Argosy at Crestview Apartments

The location of this complex is great, as is the on-​call emergency maintenance. However, best of luck getting anything else done through service requests or emails to the leasing office.
The only reason it gets two stars instead of one is because when my AC went out, one of the maintenance guys was here within an hour on a Sunday to fix it. There is one guy in the office that is definitely better than the rest, but overall, any interactions with the office staff left a lot to be desired.
The rent has recently increased so much in the complex that I not longer feel like the amenities they provide are worth the cost. The flooring is wood-​like linoleum, for-​mica counters, faux stainless appliances, and just generally dated interiors. The prices here now almost align with Midtown Commons– right around the corner and very new.

Lack of safety: I left my car doors unlocked one night returning from the grocery store. I had my hands full and forgot to lock my car. The next morning, before I got in my car, I noticed some of my stuff on my passenger car seat. I opened the door and my car reeked of cigarette smoke (I don’t smoke). And then I noticed ashes all on my center console.
Yes, I left my car unlocked and that was stupid. That doesn’t give anyone the right to get in MY car, smoke, and go through my things. The only thing that was stolen was a travel size bottle of mouthwash. A co-​worker said it was probably an alcoholic.
Again, I would only live here if your number 1 reason is how cheap it is. Other than that, there are many options nearby for only $ 200 – 300 more per month. I have learned my lesson.

I lived at Argosy for 4 years until this summer. Although the property changed management, the maintenance staff remained reliable, helpful, and kind. I was generally happy with Argosy even though rent kept rising every year. I would have given them a four star review, except for this:
When I moved out, Argosy kept over half my deposit. The deposit statement they sent me was incomprehensible, listing charges I had already paid separately (namely, my final water bill) and a pet-​related charge. I sent several emails and placed several unreturned phone calls. I even called the corporate office and was given the property manager’s number. I left two messages.
I received exactly one response by email from Argosy, an email that gave me no new information about the charges. It said the pet-​related charge was a standard cleaning fee. Why, I tried repeatedly to ask, would a standard fee come out of the deposit, and not the pet fee I already paid when I adopted my pet? If a standard fee always comes out of a deposit, isn’t it not a deposit anymore, but just a hidden fee?
I liked living at Argosy, but I never liked dealing with the office staff. After my initial lease was signed, I was never as valuable as new business. I know several of my neighbors, some of whom had lived at Argosy for years and years, were kicked to the curb in the last year so that the apartments could be renovated. Argosy didn’t make them fair offers to transfer their leases. I’m glad I left when I did, but my last dealing with Argosy, over my deposit, was clearly unfair, and it soured my opinion of Argosy.

This place has some issues, not the least of which is a middle-​of-​nowhere location, a tremendous number of birds and bugs and the attendant problems that come with them, and absolutely terrible management. But the biggest problem I had with a place as a student was NOISE.
There’s no noise reduction whatsoever in the walls/​windows, so hammering in any connected unit can be heard throughout the entire building, and if you’re unlucky enough to have an upstairs neighbor, you will hear each of their footfalls at full volume. The place also has a very vocal bird population that seems to be active at all times of day. The person who said there were no bugs was flat-​out wrong — there’s a roach issue, although that’s fairly common in TX.
The complex was under construction at the time I rented, but I was told by the manager that the construction would be far from my apartment and not be disruptive. This was basically an outright lie. They raised the rent on my next-​door neighbors, and when those neighbors moved out they «renovated». This led to drilling in their units to add in washer/​dryer outlets, loud enough to drown out most speech, let alone thought.
I asked them to give me times/​dates when construction would occur, and their answer was basically «any time, until it’s done». The construction ran through finals, and was very disruptive while I was trying to study.
The management staff were very unhelpful and quite snippy when I tried to resolve these issues or at least get a discount on rent to compensate for the constant racket. The management’s style is generally opaque and non-​communicative — when they finally installed a passcard system for the new gym, they didn’t tell anyone the passcards were available, but instead waited for us to come pick them up from the office, unannounced. Whenever I had a question or an issue, I always got the sense that I was taking time out from the management’s busy day. Sorry, I just happen to be paying to live here, I didn’t mean to bother you with my problems!
On top of all that, this place is extraordinarily over-​priced for how far it is from campus, downtown, etc. Unless you work at the convention center and take the train, it’s not that convenient of a location — anyone who tells you that it’s workable to use a bike to get around from here is wrong.
There are a few upsides — the units look relatively nice, and they’re fairly spacious. There’s a pretty significant lack of storage room in the kitchen now that the washer-​dryer connections are in most units, but those connections themselves probably constitute an upside — it’s nice not to have to hover around a laundry complex or worry about quarters. They also recently installed an exercise center, though it’s tiny and not terribly complex.
That said, I’m really glad I moved out this past month. If you’re looking for quiet, convenient student living, look elsewhere.

