The Ballpark North

***DO NOT MOVE HERE***If I could give this place zero stars I would. Since I moved in my apartment almost everything has broken at least once. If this wasn’t a problem to begin, with maintenance takes at least two weeks to fix any major problems you may be having. When I moved in my AC was broken (mind you this is in the middle of August in Texas) and it took them a week to fix, and they only fixed it because my mom threaten to sue them. Then, just within one semester of classes our garbage disposal broke, the pipe in our kitchen sink broke, our dishwasher broke, and to top it all off our microwave caught on fire and instead of fixing it or giving us a new one we were told to «just not use it often», which is an insane fire hazard. I’m not even done yet, the week of my finals the maintenance did an inspection and locked me out of my own bedroom, and it wouldn’t have been so bad if they had made the right key in the first place but when I asked them to make me the right key when I moved in they tried three times and couldn’t do it and I was asked to come back later. Then, when I called to get my door unlocked they tried to charge me $ 50, and I told them they can’t charge me. So when they did finally come unlock my door the manager walked in, unlocked it, then SLAMMED our front door behind her. I’ve had nothing but problems here and the things I mentioned here are only the things that they have actually gotten around to fixing and what I deemed as big issues

This is a really hard review to write since it’s like MY APARTMENT and not the sushi i had last night. But i do want to write a good review because my experience has been positive.
+LOVES:
+MAINTENANCE (Humberto works his ASS off and he’s so friendly and will try and get to your issues ASAP. In the beginning it took forever to get service obvi since everyone just moved in. SO just realize that it gets less crazy)
+NO BUGS. They take pest control seriously. Had a thing with some wasps nesting in my window but Humberto came to the rescue before Pest Control arrived for their weekly rounds.
+FURNISHED (moved from California so yeah.)
+WASHER/​DRYER IN UNIT.
+STUDIO (i chose to live by myself cuz no thanks random strangers. plus i like to walk around naked. I’m in the small efficiency but its TOTALLY enough space for me. Also I am a compulsive shopper and clothing hoarder and I cannot believe the closet fit everything I brought. I am truly amazed.)
+FREE SNACKS/​COFFEE in the office
+JACUUUZIIIIIIIIIII!!! AND POOL! (so many apartments like don’t have jacuzzis. I want both dang it!)
+WALKING DISTANCE TO DOLLAR GENERAL (literally right behind the complex) /​HEB /​LIQUOR STORE /​BUZZMILLS /​CHIPOTLE /​STARBUCKS
+FREE PRINTING
+UT BUS SHUTTLE
+FRIENDLY STAFF (the students who work the front office are just little peons do not get mad or yell at them they have no real power. become besties with them on the other hand and they will hook it up with lots of free snacks & water bottles, phone calls for a package your urgently waiting for, inside information, and will pass along my comments or complaints to management. however they have not yet been successful at urging the mngmnt to fix the damn pool gate… see below…)
–NOT LOVES:
–I WISH THEY WOULD MUTHER FREAKING FIX THE DANG POOL GATE THAT LEADS FROM BUILDING 3 TO THE POOL/​OFFICE/​MAILBOXES/​GYM SO THAT I WOULDN’T HAVE TO WALK ALL THE WAY AROUNDD! Blahhhhhhh! my life would be so much easier and happier. i swear. PLEASEEEE mangmt if you read this. FIX THE DAMN LOCK!!!
–I’ve never spoken with or met a manager???
–The new FOB/​Electronic key system instead of gate codes they had before is like sooooooo annoying. the gates constantly stick and sometimes i have to result to climbing the gates so i don’t miss my bus. i’m sure they’ll fix this soon tho. (*cough*Cough*)
–In the beginning of the year they didn’t hold any of those fun community events as promised. not until like November did they do something. and I think it kind of ruined the turnout for the ones they’ve been having throughout the year. I never go to them unless to steal free food. i never see many ppl at the events. They shoulda had like a pool party during labor day weekend or something so everyone could mingle. I only really know my next door neighbor :/​
-(THIS IS FOR THE SURROUNDING AREA) I don’t have a car. I walk & bus. And I’m female. So sometimes it can be a little nerve-​racking walking by myself at night like if i am coming back drunk from BuzzMills or Midway Field House. I bought pepper spray and a taser. Also invested in a Car2GO Membership.
RANDOM NOTE: I was very stern about which floor I wanted. I got on the 3^rd floor. And I seriousllyyyyyy lucked out with a corner unit. I have 2 big windows that look out to the street. If you are in other parts of the building besides the 2 sides then your window will be next to your front door and like everybody keeps their shades down. I thrive on windows and natural light. I was truly blessed with this awesome unit.
All in all, happy. But I’m moving out for multiple reason other than just the place. and FYI: THIS IS THE CLEANEST/​SAFEST/​STRICTEST of the student living on Elmont. Countless horror stories of ppl who’ve lived in The Edge (psychotic roommates, drug addicts, cockroaches), The ION (non-​students, old people, drugs, and constant police lights), and The ZONE apparently is infamous for drugs but I do not know much about that one.

