Apartment Review for Boardwalk Apts. - Gainesville, FL

My roommate and I were attracted by the low price and the decent show apartment. When we moved in, however, we were surprised to find a kitchen full of peeling linoleum that is a definite tripping hazard (from experience), torn carpets with a distinct urine odor, vertical blinds with dog-chew marks on every slat, dog-chewed window sills, and dingy walls that hadn't been painted recently. Not to mention that half of my bedroom walls are PLYWOOD. My closet is also plywood, and not painted. And those were just surprises for the first day (NONE of which, incidentally, have been resolved). My building is apparently in a low-lying area of the complex and we have been flooded by heavy rains no less than FIVE times, through the both the sliding glass door and the foundation. At no time during these floods, which could keep us out of our apartment for days at a time, were we offered an apartment switch, reimbursement for damages, or even any accommodations. If you have a pet that must go outside, BEWARE! The $300 nonrefundable pet fee covers absolutely ZERO pest control on the grounds. There is no designated pet-walking area so all the open areas are completely infested with fleas. I got a puppy a few months after I moved in and he picked up fleas from going outside. Even though he was on Frontline and multiple other flea-repelling products, my dog was completely miserable the entire time he stayed here so I had to send him home. Obviously, the fleas got into my apartment as well and have thrived despite my repeated pest-control requests and four sets of Raid Flea Foggers. If you want Boardwalk/Paradigm to treat your apartment specifically for fleas, you have to pay an extra $25. That's right, the $300 fee covers ONLY normal pet wear-and-tear on your apartment, not any kind of pest control or even any pet damages. When I complained to the office, I was told the following: "It is your responsibility to keep your apartment clean." Right. My dog has been gone for over a month and the fleas are worse than ever. Boardwalk calls itself a "pet-friendly community. Don't believe it. Besides these major complaints, there are certainly others. When we signed our lease, we were told that by the time we moved in (July 2004) or at least by the start of fall semester, there would be a "brand-new, state-of-the-art fitness facility" built on the property. Didn't happen--but we weren't given a rent deduction either. As of June 2005, still no fitness center. The parking spaces are horribly sized--almost all of them are tiny and difficult to get into or out of. The pool is poorly maintained. Definitely check your cell signal before signing a lease...if you don't have a land line you might find yourself having to go outside every time you need to make a call (not the management's fault, but something to consider). The walls and ceilings transmit every single sound from your neighbors. Our countertops are warped, the management is hardly what I would call helpful or even moral (I'm referring to Paradigm), and the parking lot lighting is comically poor. I apologize for the length of this review, but I think it's fair to say that this has been the worst renting experience I ever hope to have. I hope you consider your decision carefully...possibly take a copy of the lease to a lawyer before you sign any lease. Good luck with finding a less horrendous complex than Boardwalk.