i am not typically one to be snarky or negative on reviews, but i have absolutely despised the past 11 months living here.
upon move in, i was told that i couldn’t actually move my furniture in yet because they forgot to steam clean the carpets in my unit. i let it roll because life happens and there is no need to get all huffy.
however. since i have lived here, they have turned off the water several days a month, every month. i don’t work a typical 9 – 5 job so turning the water off for an entire day from the hours of 9am-​5 pm isn’t really all that helpful. also, they are constantly putting notices on our doors (which i’m sure we are paying for in fees) about the construction they are doing, water shut-​offs, pool closing, repaving of the parking lot.
speaking of construction — there is constant pounding, banging, nailing, and sawing going on. at all hours. all the time. i have had so few days where i can actually enjoy being in the apartment i pay 750 dollars for.
the management staff is absolutely horrible. i tried contacting them for simple questions and they are always very short, very rude and absolutely no help. i understand that there is a parent company that that manages them and that they have little control over what they can and cannot fix, however they do have control over how they handle themselves and how they treat their residents.
i am moving at the end of january and i really cannot wait.
i would advise you to look just about anywhere else before committing to this apartment community.

I lived at Argosy for 10 years and generally loved it. The location is great – close to the three major freeways of Austin, right on the train stop, close to the University, close to Downtown, very close to the center of Austin. The entry and exit was also convenient (unless you happen to get stuck by the damn train but you can usually avoid the train with some planning). Argosy is located on a quiet, slow street with a traffic light to turn onto North Lamar. Driving around the area was generally stress-​free. You don’t even need a car to live here – there are bus and train stops within a 5 – 10 minute walk on Woodrow and North Lamar.
Anna Sparks, the leasing manager, is awesome and part of the reason I loved living here. Most of the apartment managers I had were initially nice before you signed your lease and then treated you poorly afterward; Anna continues to be as warm and genuine as when I first met her. She also has an amazing memory and is very organized. The leasing office personnel in general are all very professional and available.
Maintenance requests are responded to promptly and the maintenance staff I remember, Chris and Larry, were friendly and efficient.
Argosy feels very safe. As a single female, I feel safe walking around the parking lot well after midnight. One reason I’m having to walk around the parking lot is because during the school year, all the spots remotely close to my unit are full by 10 pm so I have to park farther away. There is always enough parking.
I’ve never known anyone whose had their apartment broken into. If you have a car with a nice stereo, however, avoid parking in the perimeter (fence) parking spots. I have seen smashed-​in windows there. When I have guests, I usually give them my parking tag and move my own econobox car out to the perimeter.
I finally left because I felt that an old, 512-​square-​feet 1 – 1 for someone who rarely took the train was not worth $ 800+ a month. I’ll let some rich college student have the pleasure of living in this apartment. The other renters living in Argosy seemed like pretty cool, laidback people. I saw some young families but mostly with babies or toddlers. Many renters are students. The surrounding neighborhood, Crestview, is also pretty liberal and has a sense of community.
I hang out at coffeeshops a lot and there are three great ones nearby (within walking distance even): Genuine Joe’s, Thunderbird, and Epoch.
I would definitely live here again if the rent decreased.

I am thirty years old, an AISD teacher who has lived here for about three years.
When I first moved here I read MANY revues about the very neglectful and un-​helpful management office team. I dismissed the warnings and moved in since the prices at the time were excellent for the location and the safety of having your own security alarm is nice.
To say the very least, after being a very good tenant of three years, I have often found the staff very rood to tenants, talking about them right in front of other tenants. Among things like making many billing mistakes, blaming late bills as a result of their billing mistake on tenants, cutting off our water countless times due to water issues, neglecting work orders for water leeks, countless excuses to access our units throughout the year, and on and on and on… The most offensive issue for me is there customer service. When I’ve asked for clarity on billing «mistakes», I get a long sigh and very unprofessional verbal responses… be warned!
They have switched management recently but have kept the same office staff, but it seems to have only made things worse. Plus our rates are going up one hundred dollars which I would more than willingly pay had I not had that last straw moment with the abusive office staff.
My experience is that they are very welcoming and kind to brand new potential tenants, but once you sign on it’s a whole different story.
I have made a report into the better business burial, and I’m seeking advice from apartment tenant advocates as well. No one should be treated the way they treated me. By the way I use Unilocal all the time, this is the very first negative revue I write.
Good luck in your apartment search, I know it’s hard, and hay this is a great location, just be aware and open to all positives and negatives alike.
~Casi~

I have been living here for two and a half years. When i first moved here my rent was reasonable then the second year my rent was raised $ 80.00 more a month. My neighbor’s was raised $ 100 more/​month. My microwave, which the apt. provides, barely works and they have stated that since it heats, it works. My refrigerator is rusty and the freezer leaks water on the food below. They are hard to reason with and I feel unconcerned about the needs of the residents.

