Cook Drew
DuncanDoom2DarkLevelsFix
Duncan House can be dark at night. But yes, you would figure that...
I've never been afraid around the place though...even though after getting my mail upon returning late at night from Thanksgiving break, I was surprisingly encountered with an individual who brandished a gun in my direction (loaded or unloaded a real 9mm beretta or not- they were inconsistent in their threatening posture and clearly either not 100% committed to the script or highly inexperienced) and asked, unintelligibly at first due to the muffling of their bandanna, to give up my money & later to empty my pockets...as my roommate came up behind me as I had asked for his assistance earlier in unloading my vehicle...they said it was a joke. Apparently I was "about to go crazy" as the other individual present commented. I had offered them my mail in an exacerbated tone, admitted that I was broke, and when asked to actually empty my pockets produced the $4 I had to my name (not including the 2 dollar bill I carry for luck or something, I've seriously had that thing REJECTED when I attempted to spend it once, simply on the basis of it being rare, not any less valid as currency.) and then offered my "crappy phone" as I started to dial 911- then roommate comes up behind me. (whom I might add was only there coincidentally as he has rarely been present at the apartment in the months he's been "living" here).
And yeah, I didn't get mugged here. And I still don't feel especially unsafe around here even with my former neighbor having let two individuals into his apartment who were asking questions got "cold clocked" and robbed a while before my personal incident.
At any rate, the place exudes a certain level of...danger. Though it had nothing to do with some guy getting stabbed a few years back, or getting shot or anything like that...
It has been known to flood...annually...and is a dangerous place to walk around as there are pointy sharp Yucca plants (sort of like cacti-like bushes with dagger bladed leaves) and holly bushes and malformed chain link fences surrounding the back side (to keep people from "falling off" the edge of the foundation as the place rests a bit on a slope).
Essentially, and this is part of why I'm not really afraid of break ins and at least used to never really lock my door...the place feels HOSTILE to intruders, interlopers and those unfamiliar to its own brand of security. A complex divided into four brick buildings under one roof...it is known a Duncan House, it is on Reed Street off of the Strip.
It should probably be condemned, but the brick exterior probably does save you some money on heating if you're willing to be a little cold at night during the winter...
There are other features that have become appealing due to familiarity, the blue + creme toned paint + brick feel around the place, the big roof for instance....the unstable balcony supports for the second-floor apartments, the sometimes un-level handrails on the stairs...the somewhat weak overhead lighting, the "porch" lights that for the most part don't work (I think the balcony lights are maintained, but the bulbs for the lights to the common areas outside aren't replaced).
All of this adds both to the appeal and negative qualities of the place.
And I really wouldn't mind having lived here for almost three years if a few things hadn't happened...
1. My apartment hadn't flooded...twice. (I'm telling you Annual Flooding...the water heater burst in my place and then in my upstairs neighbors and in another apartment or two around the complex that I've just found out about- last year the maintenance guy told my former roommate that there were 9 more that needed to be replaced after ours...the place is down to 6 or 7 more unless they finally did the risk assessment of the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" policy).
2. The rent wasn't going up significantly every year. Though not in violation of the lease laws or the lease agreement, a place that was once one of the most affordable in town isn't competing enough with other complexes price wise, though location and OUTWARD appearances may rival say "Pride's Court" or farther off-campus facilities (btw, don't buy a condo, not worth it. but they're opening up a ton of them around here).
At least pride's court has a pool and Alabama apartments has Gas stoves (you'd think paying more on your utilities would suck until black outs happen, and they do. Remember Katrina? That affected us directly too- just not nearly as bad. Power was only out for like days, not weeks and only like a handful of buildings were significantly damaged and/or destroyed as a result- "Duncan House"- admirably stood firm and only lost some shingles and took the weathering well otherwise).
Oh and 3. Things are more than likely "quick-fixed" and only squeeky wheels get greased...essentially you slowly either put up with a lower standard of living or take care of the living conditions as much as you can by yourself. My oven has a broken element and there hasn't been a work order form for a couple months. (not surprising since they've still yet to fix my ceiling...yes HOLES from the flood damage...though I could have called them like last week to do it.)
Oh well, enough bitching, hopefully I'll be out of this place before the end of June.
I'm certainly not renewing the lease, and may not have a choice in the matter at this date. (I really should have hustled on getting them in the place to fix things, now they might try to land some of the expenses on ME).
If you live in Alabama or just in the Tuscaloosa Area, write to the appropriate politicians and tell them that Landlord Tenant Laws STILL need reforming AND enforcement...but not limitations as to "Unrelated parties."
Oh, and buy renter's insurance...
