All 25 tenant reviews.

“No se dejen engañar ellos dicen que él sistema de pago tuvo un error y luego te mandan a corte ybte hacen pagar el abogado , ahora adicional de mi renta me están quitando casi dos mío dólares .. los apartamentos tienen ratas , terminas, la cloaca se sube a las bañeras , cucarachas y una culebra entró a mi casa . Son unos estafadores y su manager FRAN me hizo firmar un papael para que saliera del problema en el que ellos me metieron por mandar la renta equivocada y me hundió más en el problema , me están robando . NO SE DEJEN ENGAÑAR”

“OMG where to begin. i got this place out of desperation because the spot i was originaly gonna get were a bunch of racist they do exist. they cancelled on me moving in at the last minute in bay harbour. so i had less than a week to move into an apt. here i come walking in. the perfect sucker for these slum lords at D Place. they show you a nice demo unit than you get something completely different. this was my first time and last time have ac units instead of central air. they don't cool the apt. and just make a lot of noise. along with the train going by in the back of the place, the ------ --- neighbors screaming at each other and the street cats that they never get rid of so they are roaming around meowing all night. i had read about the bugs and i didnt take the warning. my bathroom had lines of them by the hundreds walking across the walls. there is also a huge problem with cockroaches and dead worms on your floor. for a while when i would wake up in the morning there would be a geicko lizard on my stove. they are all over that place. termites eat away at the doors of the buildings. the staff always makes like you are hassling them when you go to call to complain. they are super slow to take care of you too. the neighbors dogs are a big problem too with the barking and them leaving big shits on the un cut grass and stairways in front of your stairs to the entrance. i once complained about this big pile of horse poop in front of my entrance and it took them 3 days to remove it. the hallways are cleaned once a week. always filthy with trash and dirt. if this reveiw can stop just one person from renting than i did my job. it was a year of pain. by far the worst rental i've ever rented. i was a perfect tenant never late paying my super overpriced rent $1750 2 bedroom apt. from the 1940's. the security staff was a real joke they let everybody and ther brother into the community. they use the most ------ service. the security guards look like dade county inmates. super unsafe place in the middle of the hood. at first i felt safe , but after people started showing up to my door unannounced that ended quickly. i painted some accent walls and when moving out i came to an agreement with the GM his name is Abid. i told him all the hard time that had there as a renter. we agreed that they would paint the walls back white for me free of charge. i asked him to send me an email confirming that cuz i could smell the shadiness of that office, he told me "for what?" they were on 6 accent walls not the whole place. i also paid $160 to a profeesional cleaning lady to make the place shine. i regret doing that now. when the other manager Frank came through to inspect he said he couldnt beleive how clean it was. it was definitely nicer than when i got it. of course they shorted me $350 on the security deposit return. then when you complain they make you write a letter to their office which goes unread. when you call they just blow smoke up your --- saying we haven't heard anything yet. if you feel i am untruthful just contact me and i will send you pics of ants, cockroaches, worms, dirty yard, dirty hallway, broken down cabinets and more/ ---- You Design Place. i hope you get shut down and that staff goes to jail for fraud.”

“Some of the neighbors could be loud but the apartment is big and the rent is good. I am at work in 8 minutes - can't beat that.”

“My Son lived there for a year, was so happy the day he moved out!! The units are NOTHING like the one the sales reps show you. Alot of bug issues, and everytime I visited the police were hauling someone away in handcuffs. They still owe my son money from the security deposit, but after numerous letters and phone calls we are chalking it up as a loss. Would not recommend this place to anyone!!!”

“If I could give this place 0 stars, I would! When I first moved in, I was shown an apartment which was really spacious and have nice counter tops but had an old, outdated bathroom with rust, limescale, and mold all over it. I was desperate to move and was told my bathroom would be fixed within the first week and that was the only apartment so I took it and tried to clean it as best as I could. No one came the first week for the bathroom so I called management and they told me to send an email and they'll send someone. I waited and nothing so I visited the office and signed papers and was told I'd be put on a list, months later still no one came to see my bathroom. Eventually, other things started to fall apart. The drains started backing up, cabinet doors fell, the doors to the front and back door would become more and more difficult to close. When it rained it leaked through my walls. It took eight months and a call to my lawyer to get them to come into my apartment. The work that was done was mediocre and was like putting lipstick onto a pig. I always see maintenance workers working on other projects but never coming into my home to fix issues with the apartment. Construction starts at 9am where it sounds like a highway next to my apartment due to paving and bulldozing. Management does not care, they will still charge a late fee even though you've expressed your many concerns and may feel the need to call your own handy man to finish the job correctly. Over-priced rent for what used to be the projects.”

