The Apartments at Midtown 501

I have lived in Chapel Hill apartments for 8 years, so I have a pretty good gauge of relative quality and value in the area. We have lived at Midtown for 3 of those years because the rate was competitive. However, they just raised rent by $250/month and now the monthly dues are comparable to much higher quality apartments nearby. Keep in mind they have a required amenity package on top of the rent price. Issues with paying this increased rate include: dysfunctional HVAC system, warped floors,... cracked walls, careless paint job, harsh apartment lighting, a pool that is randomly "out of service" for weeks at a time, and unkempt gym with constant broken equipment. I have never had a problem with maintenance when things break which is why I did not give one star. Lee mas

We had a friend live here a number of years ago and thought it would be a good location for our next apartment. Needless to say, the complex has gone downhill. Our apartment was disgusting upon move-in. Our HVAC is clearly spewing dust and/or mold throughout our unit. You can see this dust caked on the wall around the vents. All of our walls are patched without a new paint job. Our floors are clearly warped from some previous water damage. Our unit is in Melanie Ct., located near the trash... compactor. Not only does the area smell horrid, but it's constantly covered in trash. In terms of amenities, the pool has been closed for the last several years, they force you to pay for valet trash service and Spectrum cable (which we didn't want or need). Maintenance has been okay, but overall, we were surprised at how little care was taken of our unit before we even moved in. Lee mas

Do not live on the first floor here if you ever expect to enjoy peace and quiet without feeling like your upstairs neighbors are about to come through the ceiling. I am woken up at 5-6 AM and kept up well past midnight because of this. Will not be living here again for peace of mind.

I have nothing but positive things to say about this community. That is why I renewed my lease for another year. The community is bright, spacious, with plenty of greenery and sensible landscaping to beautify and shield from the bright NC sun in the summer. The units are spacious with an intelligent floor plan (sure a little more closet space would be welcome but...). The kitchen is upgraded nicely with granite and stainless, contemporary cabinetry (and surprisingly plenty of it for the... space). The location is simply phenomenal--near to I-40, a host of shopping centers and a variety of restaurants. They have a huge pool and poolside space with tons of TVs. There's a nice fire pit for warming up in the evenings. The recreation center is unsurpassed--huge game room, exercise center, internet cafe. I honestly have no complaints about the community. I am astonished to read the negative reviews citing issues with bugs or mold or other such complaints. NONE of these apply to my experience here. Any little issue from stiff door knobs to leaky faucets to a glitchy light switch was addressed fully and promptly. The property management company here and their staff are excellent and responsive and most important...friendly and pleasant. I can't tell you how many times I have dealt with people lacking interpersonal skills managing the apartment communities where I resided in the past. I simply enjoy my morning coffee on the deck of my unit just listening to the birds or feeling the breeze (sometimes carrying the scent of fresh flowers). I can walk to Trader Joes or Food Lion or Whole Foods from my place and yet it's amazingly quiet. The complimentary Starbucks coffee at the office is a nice plus. I have to say, my wife, myself and my high schooler are quite happy here. Lee mas

Tons of roaches and horrible smells with a poor HVAC system they make all kinds of excuses for. Be sure you document ALL your expenses and damages well. If you're thinking about signing the lease DON'T, you have been warned!