DuncanDoom2DarkLevelsFix
Duncan House can be dark at night. But yes, you would figure that...
I've never been afraid around the place though...even though after getting my mail upon returning late at night from Thanksgiving break, I was surprisingly encountered with an individual who brandished a gun in my direction (loaded or unloaded a real 9mm beretta or not- they were inconsistent in their threatening posture and clearly either not 100% committed to the script or highly inexperienced) and asked, unintelligibly at first due to the muffling of their bandanna, to give up my money & later to empty my pockets...as my roommate came up behind me as I had asked for his assistance earlier in unloading my vehicle...they said it was a joke. Apparently I was "about to go crazy" as the other individual present commented. I had offered them my mail in an exacerbated tone, admitted that I was broke, and when asked to actually empty my pockets produced the $4 I had to my name (not including the 2 dollar bill I carry for luck or something, I've seriously had that thing REJECTED when I attempted to spend it once, simply on the basis of it being rare, not any less valid as currency.) and then offered my "crappy phone" as I started to dial 911- then roommate comes up behind me. (whom I might add was only there coincidentally as he has rarely been present at the apartment in the months he's been "living" here).
And yeah, I didn't get mugged here. And I still don't feel especially unsafe around here even with my former neighbor having let two individuals into his apartment who were asking questions got "cold clocked" and robbed a while before my personal incident.
At any rate, the place exudes a certain level of...danger. Though it had nothing to do with some guy getting stabbed a few years back, or getting shot or anything like that...
It has been known to flood...annually...and is a dangerous place to walk around as there are pointy sharp Yucca plants (sort of like cacti-like bushes with dagger bladed leaves) and holly bushes and malformed chain link fences surrounding the back side (to keep people from "falling off" the edge of the foundation as the place rests a bit on a slope).
Essentially, and this is part of why I'm not really afraid of break ins and at least used to never really lock my door...the place feels HOSTILE to intruders, interlopers and those unfamiliar to its own brand of security. A complex divided into four brick buildings under one roof...it is known a Duncan House, it is on Reed Street off of the Strip.
It should probably be condemned, but the brick exterior probably does save you some money on heating if you're willing to be a little cold at night during the winter...
There are other features that have become appealing due to familiarity, the blue + creme toned paint + brick feel around the place, the big roof for instance....the unstable balcony supports for the second-floor apartments, the sometimes un-level handrails on the stairs...the somewhat weak overhead lighting, the "porch" lights that for the most part don't work (I think the balcony lights are maintained, but the bulbs for the lights to the common areas outside aren't replaced).
All of this adds both to the appeal and negative qualities of the place.
And I really wouldn't mind having lived here for almost three years if a few things hadn't happened...
1. My apartment hadn't flooded...twice. (I'm telling you Annual Flooding...the water heater burst in my place and then in my upstairs neighbors and in another apartment or two around the complex that I've just found out about- last year the maintenance guy told my former roommate that there were 9 more that needed to be replaced after ours...the place is down to 6 or 7 more unless they finally did the risk assessment of the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" policy).
2. The rent wasn't going up significantly every year. Though not in violation of the lease laws or the lease agreement, a place that was once one of the most affordable in town isn't competing enough with other complexes price wise, though location and OUTWARD appearances may rival say "Pride's Court" or farther off-campus facilities (btw, don't buy a condo, not worth it. but they're opening up a ton of them around here).
At least pride's court has a pool and Alabama apartments has Gas stoves (you'd think paying more on your utilities would suck until black outs happen, and they do. Remember Katrina? That affected us directly too- just not nearly as bad. Power was only out for like days, not weeks and only like a handful of buildings were significantly damaged and/or destroyed as a result- "Duncan House"- admirably stood firm and only lost some shingles and took the weathering well otherwise).
Oh and 3. Things are more than likely "quick-fixed" and only squeeky wheels get greased...essentially you slowly either put up with a lower standard of living or take care of the living conditions as much as you can by yourself. My oven has a broken element and there hasn't been a work order form for a couple months. (not surprising since they've still yet to fix my ceiling...yes HOLES from the flood damage...though I could have called them like last week to do it.)
Oh well, enough bitching, hopefully I'll be out of this place before the end of June.
I'm certainly not renewing the lease, and may not have a choice in the matter at this date. (I really should have hustled on getting them in the place to fix things, now they might try to land some of the expenses on ME).
If you live in Alabama or just in the Tuscaloosa Area, write to the appropriate politicians and tell them that Landlord Tenant Laws STILL need reforming AND enforcement...but not limitations as to "Unrelated parties."
Oh, and buy renter's insurance...