LA
Lauren Anderson
Nov 4, 2023
I’ve lived here almost 2 years. Initially was very happy as this is a nice, decent, middle of the road place to live. I’m not looking for luxury- all I need is safe, quiet, clean, and intact place to live. I also wanted honest/reliable communication between office staff if there were any issues. Things quickly went from nice and happy to unsafe and dismissive. I was trying to wait for housing market to improve but now we can't get out of here soon enough. In 6 months I’ve had my car vandalized and broken into THREE times is unacceptable!!!! I’ve filed reports and called the office begging and urging for them to install cameras and better lighting. See the photo below to see how the manager responded. I used to think it was safe here and I understand all apartment complexes deal with stealing here and there, but THREE times in less than 6 months-That’s insane! This previous time EVERY CAR in our parking lot was vandalized (11+ cars) !!! Vandalized as in at least one broken window on each car and interior items stolen and damage! Photo below to show damage. All of our simple and realistic requests get dismissed and addressed by saying, “cameras are a mechanical device that often fail.” Conveniently, after the mass vandalism on Halloween, the police recommended we get cameras installed and better lighting around the complex, all of which were requested of the office last week. After the office was made aware of this mass vandalism, they didn’t even has the decency or respect to send out a message to the rest of the complex to warn people to be careful.
Do NOT sign a lease at any AMP property.
I recently moved out of Wyndham Hill apartments after living there for nearly 12 years, so I can speak with some authority about the changes I've seen during that time, from when it was a Cambridge Partners property to the time of ownership transfer to AMP in 2016. AMP is an ineffective, greedy, neglectful, nickel and dime-ing corporation (I'll get to that in a moment) that bought a 30+ year old apartment complex and thought they had a cash cow. These buildings are now getting to the age where they need serious updating and maintenance, but AMP neglects to do so (beyond absolutely necessary or surface level improvements). The gutters on most of the buildings overflow and create a waterfall effect onto the ground below because they're never cleaned. Due to this, the last 2 bedroom unit I lived in (building 2106 unit 101) has had black mold for the better part of 6 months.
During the period when it was a Cambridge Partners property, everything was included in the rent, save gas and electric, and we were even provided a free basic TV package included with the rent that was actually quite good! Maintenace was very responsive, knowledgeable, helpful, and would respond to a service call at the drop of a hat. When AMP took over, that all changed. It became charge after charge and fee after fee, and you can count yourself lucky if maintenance ever shows up same day. Additionally, you now have to separately pay sewer and water, in addition to the other utilities as well as administrative fees for the privilege of paying your rent, via electronic payment.
Even making minor maintenance requests is an act of Congress with this company. Last year (2021) the light fixture over the vanity broke in my roommate's bathroom. Upon asking them to fix it, we found they have to get corporate approval to change a light fixture that is completely broken. My question would be, what is there to approve? If the fixture is broken, it needs replacement regardless of what anybody at corporate thinks. There should be a maintenance slush fund for every property, not micromanaging of the maintenance staff.
To add insult to injury, one of the few remaining niceties about living there, the pool, is now inexplicably closed with no discount in rent even though we ostensibly pay to have a pool. There are vague references to maintenance problems and supply issues, and blaming the city of Grand Rapids for shutting it down. But I don't buy it, just another line of excuses about neglectful maintenance at this property. The second time the pool was closed earlier this summer after a brief stint of being open post memorial weekend (2022) AMP sent out an email to all residents in a tone reminiscent of a teacher taking away your recess privileges, that somebody had broken the pool entrance gate and "due to this, the pool will remain closed indefinitely". They truly have no sense of self awareness at this company.
The saddest part of it all, is that this was once a great property with a lot of potential and a fantastic location that I very much enjoyed living at until the last couple of years, but AMP residential seems bound and determined to run it into the ground. With each passing year their neglect grows worse, and I must admit to being surprised when they recently spent money to repave large sections of the drive and parking lots. That will probably max out the maintenance budget for a couple years now! In conclusion, do yourself a favor and have nothing to do with any of AMP's properties.