Gateway Lofts Apartments

"Our Dryer hasn't been fixed in 3 months, rather than fix the dryer they send individuals on two different instances with no solution then close the work ticket. Our dryer still makes horrendous noises. As a result of maintenance never occuring I was forced to replace the hose on our dishwasher to prevent future leaks into our kitchen and living room. The hose had clearly not been replaced since installation. There's no transparency with anything. Living at Gateway Lofts has been disappointing, especially as rent increases by $80 monthly, contrary to the national trend of falling rental prices. This hike feels unwarranted given the myriad of unresolved issues residents face. Frequent, inadvertent fire alarms disrupt peace, while an absent management team fails to address these concerns efficiently. The appliances and fixtures in the kitchen and bathrooms are outdated and low-end, not reflecting the value one would expect for the price. Additionally, the building suffers from maintenance issues, with broken entry doors and an often inoperative elevator, further inconveniencing residents and raising safety concerns. Poor soundproofing allows noise from neighboring units to easily penetrate, diminishing the sense of privacy and tranquility. Considering the above, the rent increase at Gateway Lofts is unjustifiable without significant improvements in maintenance, management, appliance quality, and soundproofing to enhance the living conditions and justify the cost. There used to be an exterior trashcan but that has magically gone away. The Christmas tree was up 65 days past Christmas, and the poinsettias that were on display have now sat rotting in the garage for 3 months. I just don't think we will be renewing a second time."

"My wife and I have lived in Gateway now for almost 2 years. We love the location, very walkable area of downtown and also on the D-Line which is a free bus route loop in the city. Our 3rd floor unit has an industrial vibe that we really like and the 25' ceilings with the lofted bedroom and tall windows give it a very open and airy feel. That being said, all of the 3rd floor are two bedroom units I believe and what passes as the 2nd bedroom is not what I can image any person would be excited to call their own. Certainly tour the unit before signing if you plan to use that 2nd bedroom as a living space. The real unfortunate part of Gateway Lofts in it's current state. What started as a well maintained complex with a staff that was often seen around the building and very responsive to issues and tenant needs, has fallen hard during a noticeable decline over the last year or more. Tenants were recently emailed a link and asked to "leave a 5-star review" and as you can see from a lot of the recent reviews, not many took them up on their offer. Management also has been raising rent to anyone who is renewing their lease, sighting "increased cost of maintaining the building" when all we've been able to see is drastic cuts in building maintenance and staffing. My request for a refund due to those cost cutting measures was denied."

"I have wanted to live at Gateway Lofts ever since I moved back to the Des Moines area. I finally got my chance last summer. I LOVE my place. Love. Hands down the best apartment I have ever lived in 25 years of rental life. The neighbors are amazing and everyone gets along, particularly dog parents. They all meet up in the dog park, too. My dogs have made so many friends here. I can still sometimes hear my neighbors to the sides and above, but the noise is miniscule compared to previous apartments with hardwood floors/thin walls. I just turn on a box fan and it blocks everything. Noise from the vrooming cars downtown does get a little loud, however I like downtown noise so it honestly doesn't bother me."

"The building and units are great, definitely one of a kind in Des Moines. The community of residents is great especially if you have a dog. However, Artisan Management bought the property a few years back and their property management is subpar. Maintenance requests take much longer than previous property management. They do not invest much in upkeep of the grounds. Property management and maintenance are only in the building 2 or 3 days a week and they can be hard to reach. On top of all of that they have continued to increase rent each lease cycle without much justification. The previous property managers were amazing so maybe bar was set too high but I look forward to moving out at the end of my lease."