The Penfield,

101 10th Street East, Saint Paul, MN 55101

"I'll give an honest review. Most of these reviews were posted based on a contest held by the building, and no one would ever try to win free stuff by saying anything negative. The positive: The Byerly's store is beautiful. Anything you could ever need, and you don't even have to go outside to get there. The indoor common areas are clean and well kept. Maintenance is quick to reply, but be persistent if something doesn't get fixed. Our neighbor has a broken disposal and they were told to "not put anything in there". Guessing that's because the owners don't want to replace unless absolutely necessary. LeeAnn, the conceirge, is very nice, and quick to respond. It's very easy to get on and off the freeway, and you can get away with guests parking in the Byerly's lot, at least until closing time. Nice pool area. They are very soundproof. The negative: Something is always broken. The elevator, the garage door, the hot tub, the sauna, etc. The neighborhood is sketchy, and getting worse. I have no problem with normal city issues, but it's a pain to come out in the morning and have trash all over the entry and sidewalk. You can't take a walk without staring at the ground--lots of dog poop and discarded food. Used needles common in the sidewalks around the building. Not very secure. Paid almost $400/mo for parking and both of our vehicles were broken into. Bikes get stolen from the garage rack. Went down to get the paper one morning and a strange guy was sleeping on the couch in the lobby. Had packages stolen more than once. It's supposed to be smoke-free, but you will always smell smoke or weed in the hallways. The landscaping was nice when we moved in 4 years ago. Every year it deteriorated more. Last year the annual plantings weren't even done. They just let tall weeds grow. Cutting costs, I'm sure. It's advertised as "luxury apartments". Not. They are mid-range. Mid-range appliances. Weird orange/yellow/goldish walls (which I paid a fortune to repaint in a nuetral color). Lots of pocket doors that don't close all the way. Cheap, ugly carpet in the bedrooms. Price: they are way overpriced. We moved a mile away and have high-end appliances, floors, fixtures and cabinets, clean area, efficient staff, and we pay hundreds less for more square footage. Shop around. Management is a crapshoot. There's a new manager at least once a year. No consistency with leasing agents, either. Had some serious concerns, and the response was "sorry you feel that way. Have a nice day". No "I'm sorry that happened", "We will do better", etc. Keep your expectations low. Summary: Great location for freeway access or if you work at Regions. Close proximity to downtown venues, buses and light rail. Average apartments, indifferent management, high prices, dirty neighborhood."

"I have been at The Penfield for 6 months now and it keeps getting better. The courtyard is beautiful with places to sit and read surrounded by trees - you barely even realize you are in the city. It is very dog friendly and everyone who works here make my dog and I feel so welcome. They keep making upgrades, adding vending machines, dry cleaning services, and carts. However, my favorite aspect is how they foster a community by hosting events throughout the year. The only downside currently is all the roadwork that is happening around the area and the lower garage doesn't allow more than one car to come/go at once causing people to either have to back downhill or into traffic."

"We’ve lived here for 8 months and are very satisfied with our experience. Any maintenance issues we have are addressed promptly and respectfully. The building is clean (even the trash rooms!). The entire staff (office and maintenance) is friendly and welcoming."

"Nice apartment complex. Amenities are awesome in the summer. Party room is one of the coolest I’ve seen. Gym could be a little bigger. Management is great and puts on events. Love my 2 bed, 1 bath."

"From the first tour of The Penfield apartment building in St. Paul, MN to moving in yesterday, the process was smooth and everything went great! I will post again in a year and tell how it went for everyday life. Of note, this studio apartment directly faces north to the Capitol building (great view!-pics attached) and has a double sliding glass door with vertical blinds between the two glass panels along with a separate screen door. I really can't believe how little traffic noise there was inside the apartment. I totally forgot that I-94 is literally right outside because of the EXCELLENT sound abatement. In particular, I want to thank Chad Von Eschen, who first showed us the apartment and made us feel very welcome all the way to move-in day. He is very professional and told us that he is moving in to the building himself."