“I have no idea where to start. This apt. complex has the capability of being great. The location is pretty prime and its cute ( on the onside). I moved to maimi for for Art so this location was perfect I only needed 6 months. I signed a year with an understanding if I found someone to renew the lease I was able to move or sickness in family. It 1st started when I began to have a VERY bad cockroach problem 5 days into moving in. Many trips to the office begging for new doors because my back door had holes in and a new door sweep for the front door and to secure the air unit as their are openings. The problem seemed to dissipate after 3.5 months. After all this the women seemed very upset at me for continuing to complain ( i mean i guess she loves to live in filth and insects). Just as I thought everything was okay - ( still having to sweep about 5 times a day). I arrived home one evening to about 1000 carpenter ants outside my door. The next day I showed photos and explained this and wanted out of my lease. It was just one thing after another -bad. Under Florida state law SECTION 83.51 (2)a, F.S1.?leg.state.fl.us/statutes... READ IT trust me more than one law is being broken - they told me I had no right to break a lease WELL FOLKS if i did my research I would of been out 7 months ago. It took over a week to get these ants removed. I did withhold my rent until the 5th, because I was tired of living with insects They added a late fee. hahaha. The women and I ended up not being friends, I guess she was just mean and rude and a slumlord. After the incident things go really bad. Slowly thing went missing outside my back area I asked the office and Abid said they did not remove it the bucket alone was 40 bucks/ I was very upset I mean just ask me to remove it. It has been there for 4 months. This women would drive by the back of my place at least 3 time a day my neighbors and I would laugh as we sip coffee it was creepy. My air stopped around Jan with constant complicates she got worse but I go my air working I guess.Still had roaches and ants ( normal if Florida they said). I wanted out bad. I did have an argument with her and realized you can not speak to ignorance. I found a roommate to move in with me the last 5 months since I decided to just move on and at least split rent , since i was not really living there it was causing me to go mad. She seemed to really be upset I found a loophole. I did not want to give them anymore of my money so I parked on the street with occasionally moving things out and groceries I h ad to drive in. She actually told the security NOT to let me in during the day. I had them say no once haha I AM ON THE LEASE. I was getting tow stickers on my car during the day. seriously. harassment just never stopped; yet i was all legal in a &^$#^ way. 2 weeks later we get a letter on the door (she hand delivered herself ) about how we need to remove our patio /lawn table and chairs- supposedly the entire 400 units received one. Again 7 months into living there. 3hrs later she removed my items and my clothes line haha; really this was july 10th- I go away for about 3 weeks go by and when I get back areas still have futons;large picnic tables;umbrellas;kids playhouses;rolling racks tables with more than 2 chairs swing sets; rolling racks with cloths on them ; and so forth and your telling me I am not being harassed. Ow wait. I had enough the dryer broke and i needed to dry my clothes I saw everyone's still doing it so I did. I placed some clothes on my back yard tree/ very hidden. She drove by twice ( i have a photo of her car). I left again 2 days later for a week. My roomie calls and said there is a note under our door about clothes haha. Last week I borrowed my grams car ( it bigger) to move my things out and an honest mistake when I went into get a pass I had a 1/17 tag paper but it was for something else or something i guess. They still gave me the pass though as we both thought it was registration; 3 days later I woke up to a police ticket for an expired tag in MY GATED NEIGHBORHOOD. after 4 hrs of confusion with police and security. I finally got an answer. The only way a ticket can be written within gates is if management calls to complain and allows the police write a ticket. I thought maybe someone took it off my car b/c 2 days prior security came to my door at 3am saying the car alarm was going off. Weird its a nice car new and this never had happened. anyway. maybe a warming, or hey we see your tag is expired- I mean they know its not may car. anyway see photos. They know the people that live here do not have time nor money to spend court fees and lawyers. This place should be shut down and everyone should be fined its dirty !”

