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Message |
    
MQ42
Citizen
Username: Mq42
Post Number: 4
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 1:44 am: | 
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Hi,
Myself and my husband plan to move to the SO/Maplewood area in April. Just wondering what the Gaslight Commons apts are like? We plan to rent for a year and then buy in the area. Is Gaslight Commons a good place to move to for a young married couple? And also is there a long waiting list? |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 1377
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 8:20 am: |
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I’ve lived in Gaslight Commons for about 18 months now. And overall I would say it’s a very good apartment complex.
The apartments are modern and new with most only having 1 previous tenant. Maintenance is quick to respond to any issues that you have. The front desk staff is nice and also very responsive.
The apartments all have 10+ foot ceilings, lots of large windows and new appliances, some have fire places. They come with Direct TV and High speed internet. There is a pool, and putting greens on the property and Club house that you can use for parties and such. The Gym is compact but decent. The complex also offers an Apartment that you can rent for $150 a night if you have guests stay over and don’t have room for them.
There is a cleaner that picks up clothes 3 days a week and is open late enough to get your clothes after taking the train home. The front desk signs for Packages and will put them in your apartment if you like.
The building is VERY close to down town so you only really use your car to commute and to get Groceries.
I live off of one of the court yards so there is no noise from the train. All of my neighbors are quite and I never hear noise from them. Occasionally I will hear the upstairs neighbors but not often.
I would guess that the building is %60 young couples (25-35) , %15 older, and %25 divorced fathers. The oldest child I’ve seen is about 4. They have an activity committee that plans golf outings, shopping trips, get togethers, and throw three or four “Meet the neighbor” parties a year.
I was down in the Maintenance shop (holiday Tipping) and saw that there were about a dozen places available. I don’t know which places they were (Small 1 BR, Large 1BR, 1BR with den, 2 BR). I’ve heard that the 1 bedroom apartments are harder to get because they sell fast.
The only down side is the price. Most of the people I know that lived there and moved out did so because of the high rent. I think that it’s worth it because of all the amenities but that’s just my opinion.
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Bobkat
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 7098
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 8:48 am: |
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http://www.gaslightcommons.com/indexa.html |
Jerry Tuttle
Citizen
Username: Jerrytuttle
Post Number: 9
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 8:52 am: |
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About how expensive are the apartments? |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 1378
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 8:53 am: |
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I have the Large 1 BR, $1665 per month. Don't know about the others |
Josh M.
Citizen
Username: Jmaxlaw
Post Number: 196
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 10:09 am: |
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I've visited friends who live there-- and the apartments are fantastic. It's a great place to set up shop while waiting to battle me for a three-bedroom townhouse.  |
Starr
Citizen
Username: Starr
Post Number: 69
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 1:16 pm: |
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The Village Mews condo complex (directly across the street from Gaslight Commons)has attractive spacious units as well. Sometimes owners there rent out their apartments. We rented a spacious two-bedroom duplex apartment there from 1996 to 1998. I don't know what current rents are, however. The real estate agents in town would probably have that information. They've got to be less than Gaslight Commons because they don't have all those amenities. |
mammabear
Citizen
Username: Mammabear
Post Number: 140
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 2:35 pm: |
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MQ42-
I would contact someonee at RE/MAX in South Orange on both the rental situation and for possibly buying a home. (They handle both rentals and home purchases) I worked with an agent there by the name of Terry Orr. She was wonderful and we still keep in touch. Even if you end up renting, Terry is the kind of agent who would love to "keep any eye out for you", even if you don't plan on buying for the next year or so. She also seemed to have inside scoop on rentals.
Good Luck! |
MQ42
Citizen
Username: Mq42
Post Number: 5
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 5:22 am: |
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Thanks for all the info guys, it was very informative. Just 1 more question - since these apts have so many amenities, I don't suppose they're furnished as well? Or is that just wishful thinking!! |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 1380
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 28, 2004 - 7:55 am: |
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They are not furnished but the complex has a partnership with a rental company. So they can have it all set up before you even move in. |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 1382
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 11:14 am: |
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The partner is Cort. http://catalog.cort.net/home.htm
Looks like you can rent some nice stuff for about $125 per month room. So for $300 a month you can easly furnish a place |
emmie
Citizen
Username: Emmie
Post Number: 389
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 29, 2004 - 7:18 pm: |
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Do they allow pets? |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 1383
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 30, 2004 - 7:42 am: |
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Yes, as long as they're under 35 lbs. |
emmie
Citizen
Username: Emmie
Post Number: 390
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, December 30, 2004 - 3:16 pm: |
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What utilities are included in the rent? I may go look, I'm thinking of putting my house here in Maplewood on the market. I am a only a few years from retirement, house is getting to be too much darn work. |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 1384
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 31, 2004 - 7:29 am: |
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The only thing included is DirectTV and Internet (Verizon DSL). You have to pay Water/Sewer ($30), electric($50), and Gas($30). All of the apartments have central Air and forced air heating.
As far as work goes, there is 24 hour maintenance on site. I haven’t had so much as a clogged sink for more the 2 hours before it was fixed.
