless, the counter was made of wood that had been painted over in white (badly). The tub and tile was pretty scary looking, with rust around the drain, and fixtures that looked very old. I am not a building inspector. But I immediately got the impression that beneath all of these coats of paint lay some unpleasant hidden surprises. I immediately arrived at the conclusion that if I were looking for a studio apartment, this is one I would never be able to live in. After viewing the space, I was urged to sign up on their "Priority List." I declined, but asked if I would be able to take a rental application with me. The leasing agent promptly told me that I would not be able to take an application; I would have to fill out any paperwork there. This also raised another red flag. I politely thanked the leasing agent and left the property.

The Research

Taking a look at the apartment complex's website, I noticed something pretty interesting. Out of the 12 photographs listed in the photo gallery, none of them were interior shots of the actual living spaces (as of 10/10/2010.) Apartment complexes in Cobb County are notorious for at the very least, supplying photos of a very well-dressed model apartment. This too was missing from Stoneridge's website.

I decided to dig a little deeper. I consulted the website apartmentratings.com, to get the scoop on what other people thought of property. Let the record show that websites featuring apartment ratings are often filled with plenty of disgruntled customers. It is human nature to state your grievances first rather than praising those who have done a good job. However, in the case of Stoneridge at Vinings, the list of complaints lobbied by various residents seemed way too similar to be a coincidence. Overall the apartment complex received a 2/10 rating, with few people recommending the property for residency.

One review dated August 30, 2010 advises people to "stay far, far away..."

The rather extensive review goes on to mention various odd incidents such as being locked out of the apartment, astronomical water bills (with no explanation as to the increase.) But according to the review (and others), the water usage is determined according to the entire building - which is then divided by the number of units. In essence, a single person may end up paying more for his/her water simply because a larger family happens to live in the building. In fact, according to city-data.com, residents are (fraudulently?) billed by a company owned by property management. This doesn't appear to be a standard method of operation for apartment communities in metro Atlanta. This reviewer also complains of brown muddy water and single pane windows without screens.

Most people tend to complain about noise, parking, and other issues that are typical of apartment communities. But most realize that these issues differ from place to place. Take a look at the reviews from Stoneridge and you will see that the complaints run far deeper then minor irritations.

I had the opportunity to speak with a young woman named April Lemon - a resident of the apartment community. She seemed eager to share her grievances, of which there were many. I could have assumed that her experience at Stoneridge was of an isolated nature. But as I continued to read more of the 143 reviews on apartmentratings.com, I realized that several of her claims could very easily be substantiated. She even was able to provide video to back up her complaints; some of them were as follows:

1. Brown water from faucets-presumably from rust and/or other deposits. (As a result, April had to shower elsewhere.)
2. Major leaks overhead from neighboring apartment; water has leaked into pantry, ruining food, and has soaked resident's kitchen floor mat. (April likens the leak to "raining" indoors.) Leak also exists over the electric stove, which is clearly shown in the home video.
3. Existence of black mold in various areas of the apartment. (She points out that one apartment resident required medical treatment after discovering multiple types of mold in the unit.)
4. Dead rat discovered behind the stove; maintenance staff refused to remove the rodent; she removed the animal herself. (Other residents have also had severe rodent problems: rats in vents and other areas.)
5. False allegations of unpaid rent; (she has documented proof of 2 months rent paid via a credit card.)
6. Unannounced apartment entry of maintenance staff members.
7. Letter to cease and desist - April has been accused of picketing on private property. She did not picket on the property, but off Mt. Wilkinson Blvd, which is outside of the complex.
8. Verbal harassment from Stoneridge staff members, including accusations of advising other residents not to pay rent. (On the contrary, April has encouraged other tenants with problems to pay rent on time-and has referenced Georgia tenant laws.

April's list of complaints also involves (but is not limited to) failure to comply with pressing maintenance requests and verbal abuse from Stoneridge employees. In speaking with April, I gathered that her experience at the property has been nothing short of a nightmare.

Shifty Shenanigans...

Poor maintenance and customer service are common complaints in many different apartment complexes throughout metro Atlanta. Ironically, The Connor Group (which owns Stoneridge and other properties) has received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. But April has explained that property management often settles grievances "quietly" by offering residents money as part of their mediation agreements. This practice keeps complaints from being "escalated."

In fact, the Connor Group has come under fire a number of times for some of their questionable business practices, including utilizing their own utility company to overcharge residents for water and sewage. There are multiple complaints sprinkled around the Internet about this apartment complex in particular, one of them being on complaintsboard.com. Most people who have complaints about the apartment complexes they live in are usually satisfied once they have brought their concerns to management. But the concerns appear to run pretty deep at Stoneridge.

Is Stoneridge a Slum?

Ordinarily these kinds of grievances would fly under the radar, tucked away in the recesses of the brain. But considering that Vinings is one of Atlanta's more prestigious communities, living conditions such as these are quite shocking.

In any case, visit the complex for yourself, and you may have a different opinion. After all, the grounds appear to be kept. Upon first meeting, the staff is agreeable. And not every experience will be the same for all. There are some things you should definitely keep in mind if you are considering moving into an apartment complex. It is often the hidden dangers and annoyances that you will never be privy to until you have actually signed a lease. But before signing on the dotted line of any apartment lease (no matter how "pristine" the property appears on the outside) do your homework:

Take a leisurely drive around the community. Request a rental application and read ALL of the fine print of anything you sign. Find out who owns the apartment property, and research the company to the best of your ability. And yes, it does help to check out online apartment ratings. Better yet, chat up one or two of the residents and you'll most definitely find some pretty unbiased opinions.

Is Stoneridge at Vinings a modern-day slum? Some would certainly disagree. But where there's smoke, there's almost certainly a fire. Rent at your own risk.

SOURCES:

www.complaintsboard.com
www.stoneridgeatvinings-apts.com
www.myfoxatlanta.com
www.apartmentratings.com
www.bbb.org