Observatory Park Place

I have lived here since the last weekend of March 2014.
Can’t wait to move!
The real problem I’ve had has been with the management, Boutique Apartments. Separate review posted for them. Here I’ll discuss the specifics of the apartment.
I rented sight unseen moving to Denver for a new job.
I had wanted a different building but called too late the next day. (and that building changed management…)
This review covers the 596 sq. ft. 1 Bedroom
The unit is fairly small, but honestly the kitchen is pretty well laid-​out. The plans show a door on the closet, nope. The only other closet is the washer and dryer/​hotwater heater — almost no storage there. Does have central AC & Heat. Over all the building and the unit are fairly quite, but I don’t think I have noisy neighbors.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room, the garage door. Like communism, looks great on paper. This unit has a window in the bedroom and this huge glass garage door on the opposite side. It opens out to the community balcony/​hallway. So if you have the shade up to let in light, everyone can see what’s inside your apartment. If you want to get some airflow through the apartment at night, you basically have to prop the door up with a box or something, so air can come through. Here’s the problem a) that door isn’t locked b) there is no screen (say hello to moths). This basically means even though it 65 at night I can’t get air in without running the AC.
Speaking of AC, the intake is out on your community balcony, so if the neighbor is out smoking, you’re gonna get a big hit of it. Thankfully they have been considerate of this fact, but it still has happened on occasion. I’m more warning you that it really can happened if they aren’t considerate.
Other heating cooling energy issues.
That door kinda does suck, I too got Ice on it with the single digit cold snap in Nov of 2014. The front door, always have been able to see light around it. The other night during a thunderstorm, the wind was pushing water under it, and not a little bit. The eve on the exposed walk way, the drywall has fallen down due to weather exposure (rusty nails failed and fell down) Still have a 3′ hole where they took down another piece but haven’t fixed it yet.
My utilities are running around $ 110 and month, personal use and the community bill.
Trash has been an issue. On more that one occasion I’ve had to reach out to the management informing them that either the trash or, more often, the recycle hadn’t been picked up. And that when it’s been piling up for more that a week (closer to 2).
I have had issues with the call box not working. First it didn’t make long distance calls. And a year later it has stopped working again, and no one seems to know why. This has led to other tenants propping doors open (security issue).
Price on the unit has gone up about 12% over my two leases. And based on the $/​sqft it is well above market rate. I’m moving downtown to a bigger unit, new construction, better kitchen and storage, and it’s less per sqft.
Stairway has had issues with some leaking (around window and the cinderblock has been weeping) during our crazy wet summer. Bad thunderstorms. The stairway I hot and humid as it has no ventilation. It could double as a sauna. IMO its only a matter of time before mold starts to become an issue.
In summary, between issues with the unit and the management, look else where.

I can honestly not understand why anybody would choose to live here!
The Building Itself:
This place has zero amenities, yet cost just as much as the resort-​style apartment building that is just next door. This building has some of the highest prices in town for these tiny little apartments. The apartments go up $ 50 a floor for an identical floor plan. They have cheap looking plastic white counter tops and this weird garage door style windows that are just awful. Instead of private patios — or even a patio with dividers, its just one long railing that everyone shares. As if the prices weren’t high enough, its $ 90 to reserve your parking spot! The one bedroom was less than 600sqft, $ 1395, in a building with zero amenities, plus a $ 90 parking fee. Seriously? 500-​something squareft for that price? Yet walk next door to the equally new building and for $ 1400 you get a pool, coffee lounge, granite counter tops ect. Why would anyone live here? The pet rules are also pretty strict — can’t be over 35 pounds, its $ 20/​month plus $ 150 pet fee and another $ 150 for pet license or something weird. Well, we have a greyhound so looks like we couldn’t even bring him anyway… Honestly, people, please. Don’t even bother looking here, go anywhere but here I am telling you. I am born and raised in Denver and there are so many wonderful places that you can get for cheaper that are much higher quality.
The Leasing Agent:
The building is still under construction, but many of the rooms are finished so we called and scheduled a tour. They only do 2 tours a week so they are «group tours.» Our first tour the buildings leasing agent NEVER SHOWED UP! When I called the company they said she was across town so she couldn’t make it… Well we liked the location so we decided to schedule another tour for the following week. This girl gets out of her car wearing a tank top and jeans (professional right?) is SO RUDE and has this attitude like she would rather be getting her teeth pulled than showing us this apartment building. We walk into the room and I had to ask all of the questions because all she said was «This is the one bedroom» then started texting on her phone. I had to ask questions like «what is the rent» «what are the amenities» ect… things that she should just answer right? Then her phone rings and she walks in the other room and I hear «Wassup! Yo my phones about to die» like umm I’m sorry are we interrupting your social life? When she walks back out I asked her if she could please focus on showing us the apartment and she rudely said «Um it was a work phone call» yeaaahhh right like you say WASSUP to your boss? The entire tour lasted 10 mintues, real quality right?