Love the apartments. Rooms are big and cozy, the gym is packed with equipment, just wish the internet was fast or didn’t get bogged down so frequently.

The place is good. But maintenance takes forever to respond to requests. And the outdoor bball court and volleyball court need some fixin. Location is decent from campus but traffic does suck at times. I wish the tv had all the UT football games! Having a washer and dryer is nice though.

This is a pretty great complex as long as you don’t have to deal with management very often.
Pros: The apartments are cleaned before move in, and are fully furnished. Most apartments have new furniture and upgraded features. So if you’re on a budget, or a college student the apartment will do. I’ve never had issues with bugs, maintenance usually fixes issues within 5 days of you reporting it. I nor anyone that I know has had any issues with safety but keep in mind it is riverside so just keep your car in a nicely lit area just in case. The complex is nicely lit, and has a great pool! (Seriously though it’s nice, one of my favorite features of this complex). The parking lot is well lit, and there is a security car that patrols the complex. They also provide dinner at the club house every Wednesday. So for the actual complex, it’s not too shabby. They keep up with maintenance so the unit never feels run down. Also there is a UT shuttle bus and Ebus stop right in front of the complex.
Cons: Management. Expect them to screw up your payment at least once and when you need to talk to a manager they will never be there. Luckily the issue usually gets fixed after a phone call or two. Also the walls are REALLY thin. You can hear your roommates through the walls as well as the people on the floor above you.

I’ve coming up on the end of a year long lease in a 4/​2, and I can’t wait to get out of here.
Rent, as far as I can tell, is in line with the other student apartments in the area. I would sign a lease as soon as possible though, as the rates to go up the closer you get to August. There’s a $ 40 difference between what I pay and what my roomie pays, so it helps. Late fees are $ 40 if I remember correctly. You can pay your rent online, however I never have. My roomie does though, and I’ve never heard any grief from him. My only advice is to GET A RECEIPT!!! I got an eviction notice for missing March rent halfway through April, and when I showed them the money order stub it somehow turned into missing April rent, which I had paid as well. I couldn’t find the stub though, so I was left without a leg to stand on. Let me tell you, it’s no fun paying rent twice in one month because you didn’t cover your ass. Shady shit…
You’ve probably heard that Riverside is a nasty part of town to live in. Granted, it doesn’t look as nice as Hyde Park, but you’re not going to get murdered out here. I’ve never once been concerned for my safety. That being said, car do get broken into, so don’t be a dummy and leave your expensive shit laying out on the seat. For the most part it is students living here, however you do run the risk of getting sheisty roomies or neighbors. Case in point, my upstairs neighbor was a crackhead. Not a crackhead as in he was poor, a crackhead as in he did crack. How do I know that, you ask? Well, he told me. Still, that was an isolated incident. You might notice, upon looking around, that the non-​student apartments across the street look like a good place to get raped and murdered, and that there’s a good sized mexican flea market across the street that brings in plenty of traffic. I wouldn’t worry too much about this; I’ve never run into trouble over there. As a matter of fact, I strongly recommend the taco stands in the area. The gas station across the street is stocked well enough as well.
The apartments themselves aren’t too shabby. My apt is on the first floor, which means we have wood floors, except in the bedrooms which is frustrating. The kitchen here was obviously designed for one or two people at the most, and it’s been a headache all year long trying to fit four people shit into one tiny kitchen. The walls are thick enough, either that or I’ve got quiet neighbors. The rooms are tiny, and they’re not all the same size either. Word of advice, bedroom A is the biggest bedroom in the 4/​2s. You have enough room for the bed, desk, dresser, and a second dresser in the closet. Spartan would be the word I would use to describe them.
Maintenance can be hit or miss. They tend to be pretty johnny on the spot with the easily fixed stuff, but trying to get anything major fixed can be a headache. The second bathroom would leak water from the ceiling whenever the AC was on for the longest time, and it would turn the bathroom into a pool in an hour or two. That took two or three visits to get fixed.
Overall, I’d say that if you had to find something in a pinch you could do a lot worse, but if you’ve got time to look I’d keep on looking.

Probably the most decent student apartments to live off of riverside. Student apartments.
Rent is not bad, you can find a cheaper place but with worse service and even worse quality. Maintenance is decent. Staff is ok but managers suck (I know most of em).
I get upset that we have no recycling program, no longer have HBO, and no actual computer labs, and bad gate locks. There are a few others things bothering me about this place, but cannot think of em. I think this place is cool, but apparently I do not like it enough to renew my lease (after two years I am trying a new apartment complex).
They do have a pool and they also have a gym. Washer dryer included. Water paid. Internet paid. Good microwave.
The truth is that until Ballpark gets some real competition, they wont bother doing anything in the field they are lacking (customer service).
Also, just remembered, they recently gave a touch up to the apartments, so there is a nice new coat on the buildings in the complex.
It really upsets me that they close at seven, but I called at 6.58 and the office was already closed. Most business know better than to close before their time. Usually, the offices close five minutes after their time.
My apt has been having ant problems.

