Claybourne Apartments

Upon seeing this apartment it has everything: spacious, walk in closet, gym, etc. What I didn’t see was the irreversible damage to my mental health it would cause. The balcony door did not look which gave my neighbor access to my apartment 24/7 because the balconies were connected by a maintenance door they did not lock. When I asked about it, management responded with tenant are not allowed in that door (like that would stop a criminal). I lived in constant fear as a single woman. Management... blamed unavailability of parts (meanwhile they could have replaced the whole thing). After 9 sleepless months, they charged me about 75 dollars for scratches (noted with photos upon move in/out I did not create) off my security deposit. Also, 45 balconies had broken locks (information given by management) so if you think chances are slim you’ll get that exact apartment think again. There’s a good chance your neighbor can look into your bedroom window in the middle of the night. Leave windows open at night? Don’t bother. It’s connected to the neighbor too. If you’re looking for safe and secure, this is not it. If I could go back and not move here I would. Ps the paint wipes off with just water. Cheap as can be. You get what you pay for. Read More

Some of the units don't have balconies and many aren't yet remodeled, but those are the only major downsides. It's in a great location - Giant Eagle is in your backyard - and the property is kept in good condition. McQuarters replies to emails in a timely manner, usually within 48 hours, and maintenance is reliable. I've never had an issue with contacting the office. It's also incredibly quiet here despite the location. Barring an occasional siren, it's very peaceful. The two bedroom apartment... itself is spacious, and the two full baths are a definite plus. The closets are huge, and there are eight of them in total. It shows its age, but it is still very well maintained.

For minor downsides: the windows are large, but as the rooms are as well, natural light can be lacking. The to-be-remodeled units have kitchens with laminate flooring and what looks to be some sort of vinyl wrapped counter top, which is easily stained and does not hold up well. The kitchen is also very dark - they fixed this in the remodels by knocking out part of the wall.

As for the building, there are recycling bins and a garbage chute in the laundry room on each floor, which is very convenient. The exercise room is small but nice and rarely occupied. The lobby is well kept; however, the front door is very hard to open despite multiple attempts to fix it. The AC is available from around the beginning of June to October. As things begin to heat up in May, the apartment can get a bit stuffy until the cooling system is turned on.

Overall, for its size and location, it's very difficult to beat the price point. The remodeled units are definitely an improvement, but are more difficult to come by. Read More