------------------Letters to the Editor-----------------

Oakwood Shores - Not All That

Dear Metropolis,

In place of Ida B. Wells, we have Oakwood Shores.

There were some newly constructed apartment's called Oakwood Shores on 37th to 39th and Cottage Grove to Vincennes. Oakwood Shores has been in building stages now for quite sometime now and their billboards seem to be inviting everyone (especially non-Blacks) to live within their tranquil community.

While the outer looks of these apartment's are visually appealing , the interior works tell a much different story. Here is brief list of just some of the issues I have come to experience since moving in.

1. Brand new plumbing in the kitchen and bathroom are leaking.

2. The walls are extremely thin. You can hear your neighbor sleeping in the NEXT BUILDING! You can also hear their entire conversations and other normal living sounds.

3. Now for a real safety issue - the doors (front and back) will not close without physically lifting and pulling them.

4. The ventilation system carries smells from apartment to apartment.

5.The closet doors also are always jammed and it requires pulling them to a point where the door makes a loud sound when you finally do get them open.

6. Groups of 30 children/teens hang out in front of the buildings all day and night.

Now keep in mind that these apartments are brand new construction! There should be NO issues, at least not this soon! When requests have been made to the management office, the responses are not answered in a timely manner or just totally ignored.

The rent on these apartment's range from $1414- 1900. Now maybe it's just me, but with the cost of rent being what it is, shouldn't your living quarters be problem free? Heck I think some residents will settle for a better response time and increased follow- through!

Will you please help the residents of Oakwood Shores get out of our leases?

Thank you.

Click Here to Add Your Comment (3)

R.:

I have lived here in this area for 20 years, and I agree with what was written about Oakwood Shores there are more problems in this community they anyone may know. I hope that someone is able to really find out about how the management company really treats there renters. I know this much they are not going to last very long and it won't be because of the people that live in the community but because of the construction it self, anytime you can feel the floor shaking when you walk and the walls shaking there is diffently something wrong. its only going to be a matter of time when someone falls through the floor.

K:

I am currently a resident at Oakwood Shores as well and all though there are some challenges in our community there are also things being done to combat some of those challenges. For example every 3rd Wednesday BONA the Bronzeville-Oakland Neighborhood Association holds it's general board meeting at 6:30pm in the community room at 3711 S. Vincennes Ave on the 2nd Floor. At this meeting residents of Oakwood Shores as well as homeowners and condo owners in the area get the opportunity to voice their concerns for the neighborhood as well as work with BONA on viable solutions to improve the neighborhood and address some of the concerns. So I would suggest to your reader to come out to one of our meetings and express their concerns. Together we can make our community a better place to live by holding everyone who is responsible accountable for their actions. I mean everyone.

George:

While I don't live in Oakwood Shores I do visit my relatives frequently. In the early mornings the community looks decent but at night its a hell hole. Children are everywhere, they are even vandilizing the place. Management sucks! Its a shame that this type of bahavior is going on. I've witnessed drug selling and ill mannered children harrassing other folks. I know it's supposed to be a new idea but more people should have been involved with the planning. People are saying that they were not told about the rules until they moved over here. Why not start it out right and invite everyone involved in the process to sit down and converse about expectations. It didn't happen and the only people who are getting a break are those who live single family housing or condos. what about the people who this was suppose to be built for? Some people call it Little Wells, some call it another project, I just call it a mess.