I’ve lived at the Argosy for over 2 years now and can say I’ve been pleasantly surprised. I love having wood laminate floors and high ceilings! The complex is safe and peaceful. The staff is friendly and helpful. It’s located in a really friendly neighborhood with a few stores and restaurants within walking distance. There’s both a bus stop and a metro stop within a couple of blocks.
Yes, the Argosy is lacking many of the «bells and whistles» and rent has gone up. Unfortunately, with the housing market it’s gone up everywhere. If you’re looking for an affordable yet comfortable place to live, I think Argosy fits the bill.

We have lived here over a year as my husband attends graduate school. We also have 2 children who attend the school in the neighborhood, very nice school and involvement with the community. The apartments are older but a fair price and the office has always responded well to our needs. Also, a plus to have the bus line directly to UT campus.

I can’t speak for everyone, but I really liked living here. There are a lot of college students and young people, but it’s always quiet. For being a pet friendly complex, the grounds were always clean and taken care of. No, it’s not fancy, but the rent is great, and units are nice for what you pay for: New-​ish appliances, wood laminate floor, fireplaces, 9ft ceilings, and alarms, I felt really comfortable. Oh yeah and no bugs!
The part I appreciated the most was the maintenance staff. I love Larry! Such a nice guy. Waves and says hi to everyone. The office staff was always friendly and accommodating– I had a few small maintenance issues while here: a sticky door knob, and a leak under the bathroom sink… both were fixed the same day.
The biggest reason I gave the place 4 stars is because after one year they increased rent nearly 100 dollars a month, which I can’t afford, and thought was a little hefty.
I also had my car hit in the middle of the night, which admittedly isn’t the apartment’s fault, but the hit and run cost me 900 dollars. The upside… Larry helped me take pictures and some neighbors offered great advice and a ride to work that day. Really nice people here.
One thing to watch out for… Grackles inhabit some of the trees in Hitchcock-​esque numbers and will shower poop on your car. SHOWER is the operative word.
Other than this, I felt safe, and comfortable. To me, the most important things were absolutely taken care of here, and they have my recommendation.

Really should be no star rating but I’m forced to give it something.
I have lived here for a little over two months and have encountered several issues. First, my car was vandalized right in front of the building. When I called to ask about security, the manager made it seem ridiculous when I mentioned that several other complexes have police officers on site. And even more ridiculous when I asked if there had been a slew of cars being vandalized recently and she said the latest was 3 months ago. Not really a great record!
Secondly, their maintenance crew is the worst as well as their office personnel at taking maintenance requests. Most often, maintenance has had to come out several times to fix simple things because either they are idiots or the person taking the request doesn’t write down everything you tell them.
Thirdly, their air conditioning system is awful. My bedroom gets absolutely no air flow and my electric bills have been $ 150 — $ 250. I’ve never paid more than $ 100 for an electric bill and I’ve been living in apartments for over a decade now.
Would really love to break my lease!

I lived in these apartments for 4 years. I have never lived in an apartment complex for so long. And I did so because it was exactly what I wanted.
Anytime I needed anything fixed, it was within 24 hours. They always sprayed for bugs and I didn’t have to worry about having nasty roaches. The parking situation was nice because I could always find a spot. Although if you park along the fence near Walgreen’s, be careful. I had 2 people have their cars broken into. But that was before there was no assigned parking. Now you can park where ever and it’s safer to park infront of the buildings.
I love that the grass was always cut and that I could walk my dog through the complex. It was enjoyable. There is also recycling in the back and it’s cool because a lot of places don’t have that option.
The pool is really nice. The only complaint I ever had is that there are guys that play volleyball out there Wednesday’s and Friday’s (some times other days). And it’s not that they are playing volleyball that’s the problem, it’s that the other pool, the bigger one, is covered in shade by then. If you wanted to layout — too bad. They really need to cut down or trim back that other tree.
My favorite thing is that I put down money for my dog when we rented the place. I was afraid that when we moved out after 4 year we would owe them. But believe it or not, I received the letter saying that we owe them nothing. Clean slate!
My apartment faced the road, so yes I heard the fire trucks who ALWAYS started their sirens right in front of my apartment, and there was a Hispanic church that opened across the street in the last couple of years and the bass from that was loud.
But it’s so close to Walgreen’s and the bus station and Brentwood park that all that never mattered.

