The Villages At Essex Park 937 41st Street Northwest, Rochester, MN 55901

"Where do I even begin? My S/O and I lived in a one-bedroom here for a year in 2020. While living there, there were several shootings, someone drove into an apartment, my packages stolen, and people constantly lurking outside of our apartment, staring inside. Police were called almost weekly, and our neighbors on both sides constantly screamed at one another. Upon our move-in, our apartment was filthy. I had to vacuum the apartment twice and the amount of damage was insane. I made sure to document everything on move-in day in case they tried to charge us for someone else's damages. I have never been more afraid of my safety until I lived here. Not to mention, the office NEVER answers their phone or calls you back when you leave a message. Honestly, I'm disgusted by this place and how management runs it. If you can afford to go elsewhere, please do yourself a favor and go anywhere else but this street. Edit: To respond to the owner, if you were "so deeply concerned about our experience," your staff would have answered their phones. I had left many messages throughout my time there. No one picked up, and no one ever called back. I reported my missing packages in person, as that was the only way to get a hold of anyone, and they said they would review the camera and file a police report, but I never heard anything back. So no, I will not reach out; I already tried that."

"The building I live in is okay, the office staff in good nice and friendly.the only problem I've had since I've been here is my washer and dryer which is being taken care of. I can say that every time I put in a request for maintenance they were on it ."

"They are refusing to answer my calls or deal with any of the problems in our apartment. 1. Our dryer has been broken since we moved in. It's been almost a year. They came to "fix" it 3 times and still won't replace it. They keep saying they just need to clean the vents even though they've already done that. 2. We have actual feces and urine in our ceiling from the apartment upstairs, and they have yet to fix that. It's been months. MONTHS OF LIVING WITH FECES AND URINE LEAKING FROM OUR CEILING. 3. Our fridge was broken for 5 weeks. Again, they came to "fix" it twice. I absolutely lost it on them, which is finally when they decided to replace it. 4. They accused us of smoking marijuana on our lawn. We never have, and the only thing we've done on our lawn is make paintings with our dog that was dying. It is AWFUL here. It's exhausting. If I could go anywhere else I would. I hate this apartment and I hate that I have to live with human feces. They don't even care. They have no compassion. They wouldn't want to live like this but yet they make us live like this. I should not be paying as much as I do for how I'm living."

"Please save your hard earned money if you can help it. Been here TWO YEARS(April 2021- current)!!! Gave them the first year due to covid and backed up orders, and it was urgent that o get my growing family into a bigger place. Promised the damages from the prior tenants would be repaired within a few months. Lies…… my dryer was dated and had rust that would build up in back of dryer and smear rust onto my drying laundry for around SIX MONTHS, dishwasher has been out of order for the last YEAR!! Microwave last SIX MONTHS!!! Master bath out of order for SIX MONTHS due to overflow gasket corrosion. Entire light fixture came undone when I tried to release dome to change light, ended up hanging for over a WEEK after I reported this HAZARD to office and automated reported system online!!! I’ve asked for compensation and I continue to ask for updates on these issues. Office staff tells me they are fully staffed in office and yet I get NIL to NO follow through or follow up on status’s. Had ONE decent maintenance man that did a semi decent job to get an extra light switch to work and them fixing the overflow gasket. Not to mention the plowing is HORRIBLE and often felt fearful that someone’s car would slide into mine DURING a parking attempt as there was snow build up EVERYWHERE, the limited parking spots are used to pile up snow despite having open “yard” areas where the snow would be able to fit. As a side note, the police are constantly picking people up around here, MANY inattentive care takers as the children overrun the pools unattended. And all that would be palatable if the three bedroom I pay $1.3k rent, $150-$200 electric, $50-$75 gas, $50-$70 trash and sewage pulse other housekeeping living expenses on were in GOOD CONDITION and the extras my money goes to pay for we’re actually worth it!!!! Please note that I am a SINGLE mother of four, working FULL TIME, taking on the caregiving of my elderly mother who was just separating. I DO NOT mind paying extra for a home that comes with the amenities that help me save time, as that is the MOST valuable commodity to me. Just food for thought folks."

"My son and I drove through here in June 2021 and his “rating” of the complex were his experiences. So, in essence; “someone’s trash is another’s” treasure. For me and my wife; Crystal (park manager) was very knowledgeable, kind, and professional in beginning the process of habitation here. Ashley’s diligence as park employee reminded me of my own dedication to detail making sure all the i’s were dotted and t’s were crossed. The park itself is not perfect, but the park personnel work seemingly tireless in keeping the park clean with the available staff. The apartment we decided to rent was well maintained (considering when it was built) and the nuances that we discovered upon our inspection was and is being taken care of."