Also they’re constantly upgrading the building. For instance this summer they installed a fountain in the courtyard with benches. So it’s not like they built the place and then ignore it.
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Jerry Tuttle
Citizen
Username: Jerrytuttle
Post Number: 10
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Friday, December 31, 2004 - 9:06 am: |
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A silly question: Stand on the Mews Lane side of Third Street and look across the street at Gaslight Commons. Look at the very top right portion of the building, and then look at the very top left. Doesn't it look like there is a piece missing on the left? |
Rudy Huxtable
Citizen
Username: Rudy_huxtable
Post Number: 24
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 3, 2005 - 12:16 am: |
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I'll tell you what they are like.
They are like:
-Way overpriced.
-Hallways smell like bad cooking.
-The alarms go off all the time.
-Elevators too small.
-People pull out of the driveway too fast.
-The commuters that live there don't look both ways when they cross.
-It looks like a religious compound
-yippee, there's a new fountain
Enjoy your stay!
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MQ42
Citizen
Username: Mq42
Post Number: 6
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 2:02 pm: |
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Just one question on the DirectTV and DSL - how does this work(I'm moving from overseas so I'm not sure of how these work over there). So is the DSL free - i.e all you need is a PC? And the DirectTV - is the cable free or is it just available and once you sign up you pay the subscription? |
Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 1387
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 - 2:28 pm: |
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DSL - all you need is a PC.
DirectTV - you need to rent a cable box (4.00 a month) unless you have a tivo or something like it. This gets you Basic cable, you would have to pay for HBO or Showtime, etc |
R S
Citizen
Username: Rollins23
Post Number: 45
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, January 6, 2005 - 2:48 pm: |
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I lived in Gaslight Commons for 2 years, and I would not recommend it at all.
The apartments are new, but the construction is cheap. We had plenty go wrong with our apartment in the time we were there. In addition, we found the noise levels from neighboring apartments to be unacceptable. And this was not from parties or unruly tenants.
The management people are rude and unhelpful, increasingly so the longer you live there. The maintenance response and quality was good, and improved noticeably after Mike replaced Raul. It's just too bad I had to have so much experience with them due to cheap build quality within my apartment.
We did not have much contact with neighbors, who seemed to keep to themselves. Many people speed down the narrow roadway in the dark, and often in icy conditions. And we had several problems with doors being propped open, letting strangers in to roam the building, at least one of whom had to be detained by police.
All of this for over $1600 for a small 1BR.
The DSL is free (all you need is a PC with a network card). Basic DirecTV is free, but if you want extra channels or equipment you will need to pay for it out of pocket, and you will not qualify for any advertised specials as a bulk customer. (If you want Tivo, you will need to pay over $200).
There are many wonderful places to rent in South Orange and Maplewood. Unless you need a place just steps to the train, you will get far more for your money elsewhere.
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Brett
Citizen
Username: Bmalibashksa
Post Number: 1401
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 6, 2005 - 3:32 pm: |
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I agree with R S that people speed through the parking lot, and others have told me that the staff was rude but they’re never rude to me.
I disagree with the noise level. My girlfriend and 2 very good friends of mine live in the complex and we almost never hear our neighbors. Maybe R S had crummy neighbors. Mine are all friendly and we always chat in the halls. I’m also used to apartment living so hearing someone in the hall, or on their balcony isn’t a big deal to me.
Of the four apartments only one has ever needed any type of repairs (ac filter froze), now considering that’s %25 it may not be the best example.
I remember the door issue. From what I remember someone let a solicitor in one day, they sent out a letter telling everyone to be careful, the next day the same gut showed up and they arrested him. Other then that I haven’t heard of anything like that.
And the $1600 price tag is steep. My girlfriend has since moved out and into another apartment that costs $1200. There is no central air, elevators, extra parking, pool, or 24 maintenance. The appliances are old, as is the building. There is no staff to be rude. The apartment is about the same size but the ceilings are 8 feet not 10. The windows are smaller and there is no balcony.
To me $400 is worth it, to others it might not be.
Oh yea, the smoke detectors are really sensitive, you hear them going off a lot at dinner time and Sunday mornings. Not loud enough to wake you but enough to laugh at the fact that you know someone is running around with a dish towel fanning the smoke. I took care of that problem by putting a ceiling fan in the kitchen.
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MQ42
Citizen
Username: Mq42
Post Number: 7
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 6:43 am: |
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Anyone have any contact info for other renting complexes in South Orange/Maplewood?
Village Mews Condo Complex was mentioned in a previous post..does anyone have contact details for these?
Thanks |
dc906
Citizen
Username: Dc906
Post Number: 2
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Monday, January 24, 2005 - 7:01 pm: |
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Village Mews are condos and townhouses- not for rent unless you can find an owner willing to rent out their unit |
just me fromsouthorange
Supporter
Username: Jmfromsorange
Post Number: 1040
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 - 6:36 am: |
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village mews are townhouses NOT condos. big difference. |
Starr
Citizen
Username: Starr
Post Number: 73
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 28, 2005 - 12:56 pm: |
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The form of ownership at Village Mews is condominium.
I would check with local real estate agencies like Burgdorrf and ReMax re rentals at Village Mews -- sometimes they handle them. |
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