As a former tenant at THE MADISON AT WILLOW BEND APARTMENTS - PLANO, TEXAS in the first 3 months of 2010...I can honestly say, this has to be the WORST apartment community in Plano, Texas...out of approximately 115 apartment properties!!! If you are
searching for an apartment in Plano, Texas.....do yourselves a HUGE FAVOR and pass this one
by!!! Do your research. Look at the review sites on-line and read what other people write about
specific apartment units. Go see the properties (day and at night). Inspect your specific
apartment unit several days BEFORE you move in...make SURE the Manager has it 100%
ready for your move-in. Read the lease very carefully! I would NOT recommend signing a lease
longer than 6 months...no matter what sort of a discount they may offer...that way, if you don't
like the place, you're not stuck for more than 6 months. Some properties even offer 3 month
leases and you can then, sign another longer lease if you're happy there. Find out WHO the
Management Company is...makes all the difference in the world! Just looking at a property can
fake you out, big time...you really have to do your RESEARCH!!! What year was the property
built? Is the location safe? I have always preferred 3rd floor units (to get a vaulted ceiling) and
people not walking above my head. Research the electric bills for your unit...at Madison at
Willow Bend, some people were paying $500.00 per month for a 1 bedroom unit...if you don't
pay, I promise your power will be shut down.
PROBLEMS AT THE MADISON AT WILLOW BEND
*10 Maintenance problems in my unit were not fixed during my 2-1/2 months...I "legally"
vacated my apartment out of frustration AND due to the man BAD SAFETY issues on the site!
And the Manager knew 6 weeks in ADVANCE, that I was moving to this apartment
community.....there was NO EXCUSE why my unit was not 100% ready when I arrived!!!
I sent her a LIST of those 10 problems (in writing)....once via Certified Mail...but STILL no
response from the maintenance personnel. The problems should NOT have been there to
begin with!!!
*The wrought iron sliding gate (main gate for cars) was open 24/7 the entire time I lived
there...it's supposed to be a "gated community"...this creates a VERY UNSAFE situation.
*Within 3 weeks, I noticed and counted over (37) exterior mounted building lights that were
burned out...the Manager didn't know! She told me she'd get bids and have the lights turned
on.....well, I drove through the complex on July 21st...that's 7-1/2 months after I moved in
and ALL 37 lights were STILL burned out!!! Again, this is VERY UNSAFE...what does it take?
A rape, an assault, a couple of stolen automobiles or apartments robbed to get the Manager
to get those lights fixed. WHY hasn't this problem been taken care of?.....I'll tell you WHY....
$$$$$$$$$$$, that's WHY!
*I also noticed while walking the site at NIGHT, the underwater swimming pool lights at BOTH
swimming pools were burned out...as was the underwater light in the heated Jacuzzi...and
there was NOT a thermometer located at the heated Jacuzzi to show that the water
temperature did not exceed 104 degrees (state of Texas law)...all of the above SAFETY
PROBLEMS are a violation of The State of Texas Swimming Pool Codes! The Manager was
NOT aware of these problems either...because she believes managing an apartment complex
is a 9 am to 5 pm job.....she MUST walk the site at NIGHT...and ensure that the entire site
is SAFE for all tenants and their guests!
I have traded a couple of e-mails with a female VP at MADISON's Corporate Offices....and I
get "corporate B.S. from her"....but, I expected nothing less than that. In her e-mails, she
LIED to me at least 2 times! As I told her, a lease is between TWO parties...that the Owner
has responsibilities under that LEASE too......maintaining the units...and keeping the site clean,
safe and ensuring the site meets with all applicable City, County, State and Federal Codes......
and this property falls far short of that! The Madison at Willow Bend rates 26% on a very
popular on-line APARTMENT REVIEW site....that puts this property near the VERY BOTTOM
of the 115 apartment communities in Plano, Texas.
Trust me...I KNOW apartments. I have a B.S. in Landscape Architecture at Texas A&M
University - 1977....have designed over 350 upscale Apartment Communites in 17 different
states.....have 33+ years of design experience. Designed over 425 swimming pools during my
career (85% were for apartment communities). So, I fully understand all of the issues surrounding apartment management and development......safety, building codes, swimming
pool design & codes, drainage, signage, handicap accessibility, fencing, walks, signage, retaining
walls, site lighting for entire apartment properties. Apartment design has been my LIFE for
over 33 years. I moved back to Plano from Arizona.....and relied on an apartment finder
service...and their agent recommend The Madison at Willow Bend...I just needed an apartment
for 6 months while I was "house hunting" here in Plano. I'm out of there now, but I'm STILL
very concerned about the SAFETY of the tenants living there and their guests...so, I have filed
a complaint with the City of Plano's Health Department about the site lighting and the swimming
pool code violations.
BW
Plano, Texas