My year at the Argosy wasn’t terrible, but wasn’t good either. The apartments are decently priced, but the community is pretty no-​frills.
The worst thing that happened was when my car got broken into twice within a 6 week period. The management office didn’t really offer a solution other than «park someplace different.» I understand that crime isn’t predictable but I feel like maybe some security gates or better lighting/​more windows in the back of buuildings would help the situation.
The location is good, but you sacrifice safety for it. If you do decide to live here, make sure your apartment is close to others and not in the back of the complex. I think that will minimize the security risks.

I lived here for about 2 and a half years back when it was just the Arrrrgosy. They had a ship theme going on and I liked to think of the complex in pirate terms.
Car get broken into? Be glad ye was safe in your crow’s nest at the time!
Huge piles of cat turds in the parking lot? Buried treasure, matey!
Loud party keeping you awake at 3:00 on a Monday morning? Pirate initiation, Cap’n!
Homeless people wandering around your balcony at 6:00 in the morning, looking longingly into your windows? Why that’s just an ol’ sea dog looking for safe quarter!
I got a pretty good deal on my rent when I first moved into this place including a first month free discount. The complex was at least half empty and nobody lived beside, across, or catty-​cornered from me for the first year and a half at the Arrrrgosy. After that time, they raised the rent $ 20 a month and I considered that a fair increase and something I could swing. The apartments were filling up and I didn’t want to move. After another year of living there, another managment company bought these apartments and raised the rent $ 80 which was about what brand new complexes were letting their apartments for at that time. Right now I’m living across and down the street in a smaller complex with more problems but for $ 100 less than I was paying to start off at Arrrrrrrgosy. My point is — whatever they tell you is fair market value for this complex probably isn’t and the rent here is very high compared to other complexes in this area.
There is a pretty large population of homeless people in the neighborhood I think because there’s a day labor spot across the street, the railroad tracks are close by, and I think a lot of squatters live off to the old closed down industrial complex near here and the low woods just north of that. Some walk through the complex, but none actually had set up a spot to squat the whole time I lived there. They hung out at the Walgreens and the bus stop out front, and most of them are nonaggressive and the entire time I lived there, I got into maybe four arguments with this one aggressive homeless guy and those all ended peacefully enough.
The pool was also gross as was the hot tub. I never used either the entire time I lived there. Because there were a lot of people with pets living in this complex, there was a lot of poop left on the ground despite signs warning that people who didn’t pick up after their pets would be fined. Those signs didn’t stop anything. There was also a lot of cats here and they would poop in areas where sand had collected close to the curb and sometimes in the tree islands where grass wasn’t growing. In addiiton to those two poops, there were also a lot of oak trees planted around the parking lots which of course attracted a lot of grackles and pigeons and you know what they do best. I loved seeing and hearing all the birds though. I had a 3^rd floor apartment which put them at eye level.
There were a lot of car break ins while I lived here and though I can’t say I ever had anything stolen, the cops patrolled here frquently enough to suggest to me property crime was a problem. I can’t say that I would want my mother living here based on the safety of the place.
On the plus side, the apartments here are HUGE and nice and come with everything you could possibly need. Electric washer dryer connections, huge windows, fireplaces, dishwashers, large pets are welcome and most importantly, all the units are equipped with alarms. It’s very close to the 101 route and the 1L and 1M which is very very convenient if you ride the bus. If the management hadn’t wanted to raise my rent $ 80, I would have definitely stayed there. I can see now that I was paying too much, but it was worth it (before the rent increase) for all the room and amenities the Arrrrrgosy offered.
The best part about the Argosy is that I got a full refund of my deposit when I left. That’s probably because they changed management companies shortly before I decided I couldn’t renew my lease. Their giving me back a full refund certainly makes me look at the Arrrrrrgosy with brighter eyes. I’d still recommend it if you don’t have a car or children and don’t mind dodging dog and cat poop and talking to homeless people on your way to the bus stop.

I’ve been living in these apartments for over two years now. They are decent enough, but I will definitely be moving once my lease is up, come May.
Several things have really ticked me off about this place, but the constant construction for the past 6 months has really put me over the edge. I feel like they are really dishonest here. I resigned my lease this past May (mostly because I was just lazy and didn’t want to move my stuff), and they neglected to mention that they in the process of selling the apartment complex to new management. They just tacked a note on my door one day stating that they sold the place. Shortly afterward they started the construction…6 solid months of it so far. I’m just sick and tired of being awoken everyday by banging at 7:00 A.M.
Pros:
Spacious apartments
Great neighborhood
Cons:
Constant construction
Recent theft both from balconies and car break-​ins
Also, they are nazis about guests cars. Guests must park in the designated parking areas. On two separate occasions my friends cars have been towed.