The manager is NEVER in the office even though you know that is a lie and customer service is BAD! Trust me, I have lived her for 2 years, while this place is relatively safe… their service is HORRIBLE!
If you ever go student apartment hunting in Austin, you hear that Riverside is really «ghetto» and that people get killed all the time there, etc. etc…
The good news is Ballpark is not one of those places… but it is located next to Town Lake which happens to be «one of those ghettos Riverside places.»
My friend’s car got broken into… she lives in building 7… when picking your building at Ballpark, always pick building 1, 2, 4, or somewhere away from Town Lake. Never live by the Ballpark gates near Town Lake… bad things can happen to your car… However…parking is never a problem…
Building 4 which is the one I use to live at is very roomy… you should have no problem parking there… and it is very safe…
Ballpark provides you with «covered parking for $ 20 bucks a month.» I didn’t get one when I lived in building 4 but if you live in building 2… it’s best to get a covered parking when you sign your lease… trust me parking is a huge problem if you live near the front…
There is a map of all the buildings at Ballpark and their relative locations… Building 4, 2, 1, are fairly close to the bus stop. I live on the second floor to avoid bug issues in the summer… the third floor will do too but move in/​move out day is a bitch…
So basically, when you come into the Ballpark office, you are sometimes treated like a customer and sometimes not…
When they are busy… the service goes down hill and don’t expect much help from the staff… even when your toilet is not flushing/​threatening to overflow with just one flush or your drier is broken, an axed mark on your door, holes in the wall, and sink is spitting food back out at you…
«please be patient…» by staff…
Otherwise…if you were to go there on a regular day… they simply greet you… ask you what you need… and proceed to say…“if your here for rent, please put your rent in the box (points to the corner)…no receipt is necessary…” What if I want one? They are very lazy people there…
Okay, so not everyone is lazy… Karina is one of the nice ones. She helped me even though I could tell she was upset and overworked during move in/​move out day. Go see for your self. but if you go during lease signing season… everyone is nice… for the obvious reasons… the true side of the staff comes out during the year and when you have problems… most of the time… NO HELP… and BITCHY…
The apartment complex itself is very nice… fully furnished with matching furniture… the beds are stained if you get unlucky… but you can always request for a new bed… but be prepared to sleep on the floor for at least a night while they delivery your new mattress
In all honesty… I really like this place and if you get the right building, go during the times where you meet semi-​helping staff members like Karina or. I don’t remember the other girls name but all in all… it is cheap and affordable.
Just remember to sign early for a good spot on covered parking and a good building. I got my first choice when I signed my lease by January. I also got a discount on rent!
The 1 – 1, and 2 – 2 goes pretty fast at Ballpark.
PS: Not all the rooms are created equally, some rooms are noticeably bigger than others. The first room is always the biggest in something… you either get a really big bathroom and a small room or a huge room with a not so big bathroom. it depends…
Good Luck!

Don’t be fooled by the nice, professional-​looking website.
I was looking for a nice little place to call my own within a rather tight budget. I find this student-​only place, I’m given a tour of the model that is attached to the main office, and I’m sold. It seems okay and it’s right next to the university bus stop. I sign a lease.
Where do my problems start? First off, you can get a place for multiple people without having roommates. It’s like living in a dorm, you’re sent the name of your roommate before you move in so that you can figure out things like who will put the gas and electric under whose name. Of course I end up getting one roommate without a correct number and another without any contact information except her name. Whoever thought up the fantastic plan to not force future roommates into sharing their contact information is a genius.
I end up living with a senior who lived there the year before (and never cleaned) and another girl who wasn’t the original name on the contact sheet.
It’s a furnished apartment, but nothing in my room looks as nice as it did in the model. There are stains on one side of the uncomfortable mattress on top of a slatted frame that is too big and therefore an easy target to bump into (and bruise) my legs. But I am still fine.
As the year goes on, I come to realize that my furniture is in the only configuration that isn’t completely awkward. Versatile arrangements apparently cost more.
If you know what this area looks like, you’d also realize that it isn’t the nicest or seemingly safest area of town, which makes a gate very necessary. Except what point is a gated entrance if it’s broken half the time? And that doesn’t even include the very visible sidewalk entrance that has never locked or properly shut. Things like this? Make me feel really safe.
And if my lovely neighbors don’t get me, the mold will! That’s right. Mold in almost the same exact spot twice in one month along with a new random patch growing in my living room.
If the cheap rent with private bathrooms and washer/​dryer in unit are making you think about leasing, think again. This place is cheap because the furniture is low quality, the management is almost never around, and if they charged you more you won’t be able to replace your stuff after someone breaks in. Enjoy.