“I've been living in design place for about two years now because I really do like the central location and it is a pretty quiet neighborhood, but I must say that the grounds are not kept up. People leave trash everywhere, including the staff, for weeks at a time and do not bother to pick it up even after I've filed multiple complaints. People here have pit bulls running around and two dogs killed my cat along with three other cats, which were not picked up until the next day. The security hardly asks questions when someone is entering which makes me very nervous about the safety of the neighborhood (really anyone can enter without being stopped) and the apartments are old and run down. My doors are both rotting and whenever I tell the staff they paint over it and tell me it is fixed! I've had termites in my kitchen cabinets, my bathrooms and all over the floor and the staff does nothing to fix it (also because of the rotting doors, huge roaches enter my apartment all the time) also I will mention that they will not let me break my lease even though I recently bought a home! They're keeping all my deposits whether or not I stay in here. I do not recommend this place, even if it does have a central location”

“OMG who writes these reviews - obviously they are disgruntled ex tenants who bailed without paying their rent. I have been living at the Design Place Apartments in the same apartment for over 3 years. Considering the following; 1. Location 2. Rent 3. Amenities 4. Safety in the area 5. Property value of nearby areas such as Midtown I am very happy. Everytime I have complained, I have had the issues taken care of - and like any aging building there are issues - however my pleas are not gone unnoticed. Termites are in this area - located in the middle of a summer swarm its expected - Cockroaches are inevitable - especially if you are DIRTY. If you leave food out, what do you expect? I would rate living here for the overall benefit a 4/5 losing the extra point for no central A/C and the external wash room. For more reviews check me out on Yelp- CarolineO.”

“I have and currently reside at design place. To be completely honest I haven't had a terrible experience here as other reviews would mention. The gated community, secured parking, amenities are great and add a nice touch to the apartments. Granted the apartments can use an upgrade and most new move ins get that but the ones who have been residing here have to work a little bit harder to get upgrades. Within the first two years there wasnt much change going on in design place but when Ms. Vana began working here I noticed a lot of change within the community. Positive changes like new furniture/ equipment in the common areas like pool/gym small little features like a water fountain in the entry gate and a fresh paint job on all rails and parking spaces. The community also offers a decent maintence team that once a issue is submitted to the office they normally come to the apartment to fix that issue. There are some workers that do a really great job and others they only temporarily fix the job. Overall as I said my experience has been good. I appreciate some workers and staff members and their efforts.”

“Before sign anything with this company do a research on the court. They have many cases: Miami-Dade County Recorder's Official Record Search. The register agent for this company is Mr. Kevin FabriKant. The Real name is SPV Realty, BRENT WOOD VILLAGE (DBA Name),This Business is not BBB Accredited, and was suited for racial discrimination. Research this name to see the very dark side of it. While buying a money order to hold a place, Daiana or Diana Garcia gave the apt. to someone else. When I was back, She told me she will hold the money order of 1450 and if I changed my mind they will gave me back, but I had to wait more than a week to get a new place, because it was under remodeling. I changed my mind and they gave me back the money orders with their name on it SPV REALTY, and of course the bank did not accept it as I told previously Mr. Abid!! Mr. Abid, a chauvinist from Middle East roots gave me copies of the money with a signed "promise" to gave back the cash within two weeks, because he said it will go to NYC to see if it was really a valid money order. Two weeks passed by and Mr. Abid just called me a "lady" and laughing on me when I asked for my money back, a real domestic terrorist!. I have to filled a complain with Office of Consumer Protection. I will keep you posted as this case is open. DO a research on SPV Realty and you will see that they have much more problems than roaches!! Stay way PLEASE!!! This company is a total rip-off!! PS: They go to show you a model apt. that is on their office actually, that has nothing to do with the real thing. You go to see people smoking close to the stairs, piles of cigarette buds on front doors. Not landscaping maintenance, you will walk on dead leaves and roaches as I went there three times before I gave the money order... The gym will make you piuk! The only good thing was relatively close to college. People leave there not because they enjoy, is because Miami got a sky rocket rental raise making people leave worse than cattle!! They raised the rent in this place, even though it should be down all together. A police car is 24/7 on the place you can imagine why...Pure ------, specialy the management! Stay away, they are listed on many rip-offs websites and law suits with terrible reviews!! If your physical appearance is mostly like Russian even if you not, get ready they will make your life hell as some middle eastern people hate light skin Russian look a like even if you not!”

