The Lyon Apartments 660 East 5th Street, Des Moines, IA 50309

"Can you share how many of your positive reviews are from your employees? Your driveway is unsafe, tired of trying to get my car up the hill. Having a $200 electric bill due to failing and inefficient heat. It's really pointless to try to contact you, when you don't answer or help in anyway possible."

"I strongly advise against considering this residence for renting. Since my move-in on October 29th, 2023, the experience has been consistently disappointing. The washer machine was dysfunctional from day one, causing flooding issues, and it took an agonizing 21 days of persistent requests and calls to maintenance before it was eventually repaired. A frustrating situation, to say the least. Maintenance issues seem to be a recurring theme, with constant emails and texts about various amenities being out of order. The front doors, back doors, elevators, and even the parking situation have all been sources of ongoing problems. Paying $75 a month for parking only to be unable to use the designated door is an added frustration. The lack of functional windows, security concerns, and reports of mold in other units further contribute to a sense of dissatisfaction. The disturbances from the downstairs bar are another major concern, extending late into the night with parties, fights, and even blood on the floors. The cleanliness of common areas, such as the lobby and parking lot, leaves much to be desired. Additionally, the dog potty station is unsanitary and poses health risks, with a literal hole in the elevator that could jeopardize the safety of pets. The promised security measures, including cameras, have not translated into a feeling of safety. Issues like people sleeping in the halls, frequent fights, and malfunctioning doors raise serious doubts about the effectiveness of the security measures in place. In winter, the lack of proper maintenance, such as salting the hill, creates additional challenges, making it difficult to even drive up to the property. Overall, this place falls short on multiple fronts, from the high rent to the persistent maintenance problems, making it an unfavorable choice for anyone seeking a secure and well-maintained living environment. If it were possible, I would rate this place 0 stars."

"Do not rent here! this is by far the worst place i have ever rented. I move quite often due to my job and this place is the worst. The lack of security measures, the additional fees every month, the lack of accessibility, the non-compliant safety regulations is just a few things i can mention. Cars and bikes getting stolen from within the property. The doors have no code to get in and neither do the elevators so random people come and go. Last monday there was a homeless man sleeping in the basement. supposedly they have security people that walk around every night but i have never seen them. You can walk from outside to any floor and no one would notice because there is no security. There is two elevators but only one works at times so sometimes you have to walk all the way to the 11 floor because they are broken. If you stand in the lobby for long enough you can hear the critters walking on top of the ceiling which has unprotected exposed wires and it looks like is under repair but it has been this way since i first moved here. the place is dirty. the heater doesn't work on my floor. there is always some new email detailing what doesn't work. my mail has never arrived in my mailbox. it smells moldy or like marijuana all the time. There is no security i have never felt so unsafe as i do now living here. today i noticed the car next to mine had a broken window like someone had try to rob them. the back door doesn't work so now we have to walk all the way to the front of the building. Overall the location is great but everything about this complex is not."

"Do not live here. The location is its only amenity and there are other places in the East Village to live with better management. Under previous management there were amazing amenities, responsive staff, and more than just bandaged attempts at repairs. With the new management they stopped doing landscaping, stopped cleaning off walkways & driveways in the winter, they upped rent, took away amenities such as free internet, and they added shared amenities to our accounts without notice. Doors don’t lock properly, key fobs don’t work, and only one of the two elevators has works sporadically for the last year, all of which are not the basic expectations of the living environment they are attempting to advertise. There is regular turnover of the property management staff on property which just goes to show that it’s the overall property management company is ruining what once was a great place to live downtown."

"Please choose wisely in making your decisions on where to call home. Unfortunately this place is not it. Under previous management, there were a lot of amenities in living here. Free Internet/Cable. Amazing sign on bonus. And working equipment throughout the building. Under the new property management (Liv Lavender), what you will fine are some cosmetic improvements, doors that don’t lock at night and are home to the homeless, constantly raising rent prices, no amenities, random charges to your account. They raised the rent prices, the credit score requirement to move in, like they have something luxurious to offer. They don’t. With a building that houses almost 100 units, there is also only ONE working elevator that has been that way for almost a year now. Sometimes that one goes down. Enjoy your walk up 10-11 flights of stairs daily. Such a missed opportunity for such a beautiful location."