I have been living at Citadel for 5 years, so I have a pretty good grasp on what this place *is* and what this place *is not*.
So, what's great about Citadel? For starters, it's a great place to save money on rent - I don't think you can find a better value apartment complex in the metro in terms of location, amenities, and relative size & decency of your living space. That said, because of the lower rent sticker, it's also a very diverse community with residents from all walks of life - college
...students, single parents, first-generation Americans, the list goes on and on. The greenery around the complex is also beautiful early spring & fall, and the contractors do a great job keeping the grass mowed, flowers planted, and trees trimmed. HyVee's down the street, a convenience store is within walking distance, and the bus line goes right down Q Street.
What's not that great? Citadel's older (built late 60s/early 70s), and it shows it's head in very small ways (the building styling, cabinets/bathtubs/vents that have been painted over every time a tenant moved out, bad smell in the common areas, etc). The property also sits in a bowl-like valley, so when it snows it's very difficult to safely drive out of the property entrance onto Q Street. Every year, the roads patched to "fix" the minefield of potholes around the complex (I've seen blowouts, destroyed rims, and whole tires get swallowed). You'll share 4 washers & dryers with 30-40 other apartments if you live in one of the larger buildings (no in-unit laundry). The walls are very thin - you can practically hear your neighbors talking to each other if the AC isn't running. Office staff is a revolving door - the staff you end up liking probably won't be there for long, and the ones you don't seem to work there forever (this is practically everywhere, though).
Overall, you get what you pay for. This place is great for those who are willing to sacrifice some amenities in return for lower monthly rent. I would certainly recommend living here if the price is a major factor in where you live next.
Property Manager Responded