“I've lived in design place for about 6 years, from 2008-2014. I'll give it to you as straight as I can: loved that it was gated, but sometimes the security doesn't care who they let in, love that it had a pool area with jacuzzi and a tikihut that really came in handy when I didn't feel like leaving the complex that day because I was hungry. The guy there is very nice! Sometimes the jacuzzi is not hot however. I love that the gym is right there facing the pool but sometimes all the machines don't work or the weights are missing. Very pet friendly! But some of the tenants can be a little snoody and rude when you're talking to their pet. The surrounding area gives you the best of both worlds: to your left you have an artsy, expensive neighborhood with all designer stores and art Basel which is considered the "design district". To your right you have "little Haiti" which isn't bad to me but some people have their stereotypes already in their heads so if you're one of those people then stay away. Dplace is right in the crack of the middle literally! Anywho, INSIDE OF THE APARTMENT: the walls are cheap and paper thin, so you might see some peeling in the corners or hear your neighbors running around upstairs if you're downstairs. Also if you're downstairs you WILL have a bug issue, there's no way around it no matter how much spray you use! My best advice is to live upstairs if you have a choice, that will minimize the insect issue. I had a 3 bedroom (which was really the size of 2 and a den or workspace area) paying 1100 a month when I first moved in, but now I think the price has risen substantially since they're fixing up the neighborhood and adding more designer stores. So for the price I think it's worth the move. If you need maintenance, they will take forever to get to you unless you catch them on the street and ask them yourself to stop by, so make sure you establish a friendship with those guys and they'll look out for you, they're all really nice. Management itself is whatever, not great but not bad, they pretend to care while you're in their face which is better than most. Also I love how the laundry room is connected to the tiki hut now, so you can just throw your clothes in, come out and jump in the pool, and grab food all in one! One thing I must tell you is the mail lady... Oh my gosh!!! Very nice, but very dingy!!! She will put your mail and packages at other people's doors and you just pray that they are nice enough to bring it over! Then she will lie to you and tell you they stole it but I know they didn't, no one has ever stolen from me since I lived there, in my unit we all looked out for each other and signed for each other's mail when need be. So she's a huge liar, but nice to talk to. I suggest that every time you have an important package coming, you make the company sending it to you require a signature from you. Oh and management WILL NOT take your packages! I hated that living there. Some people reported car break ins but on my side there were never any car break ins so I can't really inform you on that. Fortunately we lived very close to the dumpsters, but if you don't then you might have to drive your trash to the dumpster which can be really annoying. And even though the dumpsters say recycle, there is NO recycle plan at Dplace!!! The workers themselves told me they just take the recycle box and dump it into the dumpster! So if you're big on recycling you're going to have to do it yourself. Maintenance is good on keeping the grass cut and the place pretty, they even put little doggy trashes up on each corner so when you're walking your baby you can conveniently throw their poop away! Oh and it also has a volleyball court by the pool which is fun when it's not filled with wormies lol. I mean honestly, I reccomend this place to people first time starting out with an apartment or for people who just moved to Miami from another state or for college roommates, maybe even first time families with one child, but if you've been living in Miami shores or aventura or Miami lakes or any of the really nice places, then you won't like it. I liked it, I was just ready to move on. Hope this review helped!”

“Its been about a year my family and I relocated in Miami. The application requirement process was easy and quick. My kids and I enjoy the community since it is pet friendly and family orientated. One negative thing I would say is the parking, since my oldest daughter is driving now and has a car( parking is limited). Overall is a great place to leave , especially in Miami rent is so expensive but i find it affordable .”

“It is very easy to write about the negative things but sadly, not enough of the positive is highlighted. I have lived in Design Place for four years. Overall, my experience has been very positive. If I have had any issues, all I have had to do I contact Abid, Victor or Vana, and they have immediately found a solution to the problem. Recently, there was an issue with a neighbor that was terrorizing me and they did not stand for his behavior. They made sure he left the premises and ensured my safety as well as that of my family. I am truly grateful for their dedication and feel safe calling this my home.”

