Apartment Review for Place Du Plantier Apartments - Baton Rouge, LA

I moved into Place du Plantier without viewing the unit I would move into (first mistake) and mostly based on the price-- a $250 gift card, a 32" TV, and a month free made the price on my "upgraded" townhouse affordable and tempting. After moving in, the unit was not properly cleaned-- something I could overlook, given the lack of security deposit-- the hardwood floors make my feet soot black after walking on them for a few minutes, there was leftover catfood in the closets, and the carpets, although being shampooed prior to move-in, are still unusually soiled on the edges. All that could be overlooked, if not for the minor details that simply don't add up for PdP-- 2 months after move-in, I have yet to be issued a mailbox key. The office is "out" of "blanks," and is "tracking down the vendor." Whatever that means, for me, it means I can only check my mail after signing out a master key from the front office (during office hours) and returning it promptly-- a process that takes not a long time, but is certainly a nuisance to go through each day. However, the security of it is a bit disconcerting, as they don't require identification for signing out the keys. As far as the unit goes, it's an old place, even though ours was "Recently renovated." The fixtures in the shower are eons old and in desperate need of replacing, and the knob is a bit difficult to operate when you want to get an optimal temperature going. The water pressure, however, is phenomenal. Our garbage disposal has been in need of repair since move-in (sounds like a blade has come unattached and is clanking around down there, and electrical smoke issues from under the sink). 2 months after being reported, we have yet to have any maintenance men come by, despite consistent follow-ups with the office. They are, however, working very hard to make the exterior of the units look decent-- repainting parking lines, replacing door numbers, etc. The pool area is adequately upkept, it seemed, until my roommate and I were poolside one day when a child swimming had a #2 accident in the pool. Instead of locking up the facility and putting up a sign that the pool would not be safe to swim in for 3 days, they scooped the feces out of the pool with a net and told us not to swim for 3 days. We saw people in the pool hours later-- no notice was given to anyone except those present for the thrilling event. The laundry facility is adequate, $1.25 for a wash, $1.00 for a dry, but you have to load a separate laundry card (again, in the office, only during operating hours) to utilize them. One day the entire place reeked of urine. Not sure if that's an oversight on the operation's part or a college-style prank. And so on and so forth. There is more to tell, but a general evaluation of the place can be gleaned. Overall, it's a roof over my head, and I can afford it, and the door locks. The water runs and the lights switch on. No pests, I can give them that. Would like it to be gated (have had unwanted knocking on my door), but have felt reasonably safe here (sometimes random people are just waiting outside on the sidewalk asking to use your cell phone). Parking, however, is phenomenal, though I should expect that to decline once the school year starts.