The Preserve at Gateway Apartamentos

AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COSTS!

I’ve lived in some questionable places before, but this apartment community takes the cake for being one of the worst. Let’s break it down:

Ridiculous Fees – Want to pay rent? Good luck. They charge a $75 fee just for using a debit card. E-checks were an option—until they weren’t. After only two missed payments (due to fraud issues and the slow 5-day processing time), they deactivated my e-check option completely. Their solution? Just "deal with it."
Cheaply... Built, Overpriced to Live In – These apartments are thrown together with the absolute cheapest materials. You will hear every movement your upstairs neighbor makes. And don’t be fooled by the listed rent price—expect an extra $200+ in mystery fees for things like a package locker, parking, and other so-called “community perks.” Spoiler: None of it is worth it.
Trash Pickup? More Like Trash Hassle – The valet trash is more inconvenient than just taking it out yourself. You either get fined for doing it wrong or get stuck with trash piling up because they don’t always pick up on time.
Maintenance? What’s That? – Huge potholes litter the parking lot, taking over a year to fix. The mosquito problem is out of control—they do absolutely nothing about it. The only reason screened patios exist here is because without them, you couldn’t step outside without being eaten alive.
Unlivable Amenities – The pools? Great if you’re into getting devoured by mosquitoes. If you have O+ blood, forget it—you're a walking buffet.
Horrible Traffic & Noise – MLK Blvd is a drag strip right outside the complex. And if that wasn’t enough, the reckless drivers on 118th with their obnoxiously loud engines will make sure you never have a moment of peace.
Cold, Useless Staff – The front office is a joke. No solutions, no accountability—just shrugging and telling you to deal with it. Customer service is nonexistent.
In short, this place is a money trap with miserable living conditions. Don’t let the pretty pictures fool you—once you sign that lease, you’ll regret it. STAY AWAY! Lee mas

Warning: this property encourages predatory towing practices. (A quick Google search of CommTow reviews will give you an idea of what to expect) Resident parking spots are not clearly designated which leads to resident and guest vehicles getting towed frequently. Also friends/family cannot visit more than 2 days in a row or they will be towed as well. (I’ve paid close to $1000 in towing fees alone at this point)

The A/C has gone out twice for more than 4 days in a row, and instead of fixing... the problem permanently, they offer temporary solutions because they don’t have the parts.

Also, as others have stated there is no management on site. The office/ club house has been closed since 2020 due to COVID(or so I was told) and never re-opened. Yet there’s always a mysterious figure working in the office that can be seen through the windows ??

Instead we’re redirected across the street to Inlet Bay’s office (a mere 36 minute walk) where they don’t seem to care about our issues and concerns as a community at all.

It’s a shame because an otherwise amazing location is completely overshadowed by mismanagement and greed. Lee mas

Just so frustrated! Once you sign the lease you are nothing but a corporate payer. They don't care and problems are the worst and frustrating. It's not a good place to live in

I hate wasting my time writing bad reviews but this place definitely deserves it. If you want to be overcharged for living somewhere with cheap appliances and carpets that looks like absolute garbage after a month of living here then this might be the place for you. The parking is always an issue. If you get off of work in the evening there is never any spots by the building. Worst part is, they will charge you for anything and everything they possible can. Stupid hidden fees that they wont tell... you about is their specialty. No one told us about this ridiculous 60 day cancellation fee that's a whole extra months for worth of rent. I wouldn’t live here again if these people paid me. Lee mas

Booooo! Don’t move here. The first two months of being here our A/C didn’t work. took the maintenance four different visits before they finally found the problem. And after all that we weren’t compensated for how high our electric bill was for those two months. Our master bedroom still doesn’t have any air flow and is super hot. There’s silver fish all over the apartment. And now that we’re moving out we’re getting hit with a fee in the amount of a full months worth of rent for A “60 day policy”... that we weren’t given any notice for. For the price they charge monthly you might as well go to a brand new apartment building that have been popping up in st Pete. Lee mas