“I don't mind the price for rent because of the area this complex is in. However, to have only TWO dumpsters in a complex that has a thousand or more residents is a little absurd. Also, I wish the leasing agent who works for D place would of informed us that there is no central air NOR an electric stove; but those things are minimal to me. Not too impressed with the management in this complex. The girl who we leased the apartment through is a young, Cuban girl who works at the complex but has an extremely poor work ethic. She was 45 mins late the day we came to sign the lease, which delayed us in finishing our move. The security guys are fairly nice and friendly, as are the cleaning ladies and groundsmen. Currently the laundry room is out of service "until further notice". Not too sure what that means or for how long it will be because I have clothes to wash and can't really wait around. Also, while I'm on the subject. $1.50 per wash and dry is a little expensive, and that was ALSO something the leasing agent FAILED to mention to us when we moved in. The laundry card alone is $10 then you have to put money on it. Parking at night is ridiculous. Think twice before moving in here!”

“Worst place to live in by far!!!! We have never been so unhappy since we moved in! Place is crawling with roaches and ants. We call the main office to complain and they never show up! Clearly if you want to get there attention then you must rwrite them an email so things can get done. But don't hold your breath cause you will be waiting. You can never cook in the apartments because the whole house smells like what you cooked for days!!! Trash is like a mile away! And even though they have security they just let people in without calling you!!! Believe me when I tell you you don't want to live here and the employees at the office are all idiots!!!! Terrible customer service.”

“I have lived here for about a year and am very satisfied with my apartment and the Design Place community. While the buildings are older, this community rocks. Security, ample parking, super friendly office staff, GREAT Miami location, convenient to the beach, airport, shopping, everything!”

“I was amazed to find a village like community around my favorite places to eat and hang out (Soyka and Andiamo Pizza). The location gets me to Midtown in three min by car and on the causeway back to the beach in no time!. I found that the management super accommodating and the pool area is GORGEOUS! They are in the midst of vamping up the whole place so you can see that they are getting all the issues that I read in the other reviews resolved!. Bottom line, best prices out there for the area....plus security and good amenities!”

“I am a Miami native. Always lived in the SW area. Moving to the city and into Design Place is the BEST MOVE I EVER MADE! I just love it here. It's like stepping back in time and living in an art deco village that time passed by. Management (Abid, Vana) and all security,specially Helio,could not be more accommodating and responsive. The other night, for example, I had a problem and security came over as many times as I called them to escort me from my door to my car and back as many times as I needed. Yes, the buildings are old, but that's what gives the place it's charm. Many improvements are always being made. You can see them working on a daily basis. The landscaping is like being in a tropical hotel. It's my own little oasis in the middle of the urban grit.”

“I just moved in not long ago and was slightly worried by the reviews . however it's perfect for me the price was great and my roommate. The location is close to work for both of us, had some issues when we moved in toilet and a/c but that got fixed. This place has all we need gym great size pool which is clean( that's a must) laundry on site and a small shop. We picked here not only for the price but also because it was gated as well. Feels like our own little house with all the greenery oh and Lucy my dog loves it!”

“Do not enter to this place! See pictures attached!!! Worst management. A lot of noise. Rats and roaches everywhere. The units are falling apart. The ceiling of the bathroom came apart one morning 10 minutes before I usually take a shower. They do not keep track of your monthly payments so they usually call you every month to charge the rent when you had already paid for it.”

“I have lived at design place for about a year now and it was time to renew my lease. I looked around the area to see what the other building were going for and the rent is astronomical!! $2000 a month is insane and in my opinion not worth it. Plus the yummy food at the tiki bar by the pool keeps me right where im at!”

“so many memories from design place.. i lived there a few years ago but have some friends that still live there who i still go visit sometimes. I have to say the place has improved a lot since i was there. One of my friends apartments was just renovated and it looks great. I wouldn't say it was bad when i lived there but they have definitely cleaned up the place and , looks much better than before. I always enjoyed the pool there, its huge. the best thing was probably how central it was. I never had to drive far to get anywhere and that was